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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999/05/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - Regular Notes of the Cable TV Advisory Commission May 13, 1999 Page 1 APPROVED MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK CABLE TV ADVISORY COMMISSION May 13, 1999 --7:00 P.M. ST. LOUIS PARK CITY HALL FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Browning, Dale Hartman, Ken Huiras, Mary Jean Overend, Rick Dworsky (arrived at 7:15 p.m.) & Robert Jacobson (arrived at 7:35 p.m.). MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator; John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator; and Shirley Olson, Recording Secretary 1. Call to Order - Roll Call Chair Huiras called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 2. Roll Call: All current members of the Commission were present. 3. Approval of Minutes: It was moved by Bruce Browning, seconded by Mary Jean Overend, to approve the minutes of April 8, 1999 meeting of the Cable TV Advisory Commission as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Adoption of Agenda: Chair Huiras asked that a review of the upcoming meeting schedule and work plan be added to the agenda under New Business. 5. Old Business A. School District funding for 2000 B. School District funding request from Franchise Equipment Grant The Commission discussed the School District presentation given by Carolyn Charles at the April 8, 1999 meeting and the District’s request for a funding increase. Chair Huiras stated that he had no problem with an increase. Mary Jean Overend was concerned about what the School District’s actual plans for video were and was interested in the findings of the School District’s Action Team who were going to examine the positions related to technology and develop a strategic plan. Bruce Browning was in favor of an increase, but was concerned about how important video really was to the School District. He felt that if the School District conceded that video was important, that they should have a more detailed plan. He empathized with the School District’s equipment needs, but felt uncomfortable with any funding being used for a salaried position. Notes of the Cable TV Advisory Commission May 13, 1999 Page 2 Chair Huiras concurred. Bruce Browning asked if there was any other source of funding available to the School District. Reg Dunlap stated that he believed this grant would be the only source of capital equipment funding that the School District received and that they may be more focused on computers and fiber optics than expanding video. He explained the breakdown of revenues from the franchise equipment grant. Mary Jean Overend felt that she needed additional information about the plans of the School District relative to cable. She asked if the Commission could wait to make a decision until more information was received. She believed that it was important that students learn presentation skills. Reg Dunlap indicated that approval could be contingent on the School District answering a set of questions that the Commission adopted. He believed that the School District’s Action Team was planning to meet over the summer. Rick Dworsky believed the School District was appealing to help with salary differential of cable position and questioned how St. Louis Park measured up to other communities. John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator briefly described the School District operation of Hopkins. Reg Dunlap noted that Hopkins had staff and students who produced several innovative and high profile cable productions. Chair Huiras asked what the status was of the idea to match funding. Reg Dunlap stated that this idea was still just a concept. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission to grant one third of the franchise equipment grant of $86,000 received from Paragon to the School District. Bruce Browning felt it was important to know how the School District funding was being used. Robert Jacobson believed that the School District had not exercised good judgment in the past as it related to use of funding. He was not sure of what the rules were for the use of franchise fees and believed that the School District needed more direction about how the funds were to be used. The Commission agreed that it was important to help set direction and standards for the School District. The Commission drafted the following list of questions to be submitted to the School District for a response. 1. What are the goals of your Action Plan? 2. What is your Mission Statement? 3. Do you have a schedule of implementation? 4. What role does the teacher on staff have in the program? 5. What is the expected replacement date for the capital equipment list? Notes of the Cable TV Advisory Commission May 13, 1999 Page 3 6. How does cable fit in with your future plans for computer technology? 7. Who is responsible for equipment purchasing? 8. What is your future plans for high profile production or innovative programming? 9. How do you plan to staff after hours for programming on Channel 32? 10. Would the School District be willing to meet with the Commission to discuss future plans for video and cable? It was moved by Bruce Browning, seconded by Robert Jacobson, to grant a one time capital grant of one third of the franchise equipment grant of $86,000 received from Paragon and to request a written response to a list of questions about the School District’s future plans before considering a funding increase for 2000. Motion carried unanimously. C. Needs assessment background and discussion Arlen Mattern, Public Affairs Administrator of Paragon was present for this item. John McHugh presented an update on the current Paragon Cable franchise agreement. He emphasized that Paragon provided good cable service in St. Louis Park and so the City was in a good position when trying to assess community needs compared to other cities. He explained the possibility of approaching area Business Councils, community groups and public and private schools to solicit their telecommunication needs over the next 5-10 years. He noted that Paragon has a web site at their Portland operation, and that a possible customer service need in St. Louis Park would be allowing customers to contact the company through fax or email with a professional response time. He asked the Commission to exchange ideas and explained the need to form a Needs Assessment Subcommittee to work on developing a needs assessment survey. Mary Jean Overend believed that public awareness through education was important to make the public aware of upcoming changes in technology so they can determine personal needs. Robert Jacobson recommended communicating by e-mail to a target group. Rick Dworsky recommended using the Park Perspective, Sun Sailor and local cable programs to solicit information. Bruce Browning, Rick Dworsky, and Mary Jean Overend volunteered to serve on the Needs Assessment Subcommittee. John McHugh asked the subcommittee members to e-mail needs assessment ideas and recommendations to him. 6. New Business A. Review of upcoming meeting schedule and work plan. The Commission reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule. It was noted that Rick Dworsky would be absent at the July 22, 1999 meeting. Notes of the Cable TV Advisory Commission May 13, 1999 Page 4 The Commission recommended that the response from the School District to the list of questions be discussed at the October meeting. 7. Reports A. Rename Commission TV Commission to Telecommunications Commission Reg Dunlap asked Commissioners to review draft of name change and send any concerns or questions to him. He noted that the name change was scheduled on a June agenda for the City Council. B. Cable Complaints The Commission reviewed and discussed the list of cable complaints. Reg Dunlap brought up the complaint that Paragon should do a better job of publicizing basic cable as an option (less than $10 per month for 22 channels). Arlen Mattern said that the company makes its real money from the standard package and additional services, so that is what they promote; however, in the annual price information sent to every customer, basic cable is always listed as available. 8. Communications from the Chair Chair Huiras asked if there was any progress on the development of a city web site. Reg Dunlap said that John McHugh and himself have been asked to help with further developing the City web site. Chair Huiras requested an update of the Cable TV Advisory Commission roster. 9. Communications from City Staff 10. Adjournment With no other business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Bruce Browning, seconded by Robert Jacobson to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Shirley Olson Recording Secretary ATTEST: Reg Dunlap Civic TV Coordinator City of St. Louis Park