Charter reviewers seek clearer rules on how ordinances and legal notices are published

Committee members raised transparency concerns about how the city publishes ordinances and legal notices and how the municipal code is maintained.

Commissioner Listister and others asked the charter committee to identify a consistent official publication so that residents always know where legal notices and ordinance publications will appear. "If we cover both bases, I think that's going to take care of it," a commissioner said in support of requiring both a print publication and online posting.

Assistant City Manager Tamara Benz said the city follows procurement rules for publications and currently uses the lowest responsive bidder, which at present is the Compton Bulletin. "We do go with the lowest bidder, which happens to be the Compton Bulletin," Benz said, adding that the grants department follows an RFP process for publications. Legal counsel noted the city’s municipal code is maintained online through a vendor (E-Code) but also explained that not every ordinance is necessarily codified and asked staff to confirm where non-codified ordinances are stored.

Members proposed adding charter language to require publication in an identified local periodical with specified distribution or circulation requirements, and to require concurrent posting on the city’s website and social media platforms so residents can reliably find official notices.

Why it matters: Naming an official publication and requiring online posting would increase transparency for residents and reduce uncertainty about where to find notices, bids and changes to law. Commissioners emphasized accessibility standards for whichever vendor wins a bid (distribution, online availability, searchable archive).

Next steps: Staff agreed to provide details about current publication contracting, confirm how non-codified ordinances are maintained, and consider recommended charter language for circulation and online-posting requirements.