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Item No: 07A Meeting Date: January 12, 2015 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review : ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Desaree Crane, Assistant City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Resolution 8359, Selection of the City’s Official Newspaper Background: In accordance with Minnesota Statute, it requires the City Council to also annually designate a legal newspaper of general circulation in the City as its official newspaper. This is normally done at the first meeting of the City Council (January 5th). However, Staff needed to conduct research on the circulation coverage of the Sun Focus, Mounds View/New Brighton Bulletin and Pioneer Press newspapers. In addition, Staff needed more time to research the rates between the newspaper providers. Discussion: The Sun Focus, The Bulletin, and the Shoreview Press have each submitted proposals to be the City’s official newspaper for 2015 (proposal letters attached). The Council selected the Sun Focus as the City’s primary newspaper last year. The City Council expressed interest in selecting the Sun Focus as the City’s official newspaper due to the better news coverage that the Sun Focus provides on City matters. All newspapers accept legal notices via e- mail. In regard to circulation in Mounds View, The Sun Focus delivers their newspaper to 3,439 households and The Bulletin delivers to 3,300 households. The Shoreview Press indicated to Staff that circulation in Mounds View is “minimal.” Pioneer Press did not get back to the City on their Mounds View newspaper circulation. In regard to rates, it appears that the Shoreview Press is the cheaper option, followed by the Mounds View/New Brighton Bulletin, and then The Sun Focus. However, Staff would recommend to not select the Shoreview Press due to the minimal circulation coverage in Mounds View. Last year and in years previous the Council selected the St. Paul Pioneer Press as the City’s secondary newspaper. Since the Pioneer Press is a daily newspaper, it would certainly be acceptable for the Council to select the Pioneer Press as the City’s secondary newspaper.