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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDECEMBER 7,1993 I I 35:0306 O//CJ.~-O /.;{07'f.:.> ... e CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ROLL CALL REQUEST FOR CLOSED SESSION CABLE TELEVISION ACCESS CHANNELS Oi' ~e1 ~ ::J ,-, NSP M I NUT E S CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 7, 1993 The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in an Adjourned Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 7, 1993, at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Hall Council Chambers. PRESENT: Councilmembers Fasching, Harbicht, Lojeski, Margett, and Ciraulo ABSENT: None The City Manager requested a Closed Session be held before the 7:30 regular meeting to discuss pending litigation. Alex McIntyre, Assistant to the City Manager, gave a presentation with regard to the cable access provisions of a new cable television law. He explained the three different types of cable access systems.-public, educational, and government access. Access systems are built into cable franchises. Each cable franchise allows the local franchisor to produce programming. Access systems are not defined by the FCC or in any regulations-- they are defined by each franchise. The City of Arcadia's franchise does not define the different access systems, so Mr. McIntyre provided some working definitions. Any member of the general public or any non-commercial organization may be a programmer on public access. Editorial content control is not allowed. Funding for public access programming is generally provided by the cable company. Educational access is defined as any channel where the educational institutions are the only designated programmers. The educational institutions exercise editorial control over content and technical quality. Funding is generally provided by the school district. Governmental access is a channel where the local government agency is the only designated programmer. The local government agency exercises editorial control over content and technical quality. Funding is generally provided by the local government. The City of Arcadia currently has four channels designated for access systems in Arcadia. The four channels have been merged into one channel, since the only programming the City produces is the City Council meetings. The cable company is currently broadcasting some advertising during the unused air time. However, with equipment the City is acquiring in the near future, the City will have the ability to control information that is broadcast to the public. A government access channel is an excellent way to promote community events. especially since Arcadia no longer has a local newspaper. However, it has been argued that it becomes a form of propaganda for a city to control what information goes out to the public. A survey was taken of local cities to determine if they have public, educational, and government access channels, and how much of their budget and how many City staff members are utilized to produce programming. It was found that, in general, the cities -1- 12/7 r (JOo, "'0 NS I' VACANT POSI- TION ON PLANNING COMMISSION ( Interview Procedure) CLOSED SESSION tUft;? .-10 ADJOURNMENT ATTEST: 35:0307 are sharing in the cost of production programming. A variety of full time employees. part time employees, and volunteer workers are utilized. In some cities it is built into the franchise that the cable company provides staffing for production. The City of Arcadia receives a five percent franchise fee from the gross revenues of the cable company, which is currently approximately $210,000 per year. The City of Arcadia's cable television franchise is due to be renewed soon. The franchise as written eight years ago provided for a studio to be built in the City of Arcadia. It also provided for tele'production equipment such as cameras, monitors, switchers, audio mixers, etc., and portable camera equipment. Administration of the public access studio is provided by the cable company. It is estimated that the one-time capital cost for the studio and all I the equipment is approximately $600,000, and this is provided in the franchise. It is estimated that the operational and production costs involved in operating a studio would be approximately $150,000 a year, and that the City would have to share in these costs. It was questioned whether or not the City could take advantage of these provisions before the current franchise expires. John Risk, President of Communications Support Group, a cable consultant, stated that question is open to legal interpretation of the franchise agreement, but it may not be too late to implement the provisions. Mr. McIntyre and Mr. Risk have scheduled a December 17 tour of the Cities of Cypress, Cerritos, and Yorba Linda so Councilmembers may see the different levels of automation in Council Chambers. With regard to the vacant position on the Planning Commission, Council discussed the manner in which resumes might be reviewed. Each Councilmember will submit three or four names of people they would like to interview. Staff will provide a list of those names to all Councilmembers, who will then discuss the applicants and select those to be interviewed. Interviews with individual applicants will be scheduled for after the holidays. The City Attorney announced, "We're going to adjourn to a Closed Session now, pursuant to Government Code 54956.9c to consider the initiation of certain litigation." At 7:07 p.m. the City Council ADJOURNED to the CLOSED SESSION, RECONVENED and ADJOURNED at 7:25 p.m. sine die. I -2- 12/7/93