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TC 03-05-97 Telecommunications Commission Regular Meeting March 5, 1997 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ernest Tsul at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Sal Algeri, L.T. Guttadauro (arrived 7:09 p.m.), Bill Mannion, Ernest Tsui, Mike Winen Staff: Donna Krey, Laura Newman TCI: Kathi Noe De Anza College: Ron Fish Guests: Karen Bumett, Fremont Union High School District, Ronald Moore, The Better Part, Raul Dedrickson, Gordon Horn APPROVAL OF FEB. S, 1997 MINUTES Bill Matmion made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Sal Algeri seconded and the motion passed unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS Oral: Members of the audience introduced themselves to the commissioners. Written: There was none. NEW BUSINESS Mid-year report from CUSD and FUHSD on educational grants: This item was taken out of order. Karen Burnett, from the Fremont Union High School District, said one of her jobs with the district is to oversee the educational television channels. She distributed a copy of the Cupertino Educational Television Grant 1996-97 - Mid-Year Report and an updated budget proposal for 1996-97. Burnett said that not all of the goals have been achieved, however, progress is being made. She said that each of the three high schools in Cupertino have some kind of media or video course, which is a big change from this time last year. Each of the schools has expended its grant funds. The money was used to buy some automated playback equipment some equipment for the schools. Monta Vista bought a camera, Homestead has purchased background music and is in the process of buying a titler, and Cupertino bought some of their editing equipment. The money was divided equally among the schools. Cupertino Union School District is providing some of the money to help fund the automated playback systems, which is one of the areas Burnett and Harvey Barnett have worked on together. She said some of the things still to be done are to establish a program schedule, advertise to the community, develop operating procedures and guidelines for Channel 63/95, move equipment to the permanent location on the Cupertino High School campus, and provide more equipment and learning opportunities for students. Guttadauro reminded the 6ommissioners that there were private and parochial schools in the city, which also should be eligible to receive grant money. The commission thanked Bumett for her report. Harvey Barnett, from the Cupertino Union _., School District, will make his presentation at the April meeting. OLD BUSINESS Review of the Telecommunications Panel Discussion. The Cupertino Courier did not publish a story about the event. Wincn said he would like some feedback from the Rotary Club to see whether they would want to hold this type of event again. Krey said the event worked well as a Rotary Club program. The four panelists were well prepared, and the moderator did an excellent job keeping the event moving. Mannion has edited the program and used the view foils on the videotape. He says there are just a couple of things that need to be done with the help of Ron Fish and then it will be ready to be shown on Channel 26. Fish said he would E-mail ail of the commission members when the program will be scheduled for Channel 26. Krey said that overail the event was successful. Everybody worked hard and did a good job. She thanked Bill for ail his help in coordinating the event. Tsul said that the credits should include the steering committee members. 1997 Work Plan: Guttadanro said he would like to see the commission stay involved in the Visions and Voices training which was held last weekend. He was the spokesperson for the high tech portion of the training, which may involve making this commission a little more active in community action programs and programming. One suggestion was to try to include members in a City stewardship role. He would like to foster this concept by staying on top of specific actions for the telecommunications commission. Krey suggested that each commission member choose two or three goais. The following are - some of the ideas that were discussed: improve publicity of the public access channel, create a liaison member from the commission to meet with other cities and discuss telecommunication issues, production of public access videos focusing on public safety, locai news, aunuai report, and a community education event in 1998, and special award to an outstanding producer. Guttaclauro made a motion to accept the goals as outlined for 1997, keeping the ongoing goals from 1996; Winch seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Following is the 1997 work plan: 1) Ongoing: grants (educational and public access), web site information; 2) Telecommunication liaison with other cities--(Wincn); 3) Promotion/awareness of access channel--(Algefi); 4) Produce videotapes -- a) stewardship--(Guttadauro); b) locai news; c) public safety; d) annuai report (Mannion); 5) Community Education Event (1998); and 5) Special award for access producers. Winch volunteered to put together a draft schedule for 1997, which will include the ongoing goais from 1996 and the new goais for 1997, as well as the commission member who is assigned a particular goai. These goals will become part of each meeting agenda. The draft will be provided to the commissioners for review at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS Review of grant application from The Better Part: This item was taken out of order. Tsui told Ronald Moore that the commission supported The Better Part because it is such an excellent show. Moore infom~ed the commissioners that The Better Part is requesting a $250 grant to ensure the success of the celebration of its 500t~ show. Krey suggested that the commission could grant one-third of the budget that has been allotted for promotion, which is $150, with the understanding that this · - money would be used only for promotion. The commission could aiso give $100 for the use of the Porta-pak. The total amount for the grant would be $250. The commissioners requested The Better Part submit an amended budget with the promotion section broken down and showing $150 for videotapes, etc. Winch made a motion that the commission accept the grant contingent upon an amended budget being provided; Tsui seconded and the motion passed. Krey said she would present the grant to the city council as soon as she receives the amended budget. OLD BUSINESS Update on De Anza Access Facility maintenance: Krey reminded the commissioners that at its prior meeting it was decided that the commission send a letter to Maxtha Kanter, president of De Anza College, complaining about the access facility and some of its safety problems. Kanter received the letter prior to it being finalized and she called the city manager to discuss it with him. He in turn talked with Krey about it and asked her to contact Kanter, which she did. Kanter contacted Willie Pritchard who then contacted Krey regarding the concerns outlined in the draft letter. He told Krey that some temporary work has been done to try and alleviate the situation during the rainy season. The work includes blocking off various pipes so the water flows in different directions and doesn't drain into the facility. They've also installed some sump-pumps by the fire exit doors. These are activated when a certain amount of rainfall is measured. According to John Schultz, the facility manager, the ground has to be completely dry before any kind of permanent fix can be attempted. The project is scheduled for spring or summer. Krey said Pfitehard also told her of the frustrations he also has had in his dealings with Mr. Schultz. He told her that if the work is not completed in spring or summer, the commission should send a letter directly to Schultz at the district office, with a copy sent to both I~anter and Pritehard. Mannion suggested that Fish inform the commission about the progress of the repair work during his monthly reports. He said he would be happy to do that. It was decided that if Fish has no progress to report by the June meeting, the commission will send a letter to Sehultz reminding him of the understanding. Wincn said he would put a reminder about this on the work plan calendar. - Fish told the commissioners that a new light has been installed in Studio A and works fine. He checks the lights about once or twice a week, and the back-up lights still have not been installed. Paul Dedrickson, a member of The Better Part production teem, told the commission that other problems with the lights have been going on for several years. There are four floodlights that are used during taping and all of the lights are supposed to have screens on them. One of the lights had no screen and Dedrickson told someone in the access studio about it and it was disconnected. He said that two weeks ago, the lamp had been re-connected. He says it is very dangerous not to have a screen on all four of the floodlights. He suggested that a tag be attached to each screen indicating the danger of removing a screen. The commission asked Fish to call Musson Theatrical Co. and get a replacement screen, and to disconnect the lamp until the replacement screen arrives. Mannion suggested that these kinds of problems be brought up at the producers' meetings. Review of public access producer agreement: The commissioners reviewed a corrected public access producer agreement as well as a list of the revisions, which Guttadauro provided. Fish said he could not f'md Exhibit A where it was changed from three criteria to four. Guttadauro made a motion to add the fourth criteria from Section 9.1.4 from the producer agreement which states "or has obtained permission from the Public Access Director as evidenced in the attached authorization form" to Section 4.A of Exhibit A; Winch seconded, and the motion passed by a vote of 4 to 1 (Mannion opposed). After the change has been made to Exhibit A, and as per the commission's request from a couple of meetings ago, a copy will be given to the telecommnnications issues liaison, who will take it to the Los Altos facility. The commission will review the public access producer agreement on a - yearly basis in order to keep it updated. Selection of Web Site Liaison: Tsui made a motion designating Guttadauro as the commission's web site liaison; Algeri seconded and the motion passed unanimously. De Anza College: Fish reported that De Am,a Access volunteered to judge videos for the Northwest Video Awards. He said it is a time-consuming project but well worth it since it provides an opportunity to see what other access stations do. Two of the field cameras have been damaged. The remote was taken to the Quinlan Center and was used to shoot the Telecommunications Forum. Fish's assistant, Bob, will only be able to work three days a week until July due to district rules. The commissioners suggested one option might be to increase another employee's hours in order to cover the two days when Bob will not be working at the studio. Gordon Horn told the commissioners that sharing facilities of Edit B has been working out fine. TCI: Kathi Noe said that Dave Walton was sorry he would not make it to the meeting tonight. Mannion asked her if the buildout is on schedule and she told him there was still 15 months to go. City of Cupertino: Krey reported that she had received TCI's filings for an annual rate increase. She also distributed a copy of an article about four different cities and what their rate increases are going to be. Wincn will assist Krey in reviewing the numbers within the next 90 days. Noe said that Dave Walton volunteered to meet with Winch and Krey to answer any questions they might have. Krey said she would put an article in the Cupertino Scene about TCI's rate hike. Guttadauro and Mannion requested copies of the current franchise agreement. Krey will send Algeria copy, too. SWING week will begin the week of March 17. Approximately 450 students, from kindergarten to eighth grade, will participate in the event. Four of the schools will be participating in a game show called "City Jam." Krey said the public is welcome to attend any of the events. A meeting is scheduled March 10 with representatives from De Anza College, Krey and Don Brown to discuss the access channel's money situation. Krey said she will talk about the problems going on at the access operation. Mayor's breakfast report: Guttadauro attended the February meeting along with the new chairperson of the library commission and the mayor. Mayor Bautista was interested in hearing feedback on the recent teambuilding session. The next breakfast meeting will be held March 20 and Algeri volunteered to attend. ADJOURNMENT Mannion made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:17 p.m.; Guttadauro seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The next regular meeting will be held April 2 at 7 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Chairperson