HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/07/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - Regular Community technology advisory commission meeting
July 21, 2022
6 p.m.
Minutes
Community technology advisory commission
Members present: Rudyard Dyer, Cindy Hoffman, Kelly Heitz, Drew Keogh, Rolf Peterson, Michael
Siegler, Konnor Slaats
Members absent: None
Staff present: Jacque Smith, McHugh
Guests: None
1. Call to order – roll call
Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m. All members present.
2. Introduction of new members
Rudyard Dyer lives in Pennsylvania Park with his wife and a nine-month-old and a dog.
He works in Excelsior and is finishing a master’s degree of science and data science at
the University of St. Thomas.
Drew Keogh has lived in St. Louis Park for close to 17 years, except a three-year gap
living in Colorado. He recently moved to the Lake Forest neighborhood from a previous
home near the St. Louis Park Hennepin County Library. He has a background in media,
video production and communications.
Other commission members introduced themselves briefly to Dyer and Keogh.
3. Approval of minutes – May 19, 2022
Siegler moved, Slaats seconded, all approved the minutes as written.
4. Smart cities initiative committee check ins
Siegler said one action from the May 19 meeting was to find time to meet with the city
council on next steps for the commission. Smith said she checked on this and the city
council’s calendar is extremely challenging through the end of the year, so it’s not likely
this item will be on the agenda in 2022.
Siegler asked Heitz about talking with the City of Burnsville, which had interested in also
starting a technology commission. Heitz said she had not contacted them, but would do
so immediately.
Siegler said the commission is in a holding pattern regarding marketing on broadband
access for underserved groups, such as the elderly and others. He said the government
has created cost-effective programs and the commission should help make sure people
are aware of those programs.
Smith said the city became aware of a robocall in early July that was sent by Comcast to
all Internet Essentials customers, letting them know of the Affordable Connectivity
Community technology advisory commission meeting
July 21, 2022
Program and how to apply. Smith contacted Comcast and they sent flyers and postcards
for the program, in Spanish and English. Those have been placed at city hall and McHugh
will take some to Lenox Community Center as well. Smith handed out samples of the
flyers and postcards to commission members. Hoffman asked if these materials had
been handed out at a recent senior fair held at Lenox Community Center. Smith said
they hadn’t as the materials hadn’t yet been received.
Peterson provided an update on his plug load project. Commission members talked
about the surprising amount of electricity devices can use, such as treadmills or older
appliances. Commission members agreed for individuals, the electricity savings of
unplugging appliances and taking other measures to conserve may be minimal, but
across the whole city it could make an impact.
5. Additional updates from commission members
Siegler said that at this point the commission has closed a number of its open items, so
would be looking for ideas for new things to pursue.
6. Staff updates
Smith provided an update on US Internet expansion in the city. USI expansion along the
Cedar Lake Road/Louisiana Avenue corridor is being coordinated with the city, as a large
road construction project is planned for the area in 2023-2024.
Smith provided an overview of cable revenue franchise trends, in response to a request
from the May 2022 meeting. The 10-year franchise signed with Comcast in May 2021
includes a 5% franchise fee and a 2% PEG fee (which can only be used for capital
equipment). Since the new franchise took effect, there’s been a revenue increase of
nearly 37% to the cable franchise fund. Siegler thanked Smith for providing the info and
said they were interested in this fund to help pay for marketing, but since Comcast is
already providing marketing it likely wouldn’t be needed.
7. Adjournment - Siegler moved, Peterson seconded a motion to adjourn. All voted in
favor. Meeting adjourned 6:31 p.m. Next meeting is Sept. 15, 2022.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Jacque Smith, liaison Mike Siegler, chair