To approve an expenditure in the estimated amount of $145,000 for advertising services for a two (2) year contract from Medium Giant Company, Inc.; and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. (Contract No. 2025-0122-X) Approved

All cities must publish legal notices in compliance with Local Government Code Chapter 2051.  This section of the LGC provides for the minimum requirements:

Sec. 2051.044.  TYPE OF NEWSPAPER REQUIRED.  (a)  The newspaper in which a notice is published must:

(1)  devote not less than 25 percent of its total column lineage to general interest items;

(2)  be published at least once each week;

(3)  be entered as second-class postal matter in the county where published; and

(4)  have been published regularly and continuously for at least 12 months before the governmental entity or representative publishes notice.

(b)  A weekly newspaper has been published regularly and continuously under Subsection (a) if the newspaper omits not more than two issues in the 12-month period.

(c)  This section does not apply to the publication of a notice to which Section 2051.0441 applies.

The City Charter also requires ordinances with a penalty be published twice within 10 days.

Several city departments are required to publish certain legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation. 

The Dallas Morning News is the only local newspaper that complies with all state and local requirements.  The City has contracted with The Dallas Morning News since 2016.  This advertising contract is for an estimated spend of $70,000 for the first year and $75,000 for the second year for a two-year term from January 2025-December 2026 for a total of $145,000. 

Failure to approve this contract would result in non-compliance with state and local regulations and a higher rate for publications. Along with the City Secretary’s Office, the following departments would be impacted: Purchasing, Planning, Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Services, Building Inspections, Communications and Community Outreach, and Environmental Health and Sustainability. (Contract No. 2025-0122-X) 

This item approves a two (2) year contract in the amount of $145,000 for legal advertising. Expenditures will be made by multiple City departments based on need within the approved budget appropriations for each year of the contract. The estimated amount to be spent in the remainder of FY 2024-25 is $52,500. The estimated future amount to be spent is $92,500 (or $73,750 for FY 2025-26 and $18,750 for FY 2026-27).

Approval of this contract relates to the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor of Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government.