BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Managing Editor
The Menlo Park City Council tonight (April 28) decided to abandon a plan to charge local newspapers a fee for distributing newspapers in news racks.
The council decided to dump the plan after hearing from residents and local journalists about the plan, which would have cost an initial $373 for a new rack and renewing a permit would have cost $233 every other year.
For the Daily Post’s 38 racks in Menlo Park, it would have cost $14,178 for the initial fee and $8,854 for the renewal.
“I don’t support the fee. It’s hard enough to get the word out to residents,” said Councilman Jeff Schmidt. “We may not always like how the coverage shakes out but we’re big boys and girls.”
Public Works Director Azalea Mitch said the fees would cover time and effort by city employees who inspect each news rack during the renewal process, which occurs every other year. She anticipated the income to the city would be $12,000.
“Menlo Park is in the envious position to have two local newspapers in physical print. I don’t see the value trade off,” said Councilman Drew Combs.
Councilwoman Jennifer Wise said her initial concern was about the city’s cost of maintenance of the news racks. Once she learned the publications maintain their own racks, she said she’s OK with waiving the fee.
The city has been looking at raising revenues after the state cut the amount of money it gets from vehicle license fees, otherwise known as the car tax. The city hired a consultant, Government Consulting Partners of Granite Bay, Calif., to find ways it could raise revenue. The consultant came up with a list of new fees or increases that would raise $4.3 million in revenue.
The council also discussed fees for credit card processing, the Menlo Park Preschool program and gymnastics.
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