Board unanimously approves updating city code to allow web‑based public notices

The Land Planning Agency unanimously approved a request from the city clerk to update city code language so references to newspaper legal notices can be satisfied by a publicly accessible website service.

Chris Skinner explained that state law now allows municipalities to use an online, publicly accessible service in place of a newspaper for certain public notices. The city is already advertising some matters via the service (referred to as "Column") and the ordinance would change explicit code references that still mention a newspaper so they instead point to a publicly accessible website or approved service.

A board member asked whether the city website alone would satisfy state law; staff said the service meets the state’s specific requirements and that the city already uses it. The change was described as significantly cheaper for the city and expected to reduce costs for some applicants who presently pay for newspaper publication.

Following the presentation the board closed the public hearing and voted to forward Ordinance 25‑2‑280 (as referenced in the meeting) to the city commission; the roll call vote was recorded as unanimous.