REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Inside Santa Clara Redesign Update [Council Pillar: Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency]
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's newspaper-style publication, Inside Santa Clara, provides the latest updates on City initiatives, programs, services and special events. Inside Santa Clara is currently produced three times a year in the fall, winter/spring, and summer, and is mailed and delivered to approximately 57,820 residential and business addresses in Santa Clara. The newsletter is also distributed at all City facilities, including community centers and libraries, and available online, https://www.santaclaraca.gov/i-want-to/stay-informed/newsroom/city-publications/inside-santa-clara.
The newsletter redesign project began in the fall with a competitive procurement process for graphic design services. The consultant, We The Creative, was awarded the contract and began work on the redesign in December 2019.
DISCUSSION
The City's newsletter has maintained the same format and design for at least the last 20 years. Over this period, the public's methods for consuming information has changed along with increasing demands for their time. The redesign for Inside Santa Clara will not only modernize the publication for a digital audience but also better reflect the City's brand as The Center of What's Possible.
The goals of redesigning the City newsletter include:
* Improve the design layout and use of photos to support the City brand;
* Enhance readability for community members;
* Incorporate four-color printing from the current two-color printing;
* Enhance the design for viewing the publication online; and
* Evaluate the size and type of paper used for publication while still being able to contain inserts and be cost effective for mailing.
City staff conducted public outreach about a new look and feel for Inside Santa Clara through an online survey; the City's Economic Development, Communications & Marketing Committee; ...
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