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4TT�.QOJE-CT A <br />To: Mayor Grabek & Orono Council Members <br />From: Mark E. Bernhardson, City Administrator <br />Date: August 17, 1987 <br />Subject: Public Information - Market ing/Evaluation of Mayor's <br />Newsletter Articles <br />Attachment <br />A - Public Information and Marketing Memo Dated 1/29/87 <br />Issue - Determination as to whether the City of Orono will continue with <br />the "Mayor's Article" on a monthly basis or budget for a different format <br />for its monthly "newsletter" to the community. <br />Introduction - One of the initial suggestions put forward by the new <br />Council following elections was a desire to communicate information and <br />current events including upcoming events in the month to the citizens of <br />Orono. Back in February this was explored and it was decided, for a six <br />month trial, to try the format of submission of a Mayor's Article to the <br />four newspapers. In that period of time, six articles have been submitted <br />and generally have appear in the paper in the first week of the month. <br />Discussion - This format has proven to be a timely means in most cases of <br />getting the primary topics out to the community. While the substance has <br />sometimes been too self congratulatory or obtuse in the message being <br />communicated, it has attempted to be fairly timely as to upcoming events. <br />While the City Administrator has not received any direct response from the <br />articles, the Department Heads have indicated that the people do read them <br />and in fac*- get feedback from some of the residents together with <br />information that has been gleaned from those articles by the contract <br />cities. <br />The alternative to this format, in order to achieve items cn a current <br />basis, would be going to a monthly format newsletter. It is estimate,-: <br />that minimum costs of this would be approximately $5,000 for a year. It <br />would involve more time and e�fort than currently is being expended by <br />staff for the Mayor's Article. <br />RECOMMENDATION - It is recommended that the Mayor's article format be <br />continued for another year ant' that evaluation of this be done in August of <br />1988. <br />PROPOSED MOTION: Moved by ,f , seconded by That the Mayor's Article <br />format for communication of information to the community be continued in <br />the weekly newspaper, soliciting ideas from Council Members and the public <br />as to topics they wo•ild like to have add5gssed and the system be evaluated <br />next August in the budget meeting. Ayes nays <br />