Agenda - Council - 03/11/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Councilmember introduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption: RESOLUTION #14-03-056 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION FOR ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION OPTIONS FOR CITIES WHEREAS, SF 1152/HF 1286 would allow cities to determine whether web publication should replace or supplement newspaper publication of public notices; and WHEREAS, Minnesota state law currently requires cities to publish certain types of information in one "qualified newspaper" designated by the city. These items are referred to as "official notices", "legal notices" and "public notices" in state statute; and WHEREAS, requirements may vary, based on a city's population. An example of some of the publications required are ordinances, advertisements for bids, public hearing notices, notices of election, and sample ballots; and WHEREAS, technology has changed dramatically since this mandate became law more than 60 years ago. Cities rely on and value citizen engagement and participation and have invested heavily in city websites and other electronic communications; and WHEREAS, some community newspapers publish only once or twice a week, or less and citizens expect and demand timely information via electronic communication tools that allow for instant, updated communication; and WHEREAS, current law requires publication of notices in a single area newspaper. Cities served by multiple newspaper publications are mandated to publish costly notices that only reach small segments of their community's residents; and WHEREAS, alternative publication options fit with Governor Dayton's "Un-Session", which goal is to improve service, shorten wait times, eliminate old and outdated rules, and undo anything else that makes government nearly impossible for people to understand. NOW THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RAMSEY, ANOKA COUNTY, STATE OF MINNESOTA; as follows: 1) That the City of Ramsey hereby supports legislation that would allow cities alternative publication options, improving and increasing access to government information. 2) That the City of Ramsey supports eliminating outdated publication requirements of where notices are published that no longer represent the current state of technology nor how Minnesotans access information. Increasing options would neither change what information needs to be published nor when it needs to be published, only where it can be published.