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TC 09-05-90Cable Television Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Sept. 5, 1990, 7 p.m. Cupertino City Hall Minutes ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by chairman Jane Chiavacci at 7:00 p.m. Committee members present: Chiavacci, David Keller, Walter Trefz Jr. Committee member absent: Dorothy Schmid Staff Present: Donna Krey and Susan Robinson Channel 30 Staff: Access Director Suzanne Orcutt Guests: Dave Barney, Linda Grodt, Dorothy Stevens, Jim Cochrane, Carol Greenleaf, Bill Lauer and Joe Wilcox, Daryl Henderson and Martha Saldana from United Cable. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MEETING AUG. 1, 1990 Orcutt requested that the references to her address under her report be changed to read De Anza College's address. Keller made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; Trefz seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chiavacci questioned whether the United rate change discussed at the last meeting was included in the minutes. Robinson pointed it out under Wilcox' report and Krey will check with Leslie Lopez regarding the change in fees. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Stevens commented on the United fee increase and noted recent legislation that is consumer friendly and seeks to re-regulate fees. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION,~ Robinson distributed a letter and tape from the Women's Heritage Museum. The NFLCP conference flyer, United Artist magazine, and acknowledgement of NFLCP renewal were distributed as well. STAFF REPORT Krey reported that she spoke with Lopez regarding the Tripartite agreement and that the agreements from De Anza and the city will be mailed to the United attorney. Chiavacci questioned Wilcox on whether he had the equipment list written down and mentioned concerns over equipment repairs and lack of progress on the Tripartite agreement. She requested a specific plan of action. Trefz suggested that the attorneys at De Anza, the city, and United get on the phone together. Krey noted that Bill Fletcher received a plaque at the last City Council meeting. REPORT FROM JOE WILCOX, 1_ NITED CABLE Wilcox reported that subscriber numbers were up in August. also up in August due to an increase in the plus service fee. Complaints were A new phone system was installed in July and on September 1 the Plus service will increased from .75 to $2.75. Wilcox noted that due to technical problems United has adjusted the microwave transmitter and may re-direct the path around the bay. Barney commented that digital microwave would eliminate these problems and asked Wilcox if Channels 29 and 30 would become pay channels. Wilcox said that was highly unlikely. Wilcox also announced his move Sept. 9 for Santa Fe, New Mexico and introduced the new General Manager Daryl Henderson. Chiavacci expressed gratitude to Wilcox for his cooperation and help over the years and requested his advice for the future. Responding to complaints from committee members on the state of equipment at De Anza, Wilcox gave a history of the equipment problems and changes in the Tripartite Agreement as the equipment aged. He noted that United ended up with the responsibility for the equipment but without control over it. Barney, Keller, Wilcox and Henderson agreed to meet Friday regarding the equipment. Krey suggested implementing a preventative maintenance program. Barney requested a report of what was done to the equipment so that De Anza can give concrete feedback to Pat McVeigh. REPORT FROM SUZANNE ORCU'I~, ACCESS DIRECTOR Orcutt reported that the Access Fall session will extend fourteen weeks from Sept. 4 through Dec. 13, with vacation days Nov. 12, 22 and 23. Access Los Altos asked to produce the Tino Showcase in the Fall with Ch. 30 and they will broadcast live Nov. 13 from the Quinlan Center. Orcutt noted that the public domain music package is now in Control A and reported on the current state of equipment and repairs. Orcutt and Barney requested replacement of the audio board. Producers mentioned concerns over the location of the editing suite and requested feedback from United on Access programming. Orcutt reviewed a memorandum on videotape recorders that are returned without being repaired and with no documentation. Orcutt is revising guidelines for Access and requested that a committee be formed. Krey suggested Orcutt could join the Chamber of Commerce speaker's bureau to talk about Ch. 30 and perhaps obtain volunteer crews for Ch. 30 productions. Orcutt requested that a discussion of partially subsidized crews and volunteers be on the next agenda. CHANNEL 30 1990-91 BUDGET PROPOSAL Orcutt reported that she is working with Kathy Blackwood on the budget and reviewed the report included in the packet. Of a total budget of $32,830, expenses totaled $31,243 with a carryover of $1,587. Krey said she thought there is no automatic carryover of unused expenses but will check with the finance department regarding procedures. Trefz requested that income sources be cited for all future budget proposals. Krey noted that equipment lists of items to be purchased are submitted at the beginning of each year and are brought to the committee for a vote and that other purchases have income sources listed. Concerns were noted over the purchases of De Anza staff mileage and meals for which De Anza covered last year. The committee agreed to pay half of the costs this year. Trefz made a motion to accept the amendments to the budget, including substitution of a playback deck on this year's fixed acquisition list; Keller seconded and the motion passed unanimously. REPORT FROM CONVENTION Stevens reported on her trip to the NFLCP Convention and recommends producer attendance at next year's meeting in July. She reviewed the keynote address on the value of cable and sessions on senior interest groups, critiquing, insurance and copyright. Suggestions included giving tapes to libraries and retirement homes and Stevens displayed a copyright primer and NFLCP handbook. She noted visits to Congressment Campbell and Byron Sher's offices and the community television station in Rockville, Maryland. Trefz suggested that Stevens present an oral report to Access producers. APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF PLAYDECK FOR CONTROL ROOM A Taken out of order, under Budget Proposal. GRANT APPLICATION REVISIONS Committee members reviewed the grant application revision report submitted by Trefz. CTV members discussed the purchase of tapes in grants and agreed to handle it on a case by case basis. Krey questioned the requirement for applicants to seek outside funding, as the purpose is to allow producers to go to one place for a grant. Suggestions included moving this item to 7B and softening the wording on page one to describing attempts to obtain outside funding. The deadlines were moved to April and Oct. 15 and Krey's title will be changed to public information officer. Final changes will be reviewed with Chiavacci. Keller made a motion to accept the grant application with the changes; Trefz seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chiavacci adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. City Clerk [- APPROVED: