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I I I I II Councilman Ruskin said the Editorial Committee had been asked early last year to - evaluate the city's quarterly newsletter, Update, and communications in general, between the city and its residents. Councilman Ruskin said that at first he wanted to cancel the newsletter and use the $50,000 for other worthy projects. He said, however, that the committee held professionally conducted focus groups, with participants randomly chosen, to determine what people really wanted. The committee discovered that most people, although they had not read the Update, and in fact some people were totally unaware that it had been sent to every home in the City on a quarterly basis for the last five years, most people really wanted more information about the City sent to their homes. Councilwoman La Berge advised that once the committee knew residents really did want better communications with the City, the committee concentrated on how best to improve a newsletter ITom the City, and how to make it more interesting and memorable. Councilwoman La Berge said the committee learned residents wanted larger print, more graphics, a different masthead, new name, more "meaty" subjects, such as how the City spends money, more information on school issues, and more input, such as "person on the street interviews." Councilwoman La Berge described the recommendations the committee incorporated in the report. In response to Council questions, City Attorney Schricker advised that the Council should .....- place the committee recommendations on a future Council agenda for Council consideration and action. MEMO 5/13/97 Councilman Leipzig renewed his objections to the use of focus groups to determine Council policy, and said the $50,000 could be better spent. He asked that this concept be further studied by the Council for areas of potential conflict. Councilwoman La Berge and Councilman Ruskin defended the use of focus groups stating they were important ways to communicate directly with the residents of Redwood City and find out exactly what they wanted. Mayor Hartnett announced that further discussion of the merits would take place at the time the committee's recommendations are scheduled on the agenda for Council action. MEMO 5/13/97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS None -' REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 MAY 12, 1997 MINUTES Page No. 311 PAGE 5