HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2010-012 Supporting Senate Bill 376 RESOLUTION NO. 2010-012
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA
BEACH, FLORIDA SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 376, PROPOSING TO
AMEND FLORIDA STATUTES TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO USE THEIR PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
WEBSITES FOR LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICES AND
ADVERTISEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER,
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, numerous Florida Statutes require local governmental entities to place
public notices and advertisements in newspapers of general circulation that have been in
existence for one year; and
WHEREAS, legally required public notices and advertisements in newspapers of general
circulation are extremely costly for governmental entities; and
WHEREAS, as technology has advanced and nearly all governmental entities in Florida
maintain publicly accessible websites, the law should be changed, so that governmental entities
may utilize their websites for legally required public notices and advertisements in lieu of
advertising in newspapers of general circulation; and
WHEREAS, a 2009 study by the PEW Internet and American Life Project estimates that
74% of all adults use online services and an estimated 59% use online services to visit
government websites; and
WHEREAS, residents will have as much or more notice on the publicly accessible
governmental websites as compared to traditional newspaper advertisements while the costs of
legally required public notices and advertisements will be significantly reduced; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs published an intemet
notice report titled "The Florida Senate Interim Report 2010-106": in October 2009 (the
"Report") finding that "the intemet is a valuable tool that can provide cost savings for local
governments" and "some forms of public notices and some legal advertisements could be
transitioned from the newspaper to the Internet without threatening public participation in local
government or undermining the availability of important information"; and
WHEREAS, the Report states that the latest annual average cost of newspaper
publications reported by municipalities was $20,222.00 and the average cost reported by counties
was $61,381.00; and
WHEREAS, the PEW Research Center report titled "Key News Audiences Now Blend
Online and Traditional Sources — Audience Segments in a Changing New Environment' dated
August 2008 shows a decline in newspaper readership from 58% in 1993 to 34% in 2008 as
circulation revenues decline and advertising costs continue to increase; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2009, Senate Bill 376 was filed, which, if passed, authorizes
a governmental entity to use its publicly accessible website for legally required public notices
and advertisements; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that it is in the public interest to
support Senate Bill 376;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are
incorporated by this reference.
Section 2. The City Commission supports passage and adoption of Senate Bill 376.
Section 3. The City Commission urges the Florida Legislature to pass and the
Governor to sign Senate Bill 376,
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to distribute copies of this Resolution to the
Governor, the President of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of
Representatives, the Broward County Legislative Delegation, the Florida League of Cities, the
Florida Association of Counties, the Florida City-County Management Association, the Broward
County League of Cities, and each of the municipalities within Broward County.
Section 5. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution
are repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 6. This Resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon its
passage and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach, Florida
on February 9, 2010. ro�o�P�IS FIRST
r
ATTEST: =_
LOUISE STILSON, CMC ANNE CASTRO
CITY CLERK MAYOR-COMMISSIONER
A�
APPROVED AS TO F Rp I AND CORRECTNESS:
r ��
THOMAS . AN9BAO
CITY ATTORNEY
2 RESOLUTION #2010-012