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Jim Hartnett, Attorney for the Redwood City Almanac, quoted the letters he had written citing the legal issues regarding the adjudication of the Tribune. Mr. Hartnett stated that according to the City Attorney's earlier opinion regarding the wording in the Charter of "two or more lowest bids", the Council did not have to choose the lowest bid, but that the Council had a choice. Mr. Hartnett advised that the Tribune does not have a paid subscriber list and as such could not qualify as adjudicated. Jack Murray, Redwood Shores resident, former Redwood City Councilman, spoke on behalf of the Almanac, stating the Redwood City Tribune should not be designated the official newspaper as the Tribune did not carry news of Redwood Shores and was not available in Redwood Shores. Mr. Murray stated that the Enquirer Bulletin, also published by the owners of the Redwood City Tribune is the newspaper of record for the Shores. Mr. Murray stated the Tribune was a shopper's paper not a newspaper for people interested in legal advertising. Mr. Murray advised that the small amount of savings would not be worth the loss of the Almanac and the loss of competition that provided such low bids in the first place. Mr. Murray urged the Council to exercise good judgment and make a policy decision to keep the City's legal advertising in the only Redwood City newspaper that served Redwood Shores. John Holt, 42 Iris Street, urged the Council to consider the quality of the newspaper, that the Tribune was a throw-away and the Almanac was a subscription newspaper. Shirley Masters, 985 Round Hill, former employee of the Redwood City Tribune stated that the adjudication ordered in 1990 was not applicable to the current Redwood City Tribune. In answer to Council questions, Mr. Sbrocco, Editor of the Tribune, stated the Tribune will be available in the Redwood Shores area, and that legal advertising should not be limited to only those who can afford to pay for subscriptions. Councilmembers discussed the policy of awarding bids to the lowest bidder; the question of adjudication being resolved in a court of law; and the pain of leaving the Almanac after its years of excellent service and during this time of medical misfortune for its Editor, Bob Distefano. TITLE READ: MIS: STEINFELD/GREENALCH RESOLUTION NO. 12119 ACCEPTING BID OF THE REDWOOD CITY TRIBUNE FOR OFFICIAL ADVERTISING; DESIGNATING SAID NEWSPAPER AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY; AND REJECTING ALL OTHER BIDS ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS GASPARINI, GREENALCH, LA BERGE AND STEINFELD NOES: COUNCILMAN SANFILIPO AND MAYOR BUCHAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regular Meeting Minutes tlINUTE BOOK NO. 52 January 10, 1994 Page No.90 Page 9