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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCable Advisory Board 1992 Minutes RECORD OF INFORMATION SESSION CABLE ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 4, 1992, 5:30 PM. loth Floor Council Chambers, City Hall At the scheduled regular meeting time, Board Chairperson Therese Porn noted that a quorum was not present. ROLL CALL Present were: Therese Clingman Porn Dr. Richard Funk Frank Buzzitta Luke Schafer Absent were: Jim Holcomb Ryan Wilson, excused Pauline Johnson-West Rudy Reyes Also present were: Pat Wilson, Lansing System General Manager, Continental Cablevision Dolores and Alton Burley, GNS-39 Harold Leeman, 529 N. Francis Ron Onufer, City Council Principal Legislative Assistant Karen Schmidt, Cable Channel 28 Manager Lacking a quorum, the Board did not conduct a business meeting. Several items were informally discussed as an information session. The group adjourned at 6:25 PM. Prepared by Ron Onufer, Board Secretary REGULAR MEETING LANSING CABLE ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, March 4, 1992 -- 5:30 PM loth Floor Council Chambers, City Hall AGENDA 1. Call to Order a. Roll Call b. Excused Absences 2. Approval of February 5 Minutes 3. Public Comment on Agenda Items 4. Communications and Petitions 5. Reports a. From the Chairperson b. From the Vice Chairperson C. From the Secretary d. From the Cable System General Manager 6. Action Items a. Access Channel Operating Rules b. Timing of Next Grant Cycle C. Status of Cable Channel 39 7. Discussion and Pending Items 8. Tabled Items a. Letter from Delores Burley regarding Channel 39 (pending report from the City Attorney) 9. Receipt of Late Items (action requires suspension of Rules) 10 . Public Comment 11 . Adjourn MINUTES CABLE ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, February 5, 1992, 5:30 PM loth Floor Chambers, City Hall The February 1992 regular meeting of the Lansing Cable Advisory Board was called to order at 5:34 PM on Wednesday, February 5, 1992, by Therese Porn, Chairperson. ROLL CALL Boardmembers present were: Frank Buzzitta Therese Clingman Porn Luke Schafer Pauline Johnson Ryan Wilson Dr. Richard Funk Rudy Reyes Boardmember absent was: Jim Holcomb, unexcused Also present were: Pat Wilson, Lansing System General Manager, Continental Cablevision Michelle Webb, Programming Director, Continental Cablevision Shiner Burley, GNS-39 Dale Dobberstein, Public Access Producer Harold Leeman, 529 North Francis Lloyd Teets, 116 East Elm Al Knot, City Attorney Karen Schmidt, Cable Channel 28 Manager Ron Onufer, Board Secretary Chairperson Porn introduced new Boardmembers Rudy Reyes and Dr. Richard S. Funk. Boardmember Reyes' appointment was confirmed on December 16, 1991, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Blanchard's resignation, for a term to expire June 30, 1995. Boardmember Funk's 1 appointment was confirmed on February 3, 1992, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Marotta's resignation, for a term to expire June 30, 1993. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 6 & 7. 1991 MEETINGS Chairperson Porn asked that Page 6 of the draft minutes be amended. In the paragraph concerning the grant application from Betty Carter Cooney, the amendment would change the second sentence to read, "Mr. Onufer reported that she has a fine reputation as an access producer, and the interview segments of her programs have great value to the community." The amendment was approved without objection. BOARDMEMBER BUZZITTA MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM Board Secretary Ron Onufer asked that two items be added to the printed agenda. City Attorney Al Knot was prepared to brief the Board on a recent decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals on a cable-related case called City of Lansing v Edward Rose Realty. Also, Mr. Onufer wished to brief the Board on a recent rulemaking by the Federal Communications Commission called "Video Dial Tone." The Board agreed to hear about these items, and approved the expanded agenda. Dale Dobberstein thanked the Board for recommending a grant for his program "Lansing Insight" and promised to do everything required by the grant contract. Lloyd Teets commended the Board. He told Boardmembers he had seen many governmental boards in action and this was one of the best. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS The December 8, 1991, letter of resignation from Michael Marotta was received and placed on file. The December 20, 1991, letter from Dr. Richard Halik, Superintendent of the Lansing School District, to Ron Hartman, Continental Cablevision Vice President of Operations, was received and placed on file after a brief discussion. This letter explained that the school district agreed to temporarily relinquish Cable Channel 41, an educational access channel under the school district's control, back to Continental in exchange for some 2 new equipment that will automate playback of tapes on the district's Cable Channel 40 and other considerations. The "loan" of Cable Channel 41 will last until Continental rebuilds the Lansing system and increases its channel capacity. During the loan period, Cable Channel 41 will be used full-time to carry C- SPAN from Washington, D.C. Cable Channel 28, operated by the City, has been carrying C-SPAN on a shared basis for several years at Continental's request. During the loan period, Cable Channel 28 will show C-SPAN II, which is coverage of the U.S. Senate, overnights and on weekends. Pat Wilson's January 28, 1992, letter announcing Continental's move into the system's new building at 1401 Miller Road was received and placed on file. Ms. Wilson spoke on this matter during her report. REPORTS Chairperson Porn reported that a small controversy occurred at City Council when the Mayor's appointment of Boardmember Reyes was presented to Council. Mr. Harold Leeman objected to quick action by the Council on December 16, 1991, in confirming Boardmember Reyes' appointment without referring the matter to a committee. Chairperson Porn wanted it noted for the record that she had personally recruited Boardmember Reyes for the vacancy on the Board, and had spoken to Councilmembers prior to their action. Since most Councilmembers knew Boardmember Reyes personally, they waived the normal (but not required) procedure of inviting a new appointee in to be interviewed by a commitee before confirmation. Mr. Leeman, present during Chairperson Porn's report, had no further comment. There was no Vice Chairperson's report due to the vacancy in this position. Board Secretary Ron Onufer briefed the Board on a recent FCC Rule on "Video Dial Tone" which gave permission to telephone companies to carry video programming to customers without the need of a cable franchise from the local franchising authority. Cities around the country have formed a coalition to fight the FCC Rule in federal court, since the Rule is seen as a significant step toward elimination of the franchise requirement for any provider of video services, including incumbent cable operators. BOARDMEMBER SCHAFER MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY EXPLORE GOING ON RECORD IN OPPOSITION TO THE FCC RULE. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3 BOARDMEMBER JOHNSON-WEST MOVED THAT BOARDMEMBERS SEND LETTERS OF PROTEST ABOUT THE RULE TO FCC CHAIRPERSON SIKES, WITH COPIES TO THE MICHIGAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AND THAT THE BOARD REQUEST THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO ALSO SEND LETTERS. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Cable System General Manager Wilson told the Board about Continental's new building and the timetable for moving in. The Board will be invited for a VIP tour when the staff is ready for visitors. ACTION ITEM ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON - With Mr. Marotta's resignation, the position of Vice Chair became vacant. Chairperson Porn opened the floor to nominations. Boardmember Schafer nominated Boardmember Buzzitta. Boardmember Wilson nominated Boardmember Schafer, who declined the nomination. BOARDMEMBER JOHNSON-WEST MOVED THAT NOMINATIONS BE CLOSED AND THAT BOARDMEMBER BUZZITTA BE ELECTED VICE CHAIR BY ACCLAMATION. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONTRACTS FOR 1990 GRANTS - City Attorney Al Knot announced that he had reviewed and approved as to form the contract format developed by Board Secretary Onufer. The contracts will now be individually tailored to each recipient and sent out for signature. Upon return, the contracts will be sent through the City's process to gain signatures by the Attorney, Controller, Mayor, and City Clerk. When this process is complete, grant checks and videotape will be distributed to recipients. REQUEST TO CHANGE GRANT FUND YEAR TO CITY FISCAL YEAR - Board Secretary Onufer explained that the Deputy Controller had requested that the grant fund year be changed from a calendar year basis to a fiscal year basis. The grant fund will not expire at the end of each year, but any remaining funds will be carried forward to the same account for the new year. BOARDMEMBER JOHNSON-WEST MOVED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FROM THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO CHANGE THE GRANT FUND YEAR TO THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS JULY 1 TO THE FOLLOWING JUNE 30. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4 DISCUSSION AND PENDING ITEM Continental Cablevision Programming Director Michelle Webb distributed copies of their revised Public Access Channel Operating Procedures. The Board agreed to read the procedures before the next meeting, at which time access channel policies will be an action item. BOARDMEMBER FUNK MOVED TO RAISE FROM THE TABLE FOR ACTION AT THE NEXT MEETING THE LETTER FROM DELORES BURLEY REGARDING CABLE CHANNEL 39. City Attorney Knot said he would make every attempt to have a report on this matter for the next meeting. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. BOARDMEMBER SCHAFER MOVED TO RAISE FROM THE TABLE FORMER BOARDMEMBER MAROTTA'S PROPOSAL FOR BOARD SUBCOMMITTEES. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The Board decided to take no action on the proposal and to remove it from future agendas. City Attorney Knot briefed the Board on a recent decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals on a cable television case entitled City of Lansing v. Edward Rose Realty. After winning this case in Circuit Court, the City lost on appeal. Consideration was being given to appealing further to the Michigan Supreme Court. BOARDMEMBER FUNK MOVED THAT THE BOARD RECOMMEND TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY PURSUE FURTHER OPTIONS WITH APPEALS REGARDING THIS CASE. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC COMMENT Lloyd Teets, Dale Dobberstein, and Shiner Burley made brief comments. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM. Respectfully submitted by Ron Onufer, Board Secretary Approved by the Board as rinted (amended) on ---- THERESE PORN Chairperson 5 REGULAR MEETING LANSING CABLE ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, February 5, 1992 -- 5:30 PM loth Floor Council Chambers, City Hall AGENDA 1. Call to Order a. Roll Call b. Excused Absences C. Introduction of New Board Members 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Public Comment on Agenda Items 4. Communications and Petitions a. Letter of resignation from Board Member Marotta b. Letter from Lansing School District Superintendent Halik regarding temporary relinquishing of Cable Channel 41 C. Letter from General Manager Pat Wilson regarding the upcoming move into Continental's new building 5. Reports a. From the Chairperson b. From the Vice Chairperson C. From the Secretary d. From the Cable System General Manager 6. Action Items a. Election of Board Vice Chairperson b. Contracts with 1990 Grant Recipients (awaiting approval as to form by the City Attorney) C. Request to change grant fund year to City fiscal year 7. Discussion and Pending Items a. Access Channel Operating Rules 8. Tabled Items a. Letter from Delores Burley regarding Channel 39 (pending report from the City Attorney) b. Subcommittee proposal from Boardmember Marotta 9. Receipt of Late Items (action requires suspension of Rules) 10 . Public Comment 11 . Adjourn