CC Min 1996-10-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

: . . I . . Councilwoman La Berge began the report and described the Committee's charge from the Council at the January workshop to evaluate communication between the Council and '--- the people of Redwood City, specifically the effectiveness of the City's Quarterly Report, the "UPDATE." Councilwoman La Berge described the focus groups held to discuss the "UPDATE" and to discover how and what the people wanted to receive from the Council. She said the Committee was told they wanted more communications from City Hall and Council Members, including progress reports on projects, their costs and impacts on residents. Councilwoman La Berge described the Committee's recommendation for an increase to six editions per year with the contract to be awarded to C. 1. Preimesberger for those six editions of the Redwood City Community Newsletter at a cost of $49,304. Fellow Committee Member Councilman Ruskin described the Committee's finding that Redwood City residents had a real desire for more and frequent updates and described the Committee's plan to evaluate the new Newsletter with another focus group after the first two editions. Councilman Ruskin announced that he had participated in the Editorial Committee's work to the point where individual bidders were to be considered. He said he had withdrawn from active participation at that point as he had a business relationship with one of the bidders. Councilwoman Buchan took his place on the Committee and worked with Councilwoman La Berge during the interview process along with a consultant from Executive Service Corps. Councilman Ruskin left the Council table at this time. L MEMO 10/22/96 Councilwoman Buchan described the bidding process and expressed her support for the Committee's recommendation of six issues per year. Councilman Claire expressed support for more communication with the people of Redwood City, and asked City staff to pursue the televising of Council meetings over the local Cable station according to the Franchise Agreement the City has with TCI Cable TV. Councilman Claire also suggested the new Newsletter contain an annual report similar to the one the City of San Mateo mailed to all of its residents. MEMO 10/22/96 Councilman Leipzig said he could not support the Committee's recommendation for six issues of a Newsletter at a cost of almost $50,000. He said Redwood City was very well served by two quality daily newspapers and two quality weekly newspapers. Councilman Leipzig said he had little confidence in focus groups and polls, and said the desire voiced for more current communications could not be met with a Newsletter issued every two months. Councilman Leipzig said he had some concerns regarding the content of the articles in the Newsletter, asking whose viewpoint would be expressed and what would be the political angle? He said the Newsletter would be a waste of money, and the $50,000 ~ would be better spent on hiring another employee to do code enforcement. ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 21, 1996 MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 PAGE 5 Page No. 530