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TC 09-04-91CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting September 4, 1991 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, Eunice Cox, Mike Wincn; Absent: Jane Chiavacci Staff present: Donna Krey Channel 30 staff: Su2anne Orcutt, David Barney United Artists Cable: Daryl Henderson APPROVAL OF AUG. 7, 1991 MINUTES Winch questioned whether or not he made a statement regarding the makeup of a re-franchising subcommittee; Krey said she would check the tape to verify and make a Change in the ~nUtes if necessary. Cox moved to approve the minutes with that condition; Batchelor seconded andthe motion passed unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS Oral: Virginia Miller and Iola Hendrikson.from Sunnyview Lutheran Retirement Home introduced themselves, saying they were interested in finding out how the home was to receive cable. P.J. Doyle of the West Valley Student Video Production Group introduced himself and offered a presentation on the group. Cox inquired what his interest in the CTAVC was, and Doyle explained he had spoken to Orcutt about bicycling tapes to Channel 30. Orcutt said Ch~ 30 will begin cablecasting on a playback basis in October. Doyle said he hoped his group and a student group organized by Orcutt could work together in getting tapes..produce~ and aired. Written: Wincn distributed articles on high density television (HDT) for information. The committee noted a letter from John H. Drexler to Daryl Henderson explaining why he was canceling his cable service. OLD BUSINESS New subscriber hookup: Cox explained that she had arranged with the Sunnyview director that a survey would be taken to determine how many residents were interested in receiving cable. The two-day survey produced 73 signatures. Guests Miller and Hendrikson indicated that two days was not enough time to inform residents of the survey. Cox sent the petition to United Artists. Henderson said he reviewed the survey and reiterated that the cost for building a cable system at Sunnyview would be about $75,000' for 242 residents-the rate of return on that investment would be about 20 years, he said. One of the biggest problems at Sunn~iew, according to Henderson is the fact that there are no existing conduits intO the building. He asked the committee to help him think of alternatives. Cox said supplying cable service to common areas alone at the home would not meet the needs of the residents. Henderson offered to look into available wireless systems, saying ~the Valley Green complex had recently gone this route. Committee members asked that alternatives on servicing Sunnyview be placed on the October agenda and Henderson was asked to supply information on the penetration rate at other retirement homes. Batc.helor requested that he also provide a breakdown indicating how much of the $75,000 figure is needed to get the signal to the complex and how much is internal wiring. Re-franchising: Batchelor reminded the committee that the United Artists franchise with the city expires four years from this October. He expressed concern that the city prepare for the renewal process and that United be given a chance to resolve concerns prior to negotiations. He suggested two CTVAC members form a subcommittee to monitor the present franchise and prepare for the renewal process. Batchelor said the future requirements of the city--such as possible one-wire households--be looked into as well. He made a motion to that effect and Wincn seconded. Barney asked if the city should employ a consultant for the renewal process. Krey responded that such services were extremely costly and may only be necessary if there were major areas of disagreement. She said former deputy city attorney Leslie Lopez had put together a timeline for the Heritage franchise renewal two years ago and it would be worthwhile to use that as a guide for the upcoming process. The committee also agreed that material obtained by Batchelor at the recent NFLCP conference on re-franchising was useful reference information and should also be used in setting up a method for dealing with the re-franchising. Wincn volunteered to sit on the subcommittee and Batchelor suggested Chiavacci as the second member of the subcommittee. Barney offered his aid in the process and Batchelor and Trefz did the same. Batchelor modified his motion to include the names of the subcommittee members; Cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Grant Accountability: Wincn offered a form for producers to use asking for receipts on all major and minor grant expenditures. Cox questioned whether or not small purchases for minor grants should be itemized on the form. Committee members agreed they should request accounting for all purchases and could make case by case decisions should items be left off the form. Members made slight modifications to the form, suggesting the title Business Name be changed to Supplier/Vendor and that the form be due from producers within 30 days of completion of project. Trefz suggested Wincn meet with Orcutt to see how his form can be integrated into the grant guidelines. The committee will address the idea of forming a grants subcommittee to review the administrative details of awarding grants at the October meeting. Also at the October meeting, they will vote on the modified grant accountability for~-~. January Meeting Date: Krey told the committee that another commission would be meeting in Conference Room A on Jan. 8, 1992, but that the conference room downstairs would be available that day. The change in meeting date is necessary because the committee's regular meeting in January fall.~ on New Year's Day. She said another option would be to move the meeting to Jan. 15. Barney said the committee could meet at De Anza. CTVAC members agreed to meet Jan. 8, 1992 in the downst~i~'s room at City Hall since it was available. Educational TV: Cox informed the committee that Orcutt is setting up opportunities for high school students to have training at the college and a meeting is scheduled Sept. 9 at Monta Vista High School. Cox has been working with the elementary schools and reported that school principals were asking interested teachers to serve as site representatives for a training program. She said she would inform Orcutt and the committee when a date had been set for the first meeting with these teachers and school officials. Trefz thanked both Cox and Orcutt for the educational outreach work they have done. NEW BUSINE55 Western Regional NFLCP: Orcutt said she would not be able to attend this conference in Pasadena scheduled ne.xt month, but asked cornnaittee members to support travel and conference expenditures for her assistant, Mark Romo, saying the event would be extremely benefidal to him as a producer trainer. Batchelor said he appreciated the value of attending the conference. Krey reminded the CTVAC that city funds for conferences and meetings were intended for committee members appointed by the city council. She said in the past, the CTVAC had financially supported travel expenses for the Access Director, because they believed it was important for the director to network, learn of current trends and represent Cupertino. On several occasions, these travel expenditures were matched, or at least supplemented, by De Anza College. She cautioned the committee to think about the travel budget and make sure there was enough money for upcoming conferences they themselves might want to attend. For discussion purposes, Trefz made a motion to offer $200 in support of Romo attending the conference. Wincn seconded and discussion followed. Trefz said he felt strongly that the Access Director should be the one attending the conference, and if she were unable to do so, he was not willing to fund money for an assistant. Cox echoed the feeling and remarked that the city already has contributed to the college, as well as provided funding through grants for two producers to go to Portland. Wincn said if much of the same material is covered at other conferences, it probably would not be necessary to have a representative in Pasadena. Trefz called for the vote and the committee unanimously denied the request to provide funds for the conference. REPORT FROM UNITED ARTISTS CABLE Henderson reported a 61.9 percent penetration rate in Cupertino, as well as gains in premium units this month. He said a new office manager, Alyce Moon, would begin work Sept. 9. Due to the dish adjustment at De Anza, he said signal quality has improved noticeably. In addition, a new modulator has been installed at City Hall for Ch. 53. Henderson also spoke about TCI's takeover of United Artists, saying the change would take effect in November, however, TCI would be keeping the Cupertino system intact. A benefit that may come with the merger may be that the microwave feed would originate from Palo Alto, instead of from across the Bay, resulting in better picture quality. Barney asked if the Tripartite Agreement would have to be modified because of a different cable company servicing the area. Krey said she would check with the city attorney to see if all agreements and ordinances would be valid as written. STAFF REPORT Krey invited all CTVAC members to attend a lecture by renowned speaker Layne Longfellow on Oct. 4, saying the city has spaces available for all committee/commission members. She also reported that The City Channel would be providing election coverage in the form of platform statements, debate cablecasting and election night updates. And, she informed members that the annual Civic Service Award ceremony would take place Oct. 10 at the Quinlan Center. REPORT FROM DE ANZA COLLEGE Barney said the chief engineer's position has been authorized and will be filled. Orcutt said the fall session is booked, with 36 active producer groups. De Anza engineers are preparing a schematic and rewiring for Control Room A, as well as installing new equipment. She also reported the Cupertino Courier will print Ch. 30's playback schedule beginning in September and a feature is planned on Hometown USA finalists and winners. ~ Orcutt also expanded upon her efforts to provide training to high school students, saying she will offer training to six to eight students from each. of the five high schools in the Fremont Union High School District in the fall. The goal would be to produce a Christmas program and later, news programs and other student productions. Orcutt outlined where equipment repair and replacement is since the signing of the Tripartite Agreement, s.aying basic needs are being met, but additional equipment would be needed to give producers a competitive edge. She also indicated that she would plan to attend the Sept. 24 Sunnyvale city council meeting, which is scheduled to hear a report on implementing public access in their city. ADTOURNMENT Batchelor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.; Cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The next CTVAC meeting will be held Oct. 2, 1991 in Conference Room A at City Hall. APPROVED: Walter Trefz, Cha]r~n ATTEST: City C1 erk~/