HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 7, 1991 (95)OF
CITY OF LORI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: City Newsletter Publication and Distribution
DATE: August 7, 1991
PREPARED BY: City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: The City Council review the alternate styles of
newsletter to be prepared, published, and distributed
by the City of Lodi, and take action as deemed
appropriate.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Council directed the City Manger's office to
prepare a newsletter for distribution to the citizens
of Lodi. Based on this directive, staff solicited
price quotes from three print shops and from the Lodi
News -Sentinel for a monthly publication. Originally 12 publications were to be
printed each year, however, the price of a monthly newsletter was too costly to
execute considering the current budget. Staff mv proposes that a bi-monthly
newsletter be published and distributed the first year, after which time an
evaluation should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the
publ ication.
The decision now facing the Council focuses cn the newsletter style and the
cost of the publication. Cost estimates from print shops range from $19,200 to
$25,746 for six publications. Postage for distribution to 25,000 citizens is
approximately $15,750 for six issues. The total cost of a stand alone
newsletter printed by ap r i n t shop and distributed by the Post Office is
approximately $35,000. This type of newsletter would be printed on recycled
paper and would include sharp image photographs and multiple ink colors.
Should the Council decide to opt for a newsletter printed and distributed by
the Lodi News -Sentinel, the costs would be significantly reduced. A bi-monthly
publication would total approximately $15,517. The newsletter would be a
pull-out (tabloid style), would be printed as if it were a newspaper, and would
be inserted in the regular newspaper. Those persons not subscribing to the
newspaper would receive a copy via the distribution of The Merchandiser, an
advertising publication delivered free to those non -subscribers. The
newspaper's proposal would also include 1,000 additional copies for placement
in City Hall, the Library, the Chamber of Connerce, and other 'locations to be
determined.
APPROVED -
THOMAS A. PETERSON
City Manager
CC -1
City Newsletter Publication and Distribution
August 7, 1991
Page Two
The original newsletter proposal was based on the print shop approacn with the
idea that sharp image photographs and a high profile publication would be an
effective and representative means of publishing news -worthy City information.
The trade-off of publishing the newsletter in the Lodi News -Sentinel is the
reduced cost to the City.
FUNDING: 1991-92 Operating Budget
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas A. Peterson
City Manager
Prepared by: Janet S. Keeter
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager
TAP :b r
CCCOM269/TXTA.07A