TC 08-01-90Cable Television Advisory Committee
Regular Meeting
August 1, 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, Dorothy Schmid,
Walter Trefz Jr.
Staff Present: Donna Krey, Susan Robinson and Len Batchelor
Channel 30 Staff: Access Director Suzanne Orcutt
Guests: De Anza Telecommunications Dean Dave Barney, Linda Grodt, Freyda
Ravitz, Sandy Russo and Martha Saldana, United Cable.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES ~OR MEETING JUNE 6, 1990
Schmid made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Trefz seconded
and the motion passed unanimously.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Chiavacci note~h~he attended the NFLCP Convention along with Schmid
and Orcutt and that the~y~will give a more formal discussion of what they
learned and hand out info~ation acquired at the Sept. meeting. Orcutt
noted that Dorothy Stevens ~so wants to give a report next month.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
STAFF REPORT
Krey reported that a special tax meeting is being held in the council
chambers and she will be attending both meetings. She noted that Bill
Fletcher resigned and suggests that an interim committee member, Len
Batchelor, be appointed until Jan. '91 and at that time to do a full
recruitment and fill the. three positions at one time. Krey will bring
this suggestion to the Council at the Aug. 6 meeting. The committee gave
a consensus of approval for Batchelor's appointment. Chiavacci mentioned
that the committee can begin thinking about the 6-month intern program for
new CTV members during the next two months. Krey noted that in order to
begin an intern program the ordinance would have to be changed, as at the
current time members are appointed for set terms.
Krey noted that Heritage Cable is hoping to have the two city cable
channels on by the end of August. Krey will do a campaign with Heritage
subscribers to let them know that the channels are available. Krey will
focus on Channel 53 and noted that Orcutt could do a campaign for channel
30 and at some point 53 and 30 could meet to do a joint effort. Krey
reported on Channel 53's progress noting that a satellite dish has been
installed on the roof and the station is planning a new program conducting
oral interviews with pioneer family members in Cupertino with the
Historical Society. City Beat will be doing a feature on the bond measure
and any CTV members with ideas for the show should contact Krey.
BUDGET DISCUSSION 1990-91
This item was taken out of order. Orcutt reported that she had stated she
was $1,400 over budget but that she is actually only $700 over and that
the college believes she is approximately $2,000 under budget. Krey
suggested that if there is an overage that the quarterly payment to Access
be lessened rather than taking funds from the grants budget as decided
at the previous meeting. Orcutt stated that she will not know the exact
amount of the overage for another three months. Chiavacci suggested that
Krey and Orcutt meet separately to clarify the financial situation. Trefz
made a motion to reverse the motion from the June meeting that the $1,400
be covered through the grant fund; Keller seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
Robinson passed out the Coastal Access Newsletter, Spring and Summer
editions of the NFLCP Community Television Review and a Mercury News
Special Cable section.
REPORT FROM JOE wILCox, UNITED CABLE
Russo reporting for Joe Wilcox said that he will be mailing the report to
the CTV Committee. Batchelor noted the letter from United explaining the
September increase in fees. Trefz stated that United is entitled to one
change in fees each 18 months according to the Tripartite Agreement.
Keller mentioned the reception problems in August. Russo explained that
it was due to the hot weather and that they are facing the microwave in a
different direction to improve reception. Barney added that Channel 29
has had serious problems'since the microwave was redirected affecting
students classes by cable. Russo will follow up on it.
The committee questioned where United is with the Tripartite
Agreement. The Committee decided to take this item out of order. United
noted that the Tripartite Agreement has been sent to the legal department
for review. Batchelor noted that the city has no objections to the
agreement and that it is with the city attorney and the final draft will
be returned to the committee and then be forwarded to the City Council for
approval. The Committee asked that updated Tripartite Agreement be
included in the September CTV packet. Barney asked if the agreement could
be signed with the current list of equipment as it exists today.
Batchelor noted that the cut-off date for the transfer of working
equipment will need to be changed from August to September.
REPORT FROM SUZANNE ORCUTT, ACCESS DIRECTOR
Orcutt submitted her report, and reviewed her attendance at the NFLCP
conference. She presented a tape for viewing by CTV members. She
requested that all futur~ mailings and publications be sent directly to De
Anza College's address. When the NFLCP renewals arrive they will be
changed to De Anza College's address and she will be responsible for
sending the information to the CTV Committee rather than the city in the
future.
The Fall Access studio schedule will extend 14 weeks from Sept. 4
through Dec. 13 with vacations Nov. 12, 22 and 23. The studio will be
down the last two weeks in Aug. Access will be offering a three-part
workshop schedule Saturday mornings in the Fall. Michael Furlong has been
hired as Chief Engineer for the TV Center and a list of existing and
missing equipment owned by United and the City has been compiled for
submission to the Tripartite Agreement. Orcutt reported on new equipment
and the condition of existing equipment. She made a proposal to
reconfigure the editing suites that would include purchase of a Sony 9800
playdeck and two monitors at a cost of $6,500.
DISCUSSION OF BLANKET POLICY FOR PRODUCERS-Postponed to Sept.
Orcutt noted that a producer from the NFLCP conference will mail a copy of
his insurance policy to her.
MINOR GRANT REQUEST FROM ~OMEN'S HERITAGE MUSEUM
Ravitz reported that the production will consist of an interview with
B-roll and include photos that are part of the existing exhibit. Ravitz
noted that the City of Cupertino and De Anza will be credited in the
questioned whether money should be provided for additional tapes noting
that use of Dublic funds and not money is the issue. They will review
past grants to see if additional tapes have been provided in past
requests. Keller made a motion to approve the grant; Schmid seconded and
the motion passed with one opposition by Trefz. Krey noted that she will
try to get the grant request on the City Council agenda for Monday. The
committee requested that a discussion of grant applications be on the
Sept. Agenda.
DISCUSS TRF MUSIC INC. PUBLIC DOMAIN PACKAGE LEASE AGREEMENT
Orcutt reported that the public domain music package would cost an initial
capital outlay of $1,150 with a $287.50 cost in succeeding years. She
noted that Channel 30 has a new CD in Control A ready to use the tapes and
that the money would come out of her yearly budget. Schmid made a motion
to purchase the public domain package for $1,150; Keller seconded.
Following discussion by committee members the motion passed unanimously
contingent upon orcutt discussing funding arrangements with Krey.
DISCUSSION OF PAID CREWS'
This item was tabled to Sept.
DISCUSS TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT
This item was discussed under Wilcox' report.
DISCUSS PRODUCER CONCERNS
Grodt commented that in her visit to another Access station she found that
they had similar problems to Ch. 30 and less equipment. Chiavacci
mentioned that refranchising is coming up in '95 and the committee should
begin discussing the new agreement. Barney commenting on producer
concerns from the last meeting said that the teleprompter has been bought
for Studio A and the TV Center is replacing the slide chain for Suites A
and B. He stated that the total cost of equipment purchased by De Anza
for Access is $72,000 and Orcutt passed out this list to be included in
the next packet. The committee would like a deadline established for the
Tripartite Agreement.
ADJOURNMENT
Schmid moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m.;
motion passed unanimously.
Keller seconded and the
Cit~Clerti~
APPROVED
~airpersoh