9.c) League Memo on Website Publicationro
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LEAGUE OF CONNECTING & INNOVATING
MINNESOTA SINCE 1913
CITIES
Alternative Publication Options for Cities
Improving and Increasing Access to Government Information
The League supports SF 1152/11F 1286 which would allow cities to determine whether web publication
should replace or supplement newspaper publication of public notices.
Background
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. While the requirements vary based on a city's population, most cities
must publish: meeting minutes; new ordinances; advertisements for bids; various financial reports;
meeting and hearing notices; and notices of elections and sample ballots.
Key Messages: Improving and Increasing Access to Information
• Technology has changed dramatically since this mandate became law more than 60 years ago.
o Cities rely on and value citizen engagement and participation and have invested heavily in
city government web sites and other electronic communication (such as text message
notification, email alert systems, and social media).
• Some community newspapers publish only once or twice a week, or less.
o Citizens expect and demand timely information via electronic communication tools that
allow for instant, updated communication.
• Current law requires publication of notices in a single area newspaper.
o Cities served by multiple newspaper publications are mandated to publish costly notices that
only reach small segments of their community's residents.
Alternative Publication Options Fit with Governor Dayton's "Un -Session"
The goal of the 2014 "Un -Session" 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outdated rules, and undo anything else that makes government nearly impossible for people to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." It is time to:
• Eliminate outdated publication requirements of where notices are published that no longer
represent the current state of technology nor how Minnesotans access information.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.
• Shorten wait times by providing instant, updated and timely information to Minnesotans in a format
they expect.
• Improve service by allowing for local control. For some cities, newspaper publication will still
remain the best option. For the 75% of cities with their own websites (90% in larger and/or metro
communities), online publication may be more cost efficient and reach more residents. Residents
may request paper copies of official notices mailed to their residence.
Questions? Please contact Ann Lindstrom at (651) 281-1261 or alindstrom@lmc.org.
145 UNIVERSITY AVE. WEST PHONE: (651) 281-1200 FAx (651) 281-1299
ST. PAUL, MN 55103-2044 TOLL FREE: (800) 925-1122 WEB: WWW.LMC.ORG