TC 01-08-92CABLE TELEVISION ADVI5ORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
January 8, 1992
conference Room A
City Hall
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by chairman Walter Trefz Jr. at 7 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Trefz, Len Batchelor, Mike Winch
Absent: Jane Chiavacci
Staff present: Donna Krey, Laura Domondon Lee
United Artists Cable: Daryl Henderson
Channel 30 staff: Dave Barney
Guests: Linda Grodt, Jim Black
APPROVAL OF DEC. 4, 1991 MINUTES
Batchelor asked that "may" replace "will" regarding moving the headend on p. 3. Krey
said Orcutt requested that "and remote camera were received" be omitted from the report from
De Anza. Wincn made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; Batchelor seconded and
the motion passed unanimously.
'- COMMUNICATIONS
Oral: Trefz thanked Batchelor for service on the CTVAC. He also said Eunice Cox should
be recognized for her efforts.
Jim Black expressed displeasure with poor cable reception to his residence. He asked
Henderson about United Artists policy of monitoring cable quality and requested a copy of UA's
video specs (standards). Henderson will send him a data sheet and a copy of the letter to
residents regarding cable interference. Winch asked Henderson give a status report at the next
meeting.
Written: Lee distributed handouts not included in the agenda packet. Barney discussed
Suzanne Orcutt's letter to David Austin written because Austin stated in an interview that he
received a grant from the CTVAC. Krey briefly summarized Mr. Schultz' letter which protested
OLD BUSINESS '.
Re-franchising: Non-Profit Corporation Approach, Major Activities, Timelines, Plans,
Progress: Batchelor distributed information on a non-profit,approach oUti~ning common forms
of management transcribed from the NFLCP conference he recently attended. He ~,uggeSted that
the committee contact Michelle Mann, who helped set up a non-profit agency ~L.~M.t.. View, fOr
more information. Krey noted that the ability to hold fund-raisers is an advantageof' a non-
profit approach. Wincn said he also is interested in talking with Mann about non-prgfit.,agency's
pros, cons and success stories. Batchelor said he will contact Mann and former committee
member David Keller about providing insights to this approach. :': ' ·.
Barney suggested that Kathleen Schuller be contacted for a copy of an article on no~profit
agencies. He said he will ask her to advise the subcommittee of this approach. '
Winch said Chiavacci suggested soliciting public input about United Artists in.the
Cupertino Scene. Krey agreed. Wincn said he was concerned with spending for postage for the
questionnaire and responses. Krey said postage can be budgeted for next fiscal year and
mentioned that the committee consider looking for volunteers to assist with the questionnaire
and collect responses. Krey said Senior Center members may be willing to volunteer. Batchelor
'toted that of 1,500 questionnaires sent, 800 responses were received during the Heritage re-
franchising process. Winch suggested that residents could be asked why they do not subscribe to
cable. Henderson said he could provide a mailing list of subscribers to the CTVAC.
NEW BUSINESS
Report to councilmember Wally Dean: Trefz said all councilmembers be considered when
requests are asked of the committee. Krey said requests from the councilmembers involving
additional staff work need to go through the city manager Wincn stated that Dean told him
commissioners and committee members need more recognition and that his request for
additional reports was not a formal one.
Trefz suggested that the committee produce an annual report, which could provide
direction for the next year. He distributed a draft of an annual report. Approval of the yearly
report will be discussed at the next meeting.
REPORT FROM DE ANZA COLLEGE
Barney said the high school program is in full swing and workshops are held for the students
every Friday. He reported that Orcutt met with attorney Peter Franck about reviewing producer
agreements.
Wincn asked about the status of the C3 grant. Krey told him that producer Lionel Lewis
called her earlier during the day to clarify the procedures of re-obtaining grant funds.
Barney discussed a letter from Jim Webb of Sunnyvale. He told the committee that De
Anza is not interested in producing Sunnyvale public access programs in the studio, however,
the college is interested in playback service of Sunnyvale programs, which could be produced at
Foothill.
REPORT FROM UNITED ARTISTS CABLE
Henderson said December was a flat month with not a lot of new hookups. Disconnects, he
thought, were mainly because of people moving and changing spending habits. The recent rate
adjustment had not generated a large volume of calls. He admitted a problem with the
telephones and said more people would be hired shortly to relieve the situation.
He also reported United Artists would be doing business under its current name, with the
wording "a TCI company" written under its logo. The cable company is wiring Stevens Creek
School and the plant extension to the Seven Springs area is complete, following some problems
with a transmitter. The project adds 24 homes to the cable system.
REPORT FROM THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
Krey informed the committee that the 1992 Commissioners Dinner would be coming up in the
next few months and all would be invited. She also said a number of people had applied to fill
the two vacancies on the committee and were being interviewed while the meeting was in
progress. She will see that they are properly introduced at the February meeting.
ADIOURNMENT
Winch made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.; Batchelor seconded and the motion
was approved. The next Cable Television Advisory Committee meeting will be Feb. 5 in
Conference Room A at City Hall.
APPROVED~~%~ ~a: ATT ~~~~ ~.
Walter Trefz, ~ irperson City Clerk ~/'