(a) Newspaper of General Circulation. Whenever the City is required by law to make any legal publication in a newspaper, the newspaper shall be a newspaper of general circulation. As used in this section, "newspaper" or "newspaper of general circulation," except daily law journals in existence on or before July 1, 2011, and performing the functions described in ORC 2701.09 for a period of three (3) years immediately preceding any such legal publication required to be made, is a publication bearing a title or name that is regularly issued at least once a week, and that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) It is printed in the English language using standard printing methods, being not less than eight (8) pages in the broadsheet format or sixteen (16) pages in the tabloid format;
(2) It contains at least twenty-five percent (25%) editorial content, which includes, but is not limited to, local news, political information, and local sports;
(3) It has been published continuously for at least three (3) years immediately preceding legal publication by the City;
(4) The publication has the ability to add subscribers to its distribution list; and
(5) The publication is circulated generally by United States mail or carrier delivery in the City within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding legal publication.
(b) Mediation of Disputes. A person who disagrees that a publication is a "newspaper of general circulation" in which legal publication may be made under this section may deliver a written request for mediation to the publisher of the publication and to the Greene County Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas shall appoint a mediator, and the parties shall follow the procedures of the mediation program operated by the Court.
Statutory Reference: ORC 7.12
(c) Multiple Notices. If a section of the ORC or of the Xenia City Code requires publication of a notice or advertisement two (2) or more times in a newspaper of general circulation, the first publication of the notice or advertisement shall be made in its entirety in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and may be made by a preprinted insert in the newspaper, but the second publication otherwise required may be made in abbreviated form in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and on the newspaper's internet website, if the newspaper has one. Any further newspaper publications may be eliminated provided that the second, abbreviated notice or advertisement meets all of the following requirements:
(1) It is published in a newspaper of general circulation in which the first publication of the notice or advertisement was made;
(2) It is posted by the publisher of the newspaper on the Ohio News Media Association's Public Notices Ohio website. The publisher shall post the required notice or advertisement on the website at no additional cost;
(3) It includes a title, followed by a summary paragraph or statement that clearly described the specific purpose of the notice or advertisement, and include a statement that the notice or advertisement is posted in its entirety on the official public notice website. The notice or advertisement also may be posted on the City's internet website; and
(4) It includes the internet address of the official public notice website and the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the City.
(d) Posting on Website. A notice or advertisement published under this section on an internet website shall be published in its entirety.
Statutory Reference: ORC 7.16
(e) Limitations. This section shall be applied in a manner that would amend or lessen any publication requirements set forth in the Ohio Constitution or the Xenia City Charter.
(Ord. 2021-23. Adopted 12/29/21)