The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2010/05/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - Regular UNOFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING OF May 13, 2010 ST. LOUIS PARK COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Browning, Dale Hartman, Toby Keeler and Bill Theobald MEMBERS ABSENT: Rick Dworsky, Mike Mulligan and Rolf Peterson STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator; John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator; Jamie Zwilling, Communications Coordinator 1. Call to Order Chair Browning called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. 2. Roll Call Present at roll call were Commissioners Browning, Hartman, Keeler and Theobald. 3. Approval of Minutes for February 11, 2010 It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Hartman, to approve the minutes of February 11, 2010, without changes. The motion passed 4-0. 4. Adoption of Agenda Commissioner Keeler requested item 6e, Update on NATOA Webinar be added. It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Theobald, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed 4-0. 5. Public Comment - None 6. New Business A. Boards and Commissions Recognition & National Volunteer Week Mr. Dunlap thanked Commissioners for their volunteerism and read the Council Resolution. B. Wireless Hot Spots Subcommittee update: plans for Lenox Community Center Mr. McHugh stated they were waiting for technical assistance from the School District to do the installation. They hoped to be operating by the next meeting and have it available on the west end of the building for the first floor and lower level. C. Presentation on the City’s use of social media like Facebook and Twitter Mr. Zwilling discussed the City’s social media pages, web site, Facebook and Twitter. He noted they were a leading City in using social media. He displayed the draft policy of usage and indicated this was a new way to reach out to residents and businesses effectively. Facebook allows the City to share messages (i.e. parking bans), have a public forum to receive comments and answer questions, and post multi-media, like Park Update or links to videos on YouTube. The City’s Facebook page has nearly 2000 fans and is monitored by Communications and Information Services staff. Communications staff posts the same messages to Twitter, where there are 588 followers and no ability for interaction. The web site includes streaming video and lots of City produced programming on demand. D. Comcast’s F.C.C. filing to adjust Basic cable, installation & equipment rates on 6/1/10 Mr. Dunlap presented a report on the rates. Comcast filed with the FCC to adjust basic cable, installation and equipment rates on June 1, 2010. Comcast is not changing the price of Basic cable for customers, so no action is required in that area. He said no action was required on installation and equipment fees, but that staff could do further research and report back at the next meeting. Commissioners asked for further research and a report. E. Update on NATOA Webinar Commissioners Keeler and Dworsky, Mr. McHugh and Mr. Dunlap listened to the NATOA Webinar. Mr. Dunlap discussed a PowerPoint presentation on why Broadband is useful to State and local communities. He also presented a handout. Commissioner Keeler indicated it focused on cities offering networks to provide inherent community needs and benefits, as opposed to an economic viability or payback. What the City of St. Louis Park is doing in social networking falls in line with those community benefits. Mr. Dunlap quoted a speaker at the webinar as calling those the “soft benefits” of offering telecommunications networks. Mr. McHugh added that there is a financial aspect and they could define success in metrics other than financial profit. Broadband is a social utility. 7. Unfinished Business - None A. Proposed Park TV & School District #283 agreement Mr. Zwilling presented the background of the relationship with the School District. The agreement is completed and will go before the City Council at an upcoming meeting. City staff will be able to use the studio during school hours, although the school will have first use of the studio. Access to the building was a safety concern. Those using the studio will need to follow the school rules, sign in with the office and get the keys. Park TV staff will take over School Board meeting coverage and do video on demand and cablecast for channel 14. The City will own the new equipment, take responsibility for it and have the ability to make changes to the studio. The agreement also included a termination agreement and will take effect on July 1st. It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Hartman, to recommend that the City Council approve the Proposed Park TV & School District #283 agreement. The motion passed 4-0. B. Long term fiber infrastructure planning update Mr. Dunlap indicated that Mr. Pires asked that this item be included on the August agenda and that a sub committee work with him on the scope, planning and execution. Commissioners Browning and Keeler agreed to work on the sub committee. C. Time Warner audit update Mr. Dunlap stated he sent a memo to Commissioners outlining the settlement proposal. Time Warner had agreed to pay $3,338 because a period of time had elapsed when Time Warner was not audited or reviewed. Staff recommended that the Commission accept Time Warner’s proposal as the conclusion of the audit. This would result in the City collecting $1,542 from Comcast and $3,338 from Time Warner for a total of $4,880. It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Theobald, to approve Time Warner’s proposal and the conclusion of the audit. The motion passed 4-0. Commissioner Keeler asked if the issues raised in the audit had been corrected? Mr. Dunlap replied that Scott Lewis found some addresses where the revenue was going to a neighboring city and that had been corrected. Commissioner Keeler asked if the audit was worth it and if they should discuss the issues before another audit is done? Mr. Dunlap replied that the Commission could discuss it prior to conducting another audit. Mr. McHugh added doing an audit ensures good governance and accountability. 8. Reports A. Complaints Chair Browning asked if the issue of the Condo Association security camera was resolved? Mr. Dunlap replied he hadn’t heard anything further from the apartment or Comcast. Comcast is giving advance notice for “World of More” but are not offering it here yet. Mr. Dunlap indicated they had received several complaints about the Oscar ceremony and equipment malfunction. The equipment was replaced the next day. 9. Communication from the Chair Chair Browning asked if there had been development on the Local Loop WiMAX? Mr. Zwilling replied he had not heard from them and thought they were possibly pursuing other things. Clearwire has leased space on the water towers to place antennas. Chair Browning noted he had received a mailer from Synkro WiMAX with a 4 GB internet. Other Commissioners had not received it. 10. Communications from City Staff Mr. Zwilling indicated Mr. Pires made application for Google’s planned fiber network. There had been 1,077 responses and they hadn’t heard back. Google planned to narrow the list and visit communities by the end of the year. There were 24 applications from Minnesota including: Eden Prairie, Golden Valley and Lake Minnetonka. The Minnesota Association of Government Communicators was giving the City several awards for Inside the Park, Park Update (Best of show) and the Newsletter Park and Recreation Guide. Mr. Dunlap indicated the Council would be using the Council Chambers on December 2nd and asked if the meeting could be moved to December 9th? Commissioners had no objection. 11. Adjournment Commissioner Keeler made a motion, Commission Theobald seconded to adjourn at 8:20. The motion passed 4-0. Respectfully submitted by: Amy L. Stegora-Peterson Recording Secretary