R-2013-031-2013-02-25RESOLUTION NO. R2013-31
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, SUPPORTING TEXAS HOUSE BILL 335
AUTHORIZING ON-LINE PUBLICATION OF MUNICIPAL LEGAL
NOTICES.
WHEREAS, government at all levels is under serve financial stress, and
municipalities are facing decreased revenues and federal funding, unfunded
mandates, and increased demands for city services, making it Imperative for cities to
find effective ways to save money and be efficient stewards of taxpayer's money; and
WHEREAS, municipalities are required by law to post and publicly advertise
various proposed actions and/or application for various approvals or permits, so that
the citizenry will be informed and be able to comment or inquire at appropriate times;
and
WHEREAS, the State law applicable to such public advertising and notice,
requiring legal notice advertisements in certain designated "official" newspapers, was
established many years ago, at a time when newspapers were practically the only form
of mass communications; and
WHEREAS, there has been a steady decline in newspaper readership in the past
several decades, while, at the same time there has been an increase In the number of
households with access to the Internet; and
WHEREAS, over the years, there have been complaints that legal notices are
not prominent and not regularly read by many citizens, and the state of Internet
technology will now permit such legal notices to be posted in a specific on-line
location at little or no cost to the municipality and available to the citizens at this
specific on-line location at no cost, and allowing such Internet posting/advertising will
save municipalities substantial monies While Increasing public accessibility; and
WHEREAS, In the current state of government economics, it is imperative that
RESOLUTION NO. R2013-31
reasonable measures be implemented to save public funds while preserving, if not
enhancing public notification effectiveness, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. Urges the State Legislature to pass House Bill 335, Introduced by
Representative Jo'nathan Strickland, or similar legislation, to authorize public advertising
of legal notices by on-line posting of Public and Legal Notices, pursuant to designated
guidelines and requirements to ensure effective public notice and availability, In lieu of
costly newspaper legal notices.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this the 25th day of February, A.D., 2013.
ATTEST:
YOG LOF3rF�I�TG,
CI SEC ARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
TOM REID
MAYOR