AgdaPkt 2003-02-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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E. Motion to award the bid to the Redwood Daily News for annual legal publishing services in the amount of $8.95 per column inch for the calendar year 2003. Council Member Jordan asked what the criteria are for awarding the bid and from where those criteria originate. City Attorney Yamamoto stated that the statutory basis for going out to bid for newspapers of general circulation is found in Section 90 of the City's Charter. Only those newspapers which have been adjudicated as newspapers of general circulation in the city of Redwood City may participate. The criteria used specifically come from the Charter that states, "Contracts for advertising shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder". The second part of the statement says that if there are two or more lowest bidders for advertising, the Council shall award the contract to the newspaper having the largest paid circulation. Demographic information was also requested of the bidders by the City Clerk. Council Member Jordan asked what the circulation is for the Tribune (Independent) and the Daily News. City Clerk Howe stated that the bid documents submitted show the Daily News with a circulation of 18,400 in San Mateo County and the Independent with a circulation of 30,426, not indicating either County or Citywide. Council Member Jordan stated two qualitative aspects that are critical and further define "responsible bidder' are that the Independent has a larger circulation, is delivered to homes twice weekly; while the Daily News may be only available in news boxes. She further asked that Mr. Fuchs continue with his presentation. Mr. Fuchs stated that the Daily News is not home delivered and is delivered to some stores. He further stated that there has been no question of Independent's competence in the years of publishing notices for the City. He cited the various agencies that use the Independent for publishing legal notices, stating that the business of public notices is the public's business and reaching the largest number of citizens in that community is a responsibility of the City Council to ensure that the people have the biggest bang for the buck. He asked that the public notices be run in the paper with the widest distribution in the City and that at a $.03 premium per column inch the City is getting a bargain. Council Member Jordan asked about the City Charter not being, in her opinion, very clear on the best way to deliver public notices based on the concept of circulation and circulation for the people of Redwood City rather than the convenience for the City and how to address that. She asked if there is a way to define lowest responsible bidder or some other provision of the Charter that would provide value to the City as opposed to the lowest price. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 13, 2003 MINUTES PAGE 4