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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/02/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - Regular 1 UNOFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12, 2009 ST. LOUIS PARK COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Browning, Rick Dworsky, David Dyer, Dale Hartman, Toby Keeler, Mike Mulligan, Rolf Peterson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator; John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Arlen Mattern, Time Warner Cable Public Affairs Administrator 1. Call to Order Vice Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 2. Roll Call Present at roll call were Commissioners Browning, Dyer, Hartman, Keeler (via telephone), Mulligan and Peterson. Commissioner Dworsky arrived at 7:03 PM. 3. Approval of Minutes for December 4, 2008 It was moved by Commissioner Browning, seconded by Commissioner Hartman, to approve the minutes of December 4, 2008, without changes. The motion passed 6-0. 4. Adoption of Agenda It was moved by Commissioner Browning, seconded by Commissioner Mulligan, to approve the agenda. The motion passed 7-0. 5. Public Comment - None 6. New Business A. Park TV & Community TV update Mr. Dunlap said public meetings are shown on channel 17 and there are four other St. Louis Park channels. 2 Mr. McHugh said they are planning to replace the production van and also get new cameras. The current van is twenty years old. The Community TV Department has assisted with several recent studio productions and there are two more reservations for productions about Caring Youth and the 15-year overview of Meadowbrook Collaborative. City staff also assists with editing. 7. Unfinished Business A. WiFi hot spots subcommittee report Mr. McHugh provided a hand out. He said the latest fiber runs are city-owned, and there are eight total miles of fiber, with a value of $800,000. They have determined the first two buildings for community access, which are the Rec Center and City Hall. Major public meeting rooms will have a resource for the attendees. They need to determine how to promote the resources (TV, signs, newspapers, etc.). The Rec Center will serve the water park and potentially extend to Wolfe Park. The next project will be at the Westwood Nature Center, in the main building and immediately next to it. The City needs to craft agreement with the School District for Lenox Center. He was unsure of plans for 2010. B. Digital TV transition update Mr. Dunlap reported that transition information is on the City’s web site and the transition for most Twin Cities-area TV stations will be in June. One exception is that WUCW, broadcast channel 23 and cable channel 8, has chosen to transition in February. Mr. McHugh noted that Commissioner Browning did an informational session on Inside the Park which was very entertaining. The City will continue with information sessions for residents through June. Mr. Dunlap added that the coupon program for boxes had been extended until July 1st. Commissioner Dyer said that while some suppliers may not have digital tuners in stock, the Ridgedale Best Buy had a pallet full of them, so check several electronics stores to find them. Commissioner Browning suggested that having an outside antenna was very helpful to get better reception. C. Comcast audit update Mr. Dunlap stated that Scott Lewis had been hired and had requested a detailed list of information from Comcast and was collecting materials. D. Fiber optic ordinance update Mr. Dunlap indicated there was no new information. He would try to find an expert on the topic to attend a future meeting. 3 8. Reports A. Complaints Commissioner Browning noted issues with wait times, but was not sure how that issue could be solved. Commissioner Keeler said that Comcast’s goal is to answer the phone within 30 seconds 90 percent of the time so that they must measure this. He asked if Comcast could share the results of that monitoring over the last couple of months. Mr. Mattern said he didn’t have those figures and didn’t know if they would share them with the Commission. Commissioner Keeler asked if Mr. Mattern would check on that, and Mr. Mattern replied that he could find out. Mr. Mattern was not aware of anything being done differently, and that Comcast is aware of the concerns. He had been able to get through when he tested it at various times of the day. There are over 500,000 customers and over 500 customer service representatives. Commissioner Hartman asked if the cable boxes could be initialized before being sent to customers. Mr. Mattern replied it could be done through IVR and customers don’t need to speak to a customer service rep in person. Commissioner Mulligan asked Mr. Mattern to explain what customers should expect if they pick up a cable box at a Comcast office and install it themselves. Mr. Mattern explained that a box should work right away, after about 2 minutes, and if it doesn’t work, customers should call in and use the IVR telephone menu to trouble shoot it. 9. Communication from the Chair - None 10. Communications from City Staff Mr. McHugh handed out a summary of the results from the residential survey that the City completed about how residents get information about the City. He said 41% of residents view the City web site and of those, 95% find what they are looking for. These results can also be found on the City web site. 11. Adjournment Commissioner Browning made a motion, Commission Dworsky seconded to adjourn at 7:46. The motion passed. Respectfully submitted by: Amy L. Stegora-Peterson Recording Secretary