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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/1997 Work Session . MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1997 The City of Springfield council met in work session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, November 10, 1997 at 6:03 p.m. with Council President Shaver presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Council President Shaver and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist and Maine. Mayor Morrisette was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Rosie Pryor Senior Management Analyst, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin and members of staff. 1. Funding of Public Access Television. Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin presented the staff report. He explained public access television is limited to true public access, which airs on Metro Vision, Channel 11. . The City of Eugene and Lane County have reduced budgetary support for cable access television. At its last meeting the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) considered a recommendation for funding and directed a committee of staff and members of the public to propose alternatives for funding public access. Each of the alternatives involves some commitment of public funds. MPC will consider the committee report at its November 13 meeting and may make a recommendation to the legislative bodies of the three jurisdictions with respect to the level of governmental support, if any, that public access television should receive in the future. The conversation did not include the entire public access educational government component of TCI operations. Due to the impact of budgetary actions the amount of funding to continue public access in its current form or any significant reduced form is cUlTently inadequate. Their recommendation may require discussion and action by the Springfield Budget Committee and/or City Council. Councilor Shaver said he wanted to ask council as a whole what they would like to do, so he as representative to MPC, could relay Springfield's position on public access television. Councilor Burge said he is not willing to spend tax dollars to televise City Council meetings as the city has higher priorities. Councilor Maine said this discussion is not specifically about the governmental component, but said she could not support any type of financial support at this time. Regarding the point that TCI owes the City of Springfield money (per the staff report) Councilor Maine commented it is not "free" money and should have been collected throughout the city's agreement with TCI. . Councilor Beyer supported public access becoming non-profit and suggested the local schools be contacted to participate. Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes - 11/10/97 Page 2 . Councilor Shaver said an advocate was present at the last MPC meeting regarding Lane Community College (LCC) participating in public access television. LCC would need to review a proposal for public access, but at this point seemed willing to discuss it. Councilor Shaver said another issue before MPC for review is whether or not a formal request should be made to add another public access channel. Currently there are three channels, with one dedicated to Hispanics. Mr. Goodwin said there may be a possibility another channel could be added without any adverse impact and educational and governmental access would then be on separate channels. Council did not support the request to add an additional channel to public access television. Councilor Maine said she would support public access television becoming non-profit as it could become more cost effective. Council consensus was that private or public fundraising efforts would be supported, as would the addition of a channel, but would not be initiated by the council. . Councilor Shaver verified a letter had been sent to TCI Cable regarding funds council believes the city is owed. Mr. Goodwin responded yes, and discussed issues associated with a possible audit, which could be requested at the time of a franchise review. Mr. Goodwin said TCI has stated they would fund an audit but would deduct the cost from franchise payments made to the city. There is a current legal opinion, although not definitive, that TCI would be responsible for funding an audit. Councilor Maine said the purpose of the audit would open up a review, which would allow review of service standards, quality of performance, and a possible review ofthe franchise agreement itself, which could include fees and charges. Mr. Goodwin said the current fee schedule is maximum allowed by law, but the review could include an annual contribution towards funding cable access television. The meeting recessed at 6:26 p.m., to enter into Executive Session. The meeting reconvened at 8:50 p.m. Council discussed the proper forum for further review of the Principles of Cooperation Agreement. It was decided to create a subcommittee to meet with a Springfield Utility Board (SUB) subcommittee to review specifics of the agreement and obtain additional information for the revisions needed to the draft Principles of Cooperation Agreement. The subcommittee would be charged with the assignment of the development of joint language which would be acceptable to both parties. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR MAINE, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR DAHLQUIST, TO FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER WITH EDITS OR NEW LANGUAGE ON WHA T THE PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. . " Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes - 11/1 0/97 Page 3 . By volunteer participation and council consensus, it was agreed that Councilors Burge, Dahlquist, and Shaver would serve on the council subcommittee. Councilor Shaver stated he would contact SUB Chair, George Litzenberger and Mr. Kelly stated he would contact SUB General Manager Steve Loveland to alert them of councils action and the creation of the subcommittee. Councilor Shaver suggested rescheduling council's review of the telecommunications ordinance and having it removed from the upcoming agenda until the SUB/City Council subcommittee's (as discussed in Executive Session) meets. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR MAINE, TO HOLD REVIEWING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORDINANCE UNTIL A FUTURE DATE. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. Councilor Burge said it was great news that staff from Fire Station #5 had already saved a life. . Mr. Kelly brought up issues which are surfacing concerning N.W. Natural Gas and their accusations the city is favoring SUB entering into the gas business. Mr. Kelly said N.W. Natural Gas has asked to meet with individual councilors. Councilors Shaver, Dahlquist, and Burge said they had met with N.W. Natural Gas representatives. Mr. Kelly said in the past relationship problems between city and N.W. Natural Gas staff have occurred, but other issues have now been dredged up and accusations of conspiracy and collusion by N.W. Natural Gas have no merit. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins ;g~~~~ Bill Morrisette Mayor ATTEST: .