Woodbury Council To Examine City's Communication Strategy

Woodbury will take a closer look at its overall communications strategy after a councilman asked if the regular newsletter is the best use of city funds.

Councilman Christopher Burns has questioned whether the city newsletter is the best way for Woodbury to get information to residents, and during , the council informally agreed to examine how the city communicates with residents.

“We could certainly be more efficient,” Burns said.

He talked about the advantages of the and inTouch alert system, while noting that reducing newsletters would save the city money and be more environmentally conscious.

“We’re not fully utilizing our technology,” Burns said.

The cost of producing 10 City Update newsletters is estimated to be about $72,000 for the proposed 2012 budget, according to a council memo. (Staff is currently negotiating a reduction in printing costs that could reduce that costs to approximately $68,500.) The city mails the newsletter to 25,506 households and businesses.

“A lot of people like to get it," Councilman Paul Rebholz said.

Councilwoman Amy Scoggins wondered if the city would see more complaints about things such as snow plowing if that information were not relayed through the newsletter. She suggested the council look at the big picture in terms of how it gets information to citizens.

Not much on the Woodbury City Council’s agenda for Wednesday night.

There is a public hearing for a liquor license for Wild Bill’s Sports Saloon and further discussion of the city’s zoning plans.

Items on the consent agenda of note: the use of $50,000 in Open Space Referendum Funds to remove structures at , and Dale Road Open Space; approval of items related to a new car wash at Holiday at Seasons Marketplace; and the authorization of reports for next year’s roadwork for the area around and the Windwood neighborhood.