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2) rejecting the bids and rebidding with different criteria that is legally sound and accomplishes the purpose of distribution of legal advertising, to 3) a Charter amendment that would clarify criteria or eliminate the requirements that the Charter currently imposes. There might also be a combination of those alternatives. Council Member Ruskin supported the request. Council Member Howard asked if there is flexibility until changing the Charter with the decision before Council at this time. City Attomey Yamamoto stated that the alternative raised at this time is not whether or not to award the bid. The question is whether or not an ad hoc committee of the Council should be selected to look further into this matter and subsequently, make some type of recommendation. To that extent, that is an appropriate action of the Council. Public Comment: Alan Bygdnes stated that it appears the only basis for awarding the contract is on one unit, the cost per inch column. The factor that was submitted and not looked into was the circulation. He further stated and explained how the Independent had under bid by 40 %. He urged Council to remove from consideration and have it re- evaluated. Tony Gay stated he is a resident of Redwood City, affiliated with the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Group and sells advertising for the Redwood City Daily News. He stated that the newspaper is well read and their advertisers get results because of the paper. He further stated that they bring more customers and traffic for the stores and make their phones ring. He stated that there is no better way to reach the people in this town than the Daily News. Dave Price referred to his letter previously submitted that answered some of the questions raised in the January meeting. He also stated he had submitted the distribution list that shows 700 spots where the distribution crew delivers to six days a week. The circulation is audited, contrary to the statement made in January, and is done by one of the major national newspaper auditing firms. He stated that the newspaper started three years ago with a circulation of 1,000 and has increased as demand has warranted. After the most recent audit, Redwood City circulation was 6,600 with a total circulation in San Mateo County at 20,000. Since that audit, the Redwood City circulation has increased to 7,100. He stated that the last newspaper the City published its legal notices in before the Independent, was the Almanac, with a circulation of 4,000. Relative to the difference in cost between the Independent and the Daily News, he stated that the Independent was actually charging the City more for advertising just a couple of years back, but because of the bidding process they came down in price and within $.03 of the Daily News per column inch. Mr. Price stated that when rewriting the solicitation process for bids the City should be sure that the policy continues competition between newspapers rather than limiting it to only one newspaper REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 28, 2003 MINUTES PAGE 6