Council approves legal-notice contract with Dixon Independent Voice; column-inch rate rises to $27

City Attorney (responding to the council) explained the city's annual legal-publications contract for fiscal year 2025—2026 was put out to bid and produced a single responsive proposal from the incumbent: the Dixon Independent Voice. "The city put it out to bid and received only 1 response, and it was from the city's current, contractor, the Dixon Independent Voice," the city attorney said, noting the contract term would run July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Staff confirmed the key difference this year is a rate change: "the rate for a standard column inch has been increased to $27 this results in a $7 overall increase for a column inch." Members of the public asked whether municipal code or state law still requires publication in a paper when only one local paper exists; one commenter suggested exploring internet-only legal notices. The council approved awarding the contract to the responsive bidder by roll call.

A public commenter who identified issues with local newspaper consolidation urged staff to research legal requirements and alternatives. Another speaker (Mr. Scholl) noted he had submitted a memo and said the higher rate aligned local pricing with other jurisdictions.