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TC 05-01-91Cable Television Advisory Com~ittee Regular Meeting Cupertino City Hall May 1, 1991 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Walter Trefz at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Trefz, Eunice Cox, Mike Winch Absent: Jane Chiavacci staff present: Donna Krey Channel 30 staff: David Barney, Suzanne Orcutt Channel 30 Producers: Linda Grodt, Bill Lauer, Roald Didriksen United Artists Cable: Daryl Henderson, Elaine Tirsell APPROVAL OF APRIL 3 MINUTES Barney asked that the third line on page 2 under Oral Communications read: "committee that the producer will contract with the college for production and uplink services for the school and will..." Wincn asked that the words "and in the area" be added after southern California in same section. Trefz noted that the minutes should show that he abstained from voting on a grant request from Don Yeager. Cox moved to accept the minutes as corrected; Wincn seconded and the motion passed unanimously. ORAL CO.MMUNICATIONS Trefz asked producers to introduce themselves. Lauer noted that a producer-friend in Los Altos is not able to receive Channel 30 and Henderson made note of the name. Didriksen commented that the monitors in the control room still needed balancing and producers now are using color charts to compare with what is shown on the monitors. Two of the four monitors can be used, he said. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS There were none. OLD BUSINESS FQllow-up.on monitors: This item was discussed under oral communications. Follow-up on United Artist Cable items: Henderson explained the criteria for approving construction projects involves a density requirement of at least 40 homes per street mile and, on private property, easement rights. In the case of Sunnyview retirement center, he noted the United file showed that previous negotiations for cable service were discontinued when a bulk agreement offer was declined. This agreement means the service is automatically provided by the property owner as a blanket plan to all residents. Henderson said United has re-opened negotiations and has met with residents and is in constant contact with a spokesperson for the group. He explained an updated bid for the total cost would soon be forthcoming. Cox emphasized the "tremendous importance" in getting cable service to those who are confined and said she felt strongly the need to move quickly. Trefz reminded Henderson he was to come back to the committee with bids on six projects and that a 10-day timeline had turned into one month. Henderson replied that three of the six were in progress. OLD BUSINESS, Cont. Barney inquired whethar 0that eon~idera%~ons bes~&es economics determined whether or not a project would be built and Henderson replied that there were many other factors. Committee mem]~ers asked when the decisions to build Sunnyview and other complexes would be made. Henderson said it depended on how long negotiations took, but the contract coorainator was due in his office on Thursday and understood getting these bids was a top priority. Krey asked Henderson if United's financial situation had changed to allow the company to begin new projects before the end of the year. He said no, that any new projects would likely wait until 1992. Committee members protested, with Trefz questioning United's level of service. Henderson responded by saying the company could not commit $200,000 to a new project when the money wasn't there, but he would do all he could to begin the process and keep the residents informed. The committee asked Henderson to submit to Krey within two weeks a statement outlining the steps United is taking to get each of the three projects underway and what the reasons are for determining whether or not each of the projects gets built. Timelines indicating when building would occur also were requested. Telephone Statistics: This item was postponed until later on the agenda. NEW BUSINESS Report from suzanne orcutt: The access director explained that financial problems at De Anza led to laying off student technicians and 'TV cablecasters, but all in all, service levels in the TV Center have suffered only minimally. The biggest change has been discontinuing the access playback schedule on weekends. She reported there was an accident involving two producers from the Better Part, when a wooden flat fell. The producers were not seriously injured but the flat was removed and in the future additional help will be available to the Better Part when setting up and taking down their set. Orcutt said four access producers are finalists in this year's Bay Area Cable Excellence Awards competition. She also indicated that United Artists Cable is making no attempt to maintain or repair equipment while the Tripartite Agreement waits to be signed. Henderson said the agreement involves a sum of money designated to the repair of such equipment. To make the repairs now would be paying twice for the same thing. Barney said that sum was for other things as well and asked that clarification be given on whether or not United was responsible for making repairs up until the agreement is signed. Committee members felt it was responsible. Trefz said he had drafted a letter to the mayor addressing the situation. Following a suggestion from Wincn about the necessity for communicating a sense of urgency, some minor changes were made to the first paragraph of the letter and committee members agreed to have it sent to the mayor, with a copy to City Manager Don Brown. The letter urged the mayor to appoint Brown as a kind of "project manager" charged with expediting the Tripartite signing. Orcutt also talked about Sunnyvale recently signing an agreement with TCI and the fact that the city was considering beginning a PEG program. She asked what involvement the committee would like. REPORT FOR SUZANNE 0RCUTT, Cont. Barney said the college was looking for another satellite site in Sunnyvale and this might be a good opportunity for De Anza's public access program. Winch said since the council has not yet decided whether or not it wants to fund an access program, any action by the committee would 'probably be premature at this point. Trefz said he would try to attend Sunnyvale's council meeting and report back to the committee. Orcutt submitted three options for balancing this year's access budget. All included additional funding from the committee in varying amounts. Krey said the first two options were not real, since'they weren't feasible to do and that left only the third option, which required a $3,700 transfer of funds. Trefz said he was uncomfortable with all three options, but he appreciated Barney's and the college's efforts to keep the program going during stressful financial times. Committee members asked Krey about the budget status and were referred to the printout in their packets, which showed some available funding in the grants account. Trefz asked Orcutt if she had figured any contingency in the requested amount for option three. She answered no, but did not expect any surprises before June 30. Barney said the Tripartite agreement will provide an immediate source of funds for emergency repairs and such. Wincn asked if there was a way to reduce the amount requested for option three and Orcutt said not without seriously damaging the program and her commitment to the producers. But, if the money was not available, production could be decreased. Krey voiced concern over what she termed a "bailout" and said the committee needed assurance that De Anza would not be returning again with requests for funding beyond its yearly allocation. She said if this were approved, the committee should give serious consideration against funding for other things, such as conference expenses for De Anza staff. Barney said the TV Center has always been fiscally responsible and was expected to have more flexibility after June 30 and after signing the agreement. Orcutt said some unusual costs this year also contributed to the shortfall and would not be expected next year. After more discussion, Wincn moved to provide the TV Center with a one-time transfer of funds from the grants account in the amount of $3,700. cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Current guidelines for program content: Orcutt said it came to her attention that one producer was using advertising on his show even though told not to. She said she told him he would not be able to use the facility if he continued to do this. Wincn said he called four different cable groups to see if guidelines were in place on fund-raising issues and only in Mountain View was there a policy. There, producers are told they may use the channel and say who they are and how they can be contacted, but they may not ask for money. Orcutt said she believes Channel 30's current guidelines address that and invited Wincn and other committee members to look at the copy in her'office. BACE AWARDS TICKETS Following a discussion about who would attend the ceremony May 10, Wincn moved to allocate $250 from committee funds for a table for 10. Cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously. NPLCP ANNUAL C0NV~NTION orcutt said she has not received any ~nfol~matlon abou% the conVen%ion. · Grodt volunteered to bring information she had to Krey, who would call Chiavaoci and see if she was interested in attending. Other co~unittee mgmbers indicated they probably would not attend this year. GRANT RE0UESTS The co~ittee reviewed a request from Dieter Runge for $1,000. Trefz q~estioned his eligibility, but Orcutt said his co-producer was a De Anza student. The committee had several other questions about the application and no representative was in attendance to answer their concerns. Cox made a motion to deny the grant request; Wincn seconded and it passed unanimously. Trefz indicated for the record that the co~zmittee was anxious to award grants, but more specifics in this case were needed. The conumittee also reviewed a $200 request from Bill L~uer, whose director Grodt answered questions. Trefz questioned the accountability factor in grants. Krey said applicants submit reports on their final projects with minor grants. Major grant applicants receive only partial funding up front and are required to submit mid-way reports prior to receiving additional monies. Trefz said receipts also are required; Krey said she hasn't been asking for them since she wouldn't have time to examine every expenditure. Wincn moved to accept Lauer's grant request; Cox seconded and the motion passed unanimously. REPORT FROM DONNA KREY Krey said the city attorney had finished reviewing the city's Tripartite version and it would be faxed to Ralph Steinke the next day. She also said the Planning Commission was looking for input from committees and commissions on the General Plan and if there were cable-related issues, a representative could attend a meeting at the end of May. Trefz said he would try to attend. EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION PLAN Wincn agreed to continue this item until the next meeting. EDUCATIONAL TV STATUS Cox agreed to continue this item until the next meeting. VISIT TO UNITED ARTISTS Since Chiavacci was absent, this was also continued to June. REPORT FROM DARYL HENDERSON Henderson said TCI had just made an offer to purchase UA's remaining stock. (TCI currently holds the majority of UA stock.) UA has not responded yet. He also said UA has good penetration in Cupertino--61.7 percent. Tirsell explained about the company's telephone service policy, which is a standard 30-second hold, meaning 90 percent of the calls should be answered within 30 seconds. She said this was not met in April, but all efforts would be made to reach that goal. She also said phone traffic is heaviest during the first three days following billing. Tirsell reported UA office hours have been extended to 6 p.m. during the week to accommodate working people. Henderson passed out his written report, detailing other UA statistics and activities. ~DJOURNMENT Cox moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 p.m.; Wincn seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The committee will meet next on June 5. ATTEST: City ~lerk APPROVED: Chairperson