HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/05/12 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - Regular 1
Minutes
St. Louis Park Cable TV Advisory Commission
Meeting of May 12, 1997 at 6:00pm
St. Louis Park City Hall (5005 Minnetonka Blvd.)
First Floor Community Room
1. Call to order By Chair Tony Raiber at 6:06pm
2. Roll Call Also present were Commissioners Ken Huiras, Bob Jacobson, Bruce
Browning, Jill Boddy and Mike Ganyo; from School District #283, Carol Johnson,
Carolyn Charles and Gerald Burt; and John McHugh and Reg Dunlap of City staff.
3. Approval of Minutes Commissioner Huiras asked about the term “nesters” in item 6.
Commissioner Jacobson said he meant the term “empty nesters.” With that change,
Commissioner Huiras moved the adoption of the minutes. Commissioner Browning
seconded the motion, which passed 6-0.
4. Adoption of Agenda Mr. Dunlap asked to add item 7.A., elect vice chair. With that
addition, Chairman Raiber moved the adoption of the agenda. Commissioner Jacobson
seconded, and the motion passed 6-0.
5. Communications from Paragon Cable Mr. Dunlap said that all Paragon related items
were deferred to the July 14 meeting, so that the Commission could fully discuss the
School District request for funding at this evening’s meeting.
6. Old Business
A. Request for franchise fees from School District #283
Carol Johnson, Superintendent of Schools for District #283, introduced Carolyn Charles
and Gerald Burt and distributed a three part handout.
She said in 1996 the District hadn’t accomplished as much as they’d like to. She gave
examples of improvements, including meeting with the media coordinators at each
building to encourage them to do more programming for Channel 32. This has resulted
in improved scheduling and getting more schools and people involved, rather than a
centralized model. There also had been a technology plan that included video, with the
theme of the right technology for the right place.
She said there were challenges remaining, including;
-Encouraging some teachers to “own” video, to help other staff and spread the use of
video as a tool.
-To increase community use. This goal has not been accomplished yet.
-Staffing. Amy was at the District last spring and was recruited elsewhere so Gerald Burt
runs Channel 32 now. Tom Marble, formerly in charge of Channel 32, has done the work
of Tom Ireland and Bob Berry, regarding data management and technology planning.
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She said the request for 1997 is unchanged, but for 1998 the District has added tasks
and the corresponding funding. In the summer, there are lots of activities that could be
captured on video, and they have considered an exploratory Junior HS program as
background for the Senior HS program. She said that they are trying to connect with
real world careers, and in the hand out labeled Channel 32, the State graduation
requirements.
Commissioner Ganyo asked about the programming on Channel 32; is there a lot more
this year than last year, or about the same?
Ms. Charles said it was a lot more, because last year there was no printed schedule for
3/4 of the year because of relocating the department.
Ms. Johnson said that there had been an improvement, but they would like to do more.
For example, Community Ed classes could become programming. Commissioner
Jacobson said that a lot of people keep learning throughout life, and that classes on cable
tv would be a lot easier than driving to a remote site for classes, like Anoka.
Commissioner Ganyo asked if there was a requirement the City had for programming
levels. Mr. Dunlap said no, but that it was his goal, with an automated playback system,
to have more programming each year.
Commissioner Boddy asked about school district distribution of the schedule. Ms.
Charles said they used to publish them in the newspaper but the lead time was
burdensome, and their philosophy was to get something taped and running on the channel
as soon as possible. Mr. Burt says the schedules are sent to all school media specialists.
Commissioner Browning asked if the radio station cross-promoted the cable tv channel,
and Mr. Burt said that they try to but that the students basically run their own radio time.
He said there would be more structure after the switch to 100 watts.
Ms. Johnson said programming was not the only goal, that giving the kids experience
was very important.
Mr. McHugh said that the cable subscribers only know what they see on Channel 32--
that’s why historically the Commission has been interested in programming on Channel
32. He said that improving the current levels of District announcements on the channel,
and multiple replays of programming, could be a payback to the Cable TV Commission.
Commissioner Browning said that there’s a tendency to judge by the hours of
programming on the local channels, that the viewer doesn’t see into the curriculum.
Commissioner Jacobson said a wild camera in a classroom to tape the whole class could
work, that it could be moved to different classes to showcase different subjects. Ms.
Johnson said there were privacy and permission issues that need to be considered, to
respect the learners.
Commissioner Browning asked about the other media or tv funding, and how much was
spent totally.
Ms. Johnson said it was hard to say.
At 7:10pm, after all questions had been answered., the District representatives had to
leave to attend a School Board meeting. Chairman Raiber asked for further discussion.
Commissioner Browning said that the District seems to be making headway, and doing
better than at this time last year.
Mr. McHugh turned on the television to Channel 32 and there was discussion about the
video text displayed, and that mostly upcoming sporting events were listed.
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Commissioner Jacobson said that schedules could be posted at the library, at City Hall
and other places in the community, and that perhaps the schedules and announcements
could be verbalized, so that they could be heard in addition to printed on the screen. He
said in years past, they ran school announcements on the channel, and that in his opinion,
if they want more funding, then accounting for what they do would be critical.
Mr. Dunlap said that breaking with the $25,000 request could be done, but that there
should be a clear reason for it, before sending the recommendation to the City Council.
For example, to fund one of their requests as listed in the hand out.
Commissioner Boddy said that the new amount shouldn’t be considered the new starting
point.
Commissioner Jacobson said that adding the year round assistant would be the best, for
$5120, if there was accountability, like a report of hours.
Commissioner Browning read the criteria from last year; 1) Detail on how the funds
will be used to program Cable Channel 32 and produce original programming
2) How the District’s television production facilities will be made available to the
community
3) A review of the previous year’s programming as reflected in monthly program
reports as provided by other locally funded channels; and asked, have these criteria been
met?
Commissioner Ganyo said that the community component of the criteria had not been
met.
Mr. McHugh said that he was surprised that they don’t use Channel 32 to cheer on the
award winning schools the way they do with District publications.
Commissioner Browning said it could be staffing , or lack of staff training (to use the
video text equipment). He said he wouldn’t want to fund the curriculum development
proposal, that the franchise fees should be used to enhance Channel 32, and Chairman
Raiber and Commissioner Boddy agreed.
Mr. McHugh suggested adding a media assistant and demonstrating how they would be
available to the public. Commissioner Boddy said to also increase the presence at the
Junior HS. Mr. McHugh said that rarely was programming on after 6:00pm, implying
that students were sitting in the office pressing the play and stop buttons. Commissioner
Browning said that meant programming wasn’t on when people were home. He asked
how much an automated playback system would cost, and Mr. McHugh said about
$6,000, for 8 VCR’s capable of VHS or SVHS.
Commissioner Boddy said that more detail from them would be needed about what
they’d do with any additional funding.
Commissioner Huiras said that the Commission could give them $25,000 now and
$8,000 later if we want to. Chairman Raiber said that the additional funding could come
with a strong recommendation for a playback system.
Commissioner Huiras moved to approve the District’s 1997 request for funding of
$25,000 from cable tv franchise fees. It was seconded by Commissioner Browning,
and passed 6-0.
After further discussion about additional funding, Commissioner Huiras asked staff to
draft a letter to the District about their request for additional funding for 1998. A
special meeting was called for June 17 to discuss the District’s response.
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7. New Business
A. Elect vice chair
Commissioner Browning nominated Commissioner Huiras for vice chair.
Commissioner Ganyo seconded, and the motion passed 6-0.
8. Reports
Commissioner Huiras said that on the complaint log it looked like some customer
service reps could use some sensitivity training. Commissioner Ganyo said that
Paragon has said they meet state or federal guidelines and that he’s surprised they don’t
plan to improve on them.
9. Communications from the Chair
10. Communications from City staff
Mr. Dunlap said the annual report has gone to Council, and that copies are available for
Commissioners to review. He said that the Smokey Bear fire safety puppet show
program was done, and that the Department of Natural Resources plans to distribute it
state wide. After numerous calls of interest, he taped the recent Railroad meeting. He
said that since the Council did not act on the revised bylaws within 30 days, they are
now in effect. He said Arlen Mattern of Paragon has received the new monthly report,
adopted by the Commission at the last meeting, and will use it for the next report.
Mr. McHugh distributed a handout about the St. Paul public schools.
11. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Huiras to adjourn at 9:02pm, seconded by
Commissioner Boddy, and passed 6-0.
Respectfully submitted by recording secretary Reg Dunlap