Minutes_Cable TV Commission 02.28.24Copyrighted
November 4, 2024
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: Airport Commission of September 24, 2024; Arts & Cultural
Affairs Advisory Commission of September 24, 2024; Cable
Television Commission of February 28, 2024; Community
Development Advisory Commission of September 4, 2024;
Equity and Human Rights Commission of September 10,
2024; Five Flags Civic Center Commission of June 13, 2024;
Historic Preservation Commission of September 19, 2024;
Housing Commission of July 23, 2024; Park and Recreation
Commission of August 13 and September 10, 2024; Resilient
Community Advisory Commission of September 5, 2024.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Airport Commission Minutes
2. Arts and Cultural Affairs Minutes
3. Cable TV Commission Meeting Minutes
4. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes 09.04.24
5. Equity and Human Rights Commission Minutes
6. Five Flags Civic Center Commission Minutes
7. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
8. Housing Commission Meeting Minutes
9. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes 08-13-24
10. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes 09-10-24
11. Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes
12. Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 9.30.24
13. Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 10.7.24
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APPROVED MINUTES OF CABLE TV COMMISSION MEETING
Feb. 28, 2024
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 350 W. SIXTH ST.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jennifer Tigges (Chair), Georgina Guerrero Galvan, Pauline Maloney,
Ron Tigges
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT:
• Randy Gehl, City of Dubuque Public Information Officer
• Felicia Carner, City of Dubuque Multimedia Specialist
JTigges called the meeting to order at 3:46 p.m.
Acceptance of the Agenda
• Upon a motion by RTigges, seconded by Maloney, the agenda was accepted by a vote
of4-0.
Approval of the Minutes of Jan. 24, 2024, Meeting
• Upon a motion by Maloney, seconded by Guerrero Galvan, minutes of the Jan. 24,
2024, meeting were approved 4 - 0.
Public Input
• There was no public input.
Public Access Channel Management Update
Gehl said staff have been spending a significant amount of time on management of the
public access channel. He introduced Carner who explained her efforts to develop
processes for programming submissions, scheduling programs and responding to
broadcast scheduling requests, and developing a brand for the channel. She proposed
calling the channel Dubuque Public Access. Carner mentioned efforts to assist one
organization having difficulty uploading programs and also discussed plans to have
policies and dedicated time slots for programs considered a series. Commissioners
expressed support for staff efforts and encouraged them to manage scheduling as they
saw fit.
Review of PEG Equipment Fund Request Process and Recipient Agreement
Gehl summarized some of the challenges related to processing the equipment requests
and related quotes for the two most recent PEG Fund Grant requests and shared his
opinion that the grant program, application process, and recipient agreement process
need to be evaluated and modified to better meet the current video production and
distribution environment. He also asked if the commission would agree to pausing the
acceptance of new grant applications to allow staff and the commission time to
thoroughly review the process and consider changes to improve it. Commissioners
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agreed to pausing for a month or so.
• Discussion among commissioners and staff then shifted to current challenges and
potential solutions for the grant program as well as a variety of considerations to
incorporate into the program. There was significant discussion around the application
process and questions to require additional information about the applicant's plans for
programming, such as the number and duration of programs, types of events covered,
etc. Commissioners also suggested touching base with recipients after they receive
equipment to remind them of the requirement to produce programming for the public
access channel and to remind them of deadlines for doing so. Carner explained
challenges related to purchasing software and software subscriptions through the grant
program and possible alternatives were discussed.
• Gehl asked the commission to consider approving a revised version of the grant
recipient user agreement with the City in order to allow staff to distribute recently
purchased equipment for the last two grant recipients. (User agreements are required
before equipment can be disbursed.) Commissioners reviewed and, following some
questions and discussion, approved (Upon a motion by Maloney, seconded by RTigges,
approved 4-0) the revised agreement for these two grants with the understanding the
agreement will be further revised during the program pause.
• Discussion on this agenda item concluded with agreement between commissioners and
staff that staff would work on suggested changes/amendments to the process and all
related policies and provided recommendations for their consideration at the next
commission meeting, likely in late March but no deadline was set.
Process for City Expenditures Related to PEG Channel Operation
• Following up on the discussion at the last commission meeting, Gehl and Carrier
reviewed their request for the commission's support to allow the City to charge its
expenses directly related to cable channel operation/management to the PEG
Equipment fund without prior commission approval. Staff gave several examples of such
expenses and occasional needs, including closed captioning of programming for
CityChannel Dubuque and a recent cabling project at City Hall Annex related to
broadcast of the public access channel. Commissioners discussed the possibility of
limiting such purchases to a specific amount per year or maximum per purchase and
how such expenses should be reported to the commission. Consensus was not reached
on a solution but the commission did approve funding the cabling project for up to
$1,000. (Upon a motion by Maloney, seconded by Guerrero Galvan, approved 4-0).
Staff offered to explore additional solutions and commissioners agreed to continue
discussion at future meetings.
PEG Programming Reports
• Following the request sent to PEG Equipment Fund recipients over the last two years,
three of the four recipients provided reports on the amount and type of programming that
they have produced for PEG channels over the last 12 months. Gehl distributed printed
2
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copies of reports from the City of Dubuque, Loras College, and the Dubuque Community
School District. The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium did not respond to
two requests. Commissioners reviewed the reports and JTigges offered to contact
NRMA staff again.
Adjournment
• Upon a motion by RTigges, seconded by Guerrero Galvan, and 4-0 vote, the meeting
adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
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