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Home My WebLink About2002/08/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 8, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. ST. LOUIS PARK CITY HALL, WESTWOOD ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Browning, Ken Huiras, Bob Jacobson, Mary Jean Overend, and Rolf Peterson. Rick Dworsky arrived at 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS ABSENT: Dale Hartman STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator and John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Arlen Mattern, Time Warner Cable Public Affairs Administrator; Lon Hall, Time Warner Cable MDU Administrator; Karen O’Toole, Housing Administrator of Menorah Plaza; and Linda Samson, Recording Secretary 1. Call to Order Acting Chair Browning called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present at roll call were Commissioners Bruce Browning, Ken Huiras, Bob Jacobson, Mary Jean Overend, and Rolf Peterson; City Staff Reg Dunlap and John McHugh; and Recording Secretary Linda Samson. New Commissioner Rolf Peterson was introduced. 3. Approval of Minutes for May 9, 2002 Corrections: From Commissioner Huiras: Page 2, Paragraph 3, Line 3, change Cable to Telecommunications. From Commissioner Huiras: Page 3, Paragraph 1, Line 2, change Jacobs to Jacobson. It was moved by Commissioner Huiras, seconded by Commissioner Jacobson, to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed 5-0. 4. Adoption of Agenda Commissioner Huiras would like to add a discussion regarding School Board, general update, and the $38,000.00 grant to Item 6, Old Business, as Item 6B. It was moved by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Huiras, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed 5-0. 5. New Business 5A Time Warner Preemption of Channel 6 as a Security Channel Karen O’Toole, Housing Administrator of Menorah Plaza, 4925 Minnetonka Blvd., provided background information regarding the preemption of channel 6 as a security channel at Menorah Plaza. Menorah Plaza is a 151-unit, one- and two-bedroom apartment building, with some handicapped accessible units, in a controlled-entry building. The average age of its residents is 85 years old, and many of them are native Russian speaking. An informational background sheet was included in the Commissioners’ packets, dated July 30, 2002, and prepared by Community TV Coordinator John McHugh. Ms. O’Toole thinks the Time Warner Cable (TWC) recurring charge, which is unrelated to actual subscription level, is unreasonable. There are about 40 TWC subscribers in the building. According to O’Toole, prior to wiring, TWC stated they would add Menorah Plaza’s security channel 6 to their system. Ms. O’Toole doesn’t object to a one-time equipment and installation charge, but does object to a monthly fee. Ms. O’Toole noted that every apartment has two television connections: a master cable antenna, installed when the building was constructed 21 years ago and the Time Warner installed cable. Ms. O’Toole was referred to the Telecommunications Commission, and she would like clarification and help. She stated that it is inappropriate for Menorah Plaza to pay for apartment units that are not on the TWC system. Another issue is the use of channel 6, which is a required channel on basic cable and mandated in the franchise agreement. Lon Hall, TWC MDU Administrator, said Sholom Home wired its own building with what is called a swing system. Mr. Hall said a line feeds into a distribution box and it goes either to the building’s master antenna or it swings to TWC cable. Sholom Home’s security system is carried on their master antenna. Mr. Hall said the charge of .25 cents is an administrative charge. Menorah Plaza does not have a swing system, however, Menorah Plaza has two outlets, i.e., one for the master antenna for the building and one for the cable system. The master antenna carries access for the security camera, the cable does not. Mr. Hall said in exchange for access, TWC will not charge Sholom Home for its cable security camera, and the same will be true for the Roitenberg Family Assisted Living Residence when it opens. Ms. O’Toole said she had no knowledge that she could have negotiated the same agreement—no charge to Menorah Plaza in exchange for TWC to gain access. Commissioner Dworsky arrived at 7:30 p.m. Ms. O’Toole and Mr. Hall will discuss options for a remedy after the meeting or on August 9th. Arlen Mattern, TWC Public Affairs Administrator, said the channel 6 signal is being sent to Menorah Plaza but they are not taking the channel. Mr. Mattern would like additional time to review the facts and come up with a solution to the channel 6 issue. He asked that the Telecommunications Commission not take this matter to the City Council until TWC has worked with City Staff. It was moved by Commissioner Huiras, seconded by Commissioner Jacobson, to direct Lon Hall, Arlen Mattern, Karen O’Toole, and City Staff to meet prior to the Telecommunications Commission meeting of October 17, 2002 to discuss the issues related to this item and provide a recommendation to the Telecommunications Commission. The motion passed 6-0. 5B Time Warner Annual Filings Civic TV Coordinator Reg Dunlap said the franchise fee auditor, Scott Lewis, has requested specific information in regard to the financials. Commissioner Jacobson requested information be given to the Commission regarding direct versus indirect ownership of the cable system. Commissioner Dworsky requested rules for leased access be provided to the Commission, and to include what channels are designated leased access. 5C Time Warner Customer Service Update Deb Squire of TWC will discuss this item in detail at the October 17, 2002 meeting. 5D Franchise Renewal Progress Report John McHugh said that he has been working with the St. Louis Park Business Council to assess their membership’s needs, and plans to work those needs into the renewal talks. 5E Future Options for School Board and City Council Meeting Replays on Civic 17 Mr. Dunlap reported that Councilmember Nelson stated he would like City Council meetings to air more often. Mr. Dunlap said School Board meetings could air on a different channel to accommodate greater air time for City Council meetings and, perhaps, Planning Commission meetings. Commissioner Jacobson said he often comes across School Board meetings, and he favors running other meetings more often. Mr. Dunlap will check for vacancies on channel 16 to air City Council meetings. Commissioner Jacobson suggested airing fewer Planning Commission meetings. Commissioner Huiras thinks channel 14 should be for school-related programming, including adding School Board meetings to that channel. Commissioner Peterson requested airing City Council meetings on Sunday nights. Commissioner Jacobson expressed his desire for more adult learning programs. 5F Telecommunications Commission Grants for Specific Programs Mr. Dunlap discussed various grant options for the Commission to consider. Commissioner Jacobson requested Staff develop an outline for the Commission to consider. Commissioner Browning said that a Telecommunications Commission subcommittee could evaluate the grant applications. 5G By-Laws Reviewed By-laws will be reviewed at the October 17, 2002 meeting. Prior to that meeting, Mr. Dunlap will distribute copies of the by-laws to the Commissioners via email. 5H Competitive Broadband Issues Mr. Dunlap said competition for broadband is poor. An article by Joe Estrella was included in tonight’s packet. 6. Old Business 6A Update: Auditing Time Warner Cable Franchise Fees Mr. Dunlap reported auditor Scott Lewis found about 1,000 addresses on the City’s list that were absent from TWC’s list of all addresses in St. Louis Park. The discrepancy may indicate underreporting of franchise fees because funds may be misdirected to communities other than St. Louis Park. Mr. Dunlap will follow up with Kim Roden. 6B School Board Update Commissioner Huiras asked if information has come in from the school board regarding programming reports, inventory updates, school needs, equipment, and their requests for the next two years. Mr. Dunlap responded no, and he has not received a response in regard to his letter to Dr. Barb Pulliam. Commissioner Huiras wants updates on School Board activities at every meeting. Mr. Dunlap said Commissioner Peterson is the School Board appointee. 7. Reports Commissioner Dworsky asked about a revised list of digital music channels, since there had been several recent changes. Mr. Mattern said that typically the list is updated annually. 8. Communications from the Chair: None 9. Communications from City Staff Mr. Dunlap attended a demonstration of video on demand (VOD), and he was impressed by what he saw. Mr. Dunlap reported that effective July 31, 2002, TWC will no longer impose fees to upgrade or downgrade services. 10. Adjournment It was moved by Commissioner Dworsky, seconded by Commissioner Huiras, to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m. The motion passed 6-0. Minutes prepared by: Respectfully submitted by: Linda Samson Reg Dunlap Recording Secretary Civic TV Coordinator