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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002/02/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2002 AT 7:00 p.m. ST. LOUIS PARK CITY HALL, WESTWOOD ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Rick Dworsky, Dale Hartman, Ken Huiras, Bob Jacobson, and Mary Jean Overend MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce Browning STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator and John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Arlen Mattern, Time Warner Cable Public Affairs Administrator and Linda Samson, Recording Secretary 1. Call to Order Chair Huiras called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present at roll call were Commissioners Rick Dworsky, Dale Hartman, Bob Jacobson, Mary Jean Overend and Chair Ken Huiras; Time Warner Cable Public Affairs Administrator Arlen Mattern; City Staff Reg Dunlap and John McHugh; and Recording Secretary Linda Samson. 3. Approval of Minutes for December 6, 2001 The minutes were approved as presented. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Overend, to approve the minutes. The motion passed 5-0. 4. Adoption of Agenda Chair Huiras requested Item F be deleted from tonight’s agenda and placed on the agenda for May 9, 2002. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Hartman, to approved the amended agenda. The motion passed 5-0. 5. New Business 5a. Hiring a consultant to review FCC Forms Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator, distributed a memorandum regarding the recommendations of the Audit Review Committee, comprised of Deputy City Manager Clint Pires, Finance Director Jean McGann, Telecommunications Commissioner Dale Hartman, Community TV Coordinator John McHugh, and Civic TV Coordinator Reg Dunlap. The franchise fee audit will assure that the City has received accurate monthly and financial reports from the company and that the franchise fees remitted to the City were accurate and complete. The review of FCC forms will assure an accurate understanding of the forms and the cost and equipment rates stated therein. Mr. Dunlap stated he is inclined to have the Telecommunications Commission endorse the consensus of the Audit Review Committee: to audit franchise fees now, and consider reviewing FCC forms sometime later. Commissioner Overend asked for more information on the budget considerations. Mr. Dunlap said the budget could be revised to allow the audit, and that if the audit identifies any franchise fees that should have been paid to the City, Time Warner Cable (TWC) would be responsible for the cost of the entire audit, according to the Franchise Ordinance. Mr. Dunlap stated the request for proposal (RFP) for the franchise fee audit was sent to firms nationwide because there are no firms in the Twin Cities engaged in that practice. For the record, Commissioner Jacobson remarked TWC is in the process of readjusting several things, including service changes, channel line-ups changes, and fee changes, perhaps it is a bad time to do the franchise fee audit; and he asked if it would be appropriate to allow for a settling down period? Arlen Mattern, Time Warner Cable Public Affairs Administrator, responded it has not been that bad as service, channel, and fee changes are annual events. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Dworsky, to approve the Audit Review Committee’s recommendations as presented. The motion passed 5-0. Mr. Dunlap called the Commissioners attention to the Action Requested of the Telecommunications Commission on Page 3 of the Memorandum. Commissioner Jacobson made a motion to present the motion as stated on Page 3, therefore, his previous motion is amended. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Dworsky, to recommend to the City Council that the City hire Lewis & Associates to conduct a franchise fee audit for 2000 and 2001, as recommended by the Audit Review Committee. The motion passed 5-0. It was moved by Commissioner Huiras, seconded by Commissioner Jacobson, to defer the review of the FCC forms pending the outcome of the audit. The motion passed 5-0. 5b. Election of Officers Commissioner Jacobson moved that the current slate of officers be retained: Bruce Browning, Vice Chair; and Ken Huiras, Chair. Commissioner Dworsky asked about election compliance and referred to the Commission’s by-laws, which state no Chair may serve more than two one-year consecutive terms. Chair Huiras moved to nominate Commissioner Dworsky for Chair but he respectfully declined. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Huiras, to nominate Commissioner Hartman for Chair. The motion passed 5-0. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Huiras, to nominate Commissioner Browning for Vice Chair. The motion passed 5-0. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Dworsky, to thank the former Chair, Ken Huiras, for his good work. Commissioners discussed the need to amend some by-laws, e.g., amend the by-law which states meetings are held on the second Monday of the month. The amendments will be discussed at a future meeting. 5c. Review annual Commission Report to City Council Commissioners reviewed the 2001 Telecommunications Commission Work Plan, and discussed the upcoming joint meeting with the City Council. Mr. Dunlap asked for the Commission’s input on how to improve the content summary of the work plan. 5d. Decide on joint meeting with City Council The date for a joint meeting with the City Council has not yet been determined. 5e. Enlightening the public about the benefits of cable TV local programming Commissioner Hartman asked about 5e. Mr. Dunlap said Item 5e was added to the work plan as a way to publicize the value of local channels and local cable TV to citizens. Mr. Dunlap suggested these viable and cost effective ways to spread the word: to advertise in the Sun Sailor, do commercial radio ads, produce a cable show on the Civic Channel, or ask Teri Kelsh from the Sun Sailor to write a news article. As an initial step, Commissioner Dworsky would like information about the benefits of cable TV local programming to be available on the City’s website. Commissioner Overend asked about an apprenticeship program with the school, and she would like to know if TWC is involved in any apprenticeship programs. Mr. Mattern said if positions for interns are available at TWC, the interns are paid. Commissioner Jacobson remarked interns at secondary schools are not paid. Commissioner Jacobson asked if TWC has student observers visit their facility. Mr. Mattern said some students from North Minneapolis Career Center have visited occasionally, and they job shadow in various departments, but there is always the issue of liability. Commissioner Jacobson asked Mr. Mattern if he would check into the possibility of having student observers from St. Louis Park visit TWC. Mr. Mattern will do that, and he mentioned that TWC provides tours of their facility for media classes. John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator, said volunteer opportunities for students are available through Time Warner’s Local Origination Department that covers varsity sports and concerts in the park. Mr. Dunlap suggested the counseling office at the high school be contacted. Commissioner Huiras suggested Tom Marble and Charlie Fiss be offered the opportunity to address media students needs. 5f. Time Warner Cable Local Origination programming requirement shortfall Mr. Dunlap stated TWC fell one hour short of their 20-hour per quarter local origination programming requirement due to the unavailability of the St. Louis Park gym floor, and two games were lost, and short School Board and City Council meetings last quarter. He added that during the last four quarters, TWC averaged more than 20 hours per quarter, and they provided nearly 33 hours for January 2002. Commissioner Dworsky suggested the shortfall be noted and continue to monitor. 6. Old Business See Item 5a of these meeting minutes for discussion regarding Old Business. 7. Reports Commissioner Huiras noted how complaints to TWC have decreased since the second week of January 2002, and Mr. Mattern said things at TWC are so much better due in part to the completed upgrade in Minneapolis. 8. Communications from the Chair—None 9. Communications from Staff Mr. Dunlap commended the Time Warner Youth Service Awards. Commissioner Jacobson would like to know how it is publicized; Mr. Dunlap said through flyers. 10. Adjournment It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Huiras, to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m. The motion passed 5-0. Minutes prepared by: Respectfully submitted by: Linda Samson Reg Dunlap Recording Secretary Civic TV Coordinator