096-2000 LTCCITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.rniami-beach.fl.us
L.T.C. No. 96-2000
May 5, 2000
TO:
FROM:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Lawrence A. Levy
City Manager
SUBJECT: COURTESY ADVERTISING
The Mayor and City Commission have previously approved the concept of publishing courtesy ads
in the Spanish Language Newspapers (Resolution No. 99-23088) as well as in English in the Sun
Post (Resolution No. 99-23274). The three Spanish Language newspapers have requested an
advertising commitment in the amount of $1,000 each per month, and have offered to provide the
City with one to two pages in each edition. The Sun Post has also met with me to request that we
resume courtesy advertising, but has not requested a specific amount for any given time.
I am concerned that the amounts requested for courtesy advertising may be excessive. In addition,
the Administration does not have a funding source to pay for courtesy advertising at the rate of
$3,000 per month for Spanish Language advertisement and an equivalent for English Language
advertising. The current procedure is that each Department that advertises pays for the advertisement
out of its budget. While we could create a line item in the budget for courtesy advertising for Fiscal
Year 2001, assuming the Commission desires to do so, I am constrained to work within the current
Department budgets for the remainder of the current Fiscal Year. I am, therefore advising all
Departments that use courtesy advertising, that for the time-being they are to advertise on an as-
needed basis at the posted advertising rates of each of the Spanish Language newspapers, and at the
posted rates of the Sun Post (and I understand that Sun Post gives the City a substantial discount
from its normal advertising rates). All courtesy ads in Spanish will appear in each of the three
newspapers, assuming that their deadlines permit.
I would ask that each of you advise me as to your thoughts on how courtesy advertising ought to be
handled, beginning with Fiscal Year 2001, so that I can take appropriate action in terms of preparing
a line item in the budget, if necessary.
LAL:p~w
c:
Ronnie Singer, Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Robert Parchef, City Clerk
Patricia D. Walker, Finance Director
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