Approval is requested for the award of a three (3) year contract to the San Jose Mercury News for the publication of legal notices, Council Agendas, Digests of Minutes and other public outreach advertising.

Sunnyvale City Charter Section 708, Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 2.10.020 and the California Government Code Section 6000 have the combined effect of requiring that Sunnyvale's legal notices be placed in a newspaper declared "of general circulation in Sunnyvale" by the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of Santa Clara. Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 2.10.030 requires that Sunnyvale Council agendas and digest be published in a newspaper which publishes six days a week.

The only local newspaper meeting the legal requirements for agendas and digests is the San Jose Mercury News which publishes seven days a week and has been declared of general circulation in Santa Clara County.

Typically, the City's legal advertising costs have been below $50,000 per year and have not required Council action. However, public outreach and legal advertising in the planning and development of the Downtown Redevelopment Project has increased advertising costs to the level that requires Council authorization. The Mercury News' large circulation and high South Bay visibility has made it the newspaper of choice for announcements of public meetings and other downtown-related activities.

Legal advertising expenditures for the next three years are anticipated not to exceed $75,000 per year, for a three-year contract total not to exceed $225,000.

Funds are available in various departmental accounts.

Reviewed by:
Mary J. Bradley
Director, Finance