Loading...
TC 06-05-91Cable Television Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Cupertino City Hall June 5, 199I MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by chairman Walt Trefz at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Trefz, Len Batchelor, Jane Chiavacci, Eunice Cox, Mike Wincn. Staff present: Donna Krey, Laura Domondon Channel 30 staff: Dave Barney, Suzanne Orcutt Channel 30 producers: Linda Grodt, Hoa Phan, Mark Gomes, Jim Barrett, Brent Turner, Dieter Runge, Joao Martin United Artists Cable: Daryl Henderson APPROVAL OF MAY I MINUTES Trefz suggested that "Minimum and maximum times for installation was requested" be added after "...whether or not each of the projects gets built." on pg.. 2. Chiavacci motioned to approved the minutes as corrected; Wincn seconded and the motion passed unanimously. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Linda Grodt asked the CTVAC on Bill Lauer's behalf, if a show taped at the access station could be broadcast on another station. The committee told her that according to guidelines, Lauer is able to bicycle tapes where he wishes. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Krey reported that Mayor Koppel received a letter from representative Tom Campbell regarding cable legislation. She also said the Tripartite Agreement is close to signing and that De Anza needs to provide councilmembers with a clean copy to sign. OLD BUSINESS May 1 United Artists Cable Report Carry over This item was discussed under United Artists Cable report. luly Meeting Date After a brief discussion, Chiavacci made a motion to cancel the July meeting which was scheduled for July 3; Batchelor seconded and the motion passed unanimously Grant Appeal - POST! Trefz told committee members that before discussing the grant itself, they should deride if they wanted to award a major grant beyond the published application date. Grant Appeal (cont.) Doing so could set a precedent for other applicants. Batchelor said the grant can be resubmitted during the next cycle and told producers that the CTVAC denied the grant last month because a POST! representative was not present to answer questions. Batchelor suggested the committee consider the grant in October; Wincn and Cox agreed. Committee members also decided to submit questions to Orcutt about the grant so the producer would have an idea of what to clarify on the next application. Chiavacci also told producers that although the committee would like to award the grant, doing so would go against procedure. Krey mentioned that the city council would have final approval and most likely would question the tardiness of the request. NFLCP Annual Convention Orcutt told the committee that she highly recommends producers from Laugh Tracks and Vietnamese Profile to attend the convention. Krey said Chiavacci and Batchelor are interested in attending and that travel and expenses would cost approximately $1,100 per member. She also said any Channel 30 producers going should register before June 10 to take advantage of the early registration fee. Trefz made a motion to approve of Chiavacci's and Batchelor's attendance at the convention; Cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously, with Chiavacci and Batchelor abstaining. NEW BUSII~ESS Grant Avvlications Following discussion about the amount and type of support to be given to two producer teams to attend the NFLCP conference, committee members agreed that the CTVAC would pay for registration fees and provide travel support. As per their grant requests, Jim Barrett and Brent Turner of Laugh Tracks and Hoa Phan and Mark Gomes of Vietnamese Profile would receive a grant of $215 each from this year's grants budget. Further funding, not to exceed $200 per team, would come from the 1991-92 budget for the July conference. Krey said the funds would be available before the conference, which begins July 24. The producers, who are finalists in the conference's Hometown USA Video Festival, were encouraged to attend by the Channel 30 access director and committee members. More .than 2,000 entries from the U.S. were judged. Both teams will be responsible for reporting back to the committee with registration and travel receipts. Batchelor made a motion to provide funding as explained; Chiavacci seconded and it passed unanimously. Report from Suzanne Orcutt Orcutt said producer Donna Yeager from "On the Move" recently received an award for Disabled Adult of the Year presented by the Timpany Center. She reported that she will continue to keep 30 active producer groups and does not plan to train any new groups this summer. Report from Suzanne Orcutt (cont.) Chiavacci ~uggested that producers volunteer for administrative duties. Orcutt mentioned that she would ask volunteers to schedule playbacks. Orcutt told the committee she will cut back on playback of programs produced at other access centers and programs whose producers have not contacted her recently. Groups that live outside Cupertino will be asked to produce programs in their communities. Orcutt distributed the underwriting guidelines and told the committee that phone t~urnbers will not be shown on the air. Barney distributed the 1991-92 access budget showing funds from the city and United Artists and asked the CTVAC if a status report could be given after the second quarter of the fiscal year. Committee members agreed. Barney also said prices listed on the budget are estimates and that a bid will be submitted for all equipment. Barney discussed his meeting with Jim Webb from Sunnyvale who may be interested in starting a public access station. Krey told members that a letter in support of a station could be written to Sunnyvale coundlmembers. Trefz said he could draft a letter. He also asked Orcutt to give Webb a list of volunteers from Sunnyvale who may be interested in starting a station. Barney told Trefz that Webb should contact educational districts for support. Report from Daryl Henderson, United Artists Cable United Artists has received positive response from customers for extending walk-in offic~ hours to 6 p.m. Henderson said the extra hour allows a customer service representative to call back and confirm installation and technical appointments scheduled for the following day. Henderson said UA co-hosted an International Channel launch party at Hamasushi's. He also mentioned that with the recent Heritage "Encore" controversy, incoming phone calls have increased with customers confused about which cable company is sponsoring the promotion. UA is considering to preview Encore in its programming, but will add an option to keep the program. Henderson told the CTVAC he does not have an update on the Sunnyview Retirement Home situation, but that Bruce Muller from Hayward will walk through the property on the following Thursday. Following discussion of the residents' continued interest in obtaining cable, Cox agreed to arrange a group meeting at the retirement home. Report from Donna Krey Krey told the committee that a customer called her sto say she was pleased with Henderson's help resolving a cable matter. She also told the committee that no new applications were received for the vacant seat on the CTVAC and that the council asked her to contact former members to check if they are interested in a temporary appointment. Batchelor will sit on the committee for the seven month te~-m. Krey reported that approximately $1 million was cut from the budget for the coming year and $3 million will be axed over the following four years. Most major Report from Donna Krey (cont.) cutbacks will be on capital improvements. The CTVAC was untouched by budget cuts because of franchise support. The City Channel will work with the Historical Museum to produce a special about the history of Cupertino as seen by the pioneer families. Henderson told Krey that UA will be interested in promoting the program. Krey mentioned that program director Pete Coglianese has dropped down from full-time to 3/4 time. She also said the channel hired a summer volunteer and an intern. Barney asked Krey to contact him in the future for interns. Krey reported that she spoke to the city attorney about residents who have "Encore." The attorney advised "riding out" the situation and watching developments in San Jose. Committee members expressed their concern for the residents who are affected. By consensus, the committee asked Krey to have the attorney or mayor draft a letter to the company denouncing the plan. Report from Eunice Cox, Educational Activities Cox said Fremont Union High School District superintendent's office is interested in the proposed educational program. She said she was referred to the school district's new media representative for further development. Cox said will discuss the program with Harvey Barnett from the Cupertino Union School District. Report from Mike Winch, Equipment Acquisition Wincn received a few equipment surveys from access producers and will wait for more responses to report to the group. He also reviewed an outline for an equipment acquisition plan. Winch said he would like to implement formal procedures, including a form to acquire equipment. Chiavacci suggested that large corporations be approached for equipment donations. CTVAC members expressed appreciation for the work Winch had done. Report from lane Chiavacci, Visit to United Artists Cable Committee members decided to visit th UA Hayward facility on Thursday, July 11, at 9 a.m. Henderson said he will inform engineers of the tour. ADIOURNMENT Batchelor motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m.; Chiavacci seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. APPROVED BY: ATTEST: 4