MInutes Cable Teleprogramm 1 10 06
MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING
January 10, 2006
CITY HALL ANNEX - 2ND FLOOR BOARD ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Maria Araeipour, Sr. Carol Hoverman OSF, Jennifer Tigges,
Pauline Maloney, George Herrig,
MEMBERS ABSENT: Burton Everist. One seat remains vacant on the Commission.
OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Barefoot, Mediacom
Randy Gehl, City of Dubuque Public Information Officer
Doug McCallum, City of Dubuque Video Production Assistant
Mr. Herrig called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Ms. Tigges, the agenda was accepted
as published.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the December 6,2005 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Ms. Maloney, the Minutes of the Dec. 6,
2005 Commission meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
Sr. Hoverman asked Mr. Barefoot about some audio problems with public access
programming; the Iowa Corn Fed Girls performance in particular. Mr. Barefoot said
the problem occurred when the program was transferred to DVD. He said the cause
has not yet been determined, but they are working on it.
Mr. Barefoot reported that he received three letters from Dubuque Youth Ballet
members commenting on the quality of the ballet program and thanking them. He said
the Anycast station worked flawlessly and the only issue was a small overcasting issue
with the camera. He also mentioned a January 1 Telegraph Herald article on a public
access program and Feb. 2 meeting at the library at which people can meet the
persons involved with the production of "The Show."
Mr. Barefoot notified the commission of Mediacom's involvement with a new Dubuque
Community Schools initiative called "Kids in the Kitchen." It will feature four junior high
school students and a professional chef from the Captain Merry restaurant. The
program will be filmed at Hy-Vee and will cover cooking, shopping, nutrition, and
manners. It will be aired on the education channel. He then invited the group to
attend the program kick-off the following morning at 9 a.m. Additional discussion of
the new program followed. Mr. Barefoot added that a show about organic farming is
planned for the spring.
4. Access Equipment Expenditures.
Mr. Gehl provided an update of the Capital Access Equipment Fund. To date,
$125,334.31 have been awarded, leaving a balance of $55,646.75 available. Ms.
Tigges pointed out the difference in the awarded/disbursed amount for Mediacom. It
was determined that the difference was taxes, which are not charged on the equipment
because the purchase was made by the City. Mr. Herrig asked Mr. Barefoot if he had
a budget for miscellaneous items. He said he does not, but if the equipment can be
used elsewhere and is small, it can be purchased by Mediacom operational funds. He
said Mediacom also covers the costs of tapes, DVDs, and some other supplies. Ms.
Tigges mentioned a $5,000 "slush fund" that was used in the past for such purchases.
Mr. Barefoot provided a handout listing potential issues regarding access expenditures
in the coming year. The two main issues were the Institutional Network (I-Net) and
PEG Channels in High Definition. Regarding the I-Net, Mr. Barefoot identified
transport gear costs of approximately $20,000 for each of the 77 sites. Additional
discussion of the I-Net buildout and connection issues followed. Ms. Tigges spoke of
the need for additional information on this issue for the commission. Mr. Barefoot
predicted needs for I-Net users in July to light the fiber at some sites.
Mr. Barefoot also discussed the franchise language regarding the conversion of PEG
channels to digital/high definition format. Once the City requires it, Mediacom has six
months to comply. To do so, funds may need to be allocated to purchase the
equipment required to do so. He spoke of Mediacom's wish to avoid noncompliance
due to lack of PEG access funds to make this conversion. Additional discussion on
the need for subsequent clarification on this issue followed.
Mr. Barefoot then explained an accounting error he made in the PEG funds. In 2001,
Mediacom wrote a check to the City for $40,000 and Mediacom was then allowed to
draw upon those PEG funds. Only $36,932.98 of the $40,000 was spent. He said the
remaining $3,067.02 was carried over. Over the next four years, the account was
dormant. He said that over the course of the last franchise, $662,050.78 was spent on
PEG access, which means the account was overspent by $2,000. Mr. Barefoot said
he will look into it further, but it may be the case that Mediacom will reduce their next
PEG account payment by $2,000 to rectify the mistake. He said it needs to be
resolved, but he is unsure how at this point.
Next, Mr. Gehl and Mr. McCallum distributed a simplified summary of the City's PEG
equipment request as well as descriptions of the equipment, including two
camcorders, non-linear editing system, file server, DVD players, and a message
information system. Mr. McCallum then explained the equipment on the list and
outlined how it would be used. Mr. Gehl also showed a demonstration of the message
information system, which is identical to the one which will be used by the Dubuque
Community School District. Discussion of the message information system and its
applications followed.
Mr. Gehl said that if necessary, the proposal could be broken into two sections: the
camera, editing equipment, and server; and the message information system. Ms.
Tigges expressed concern over funding a $50,000 expenditure when the balance of
the account is approximately $55,000. She acknowledged the need for the equipment,
but pointed out that there are six months remaining for the account balance. Ms.
Maloney agreed. Ms. Tigges said the commission needs some leadership regarding
management of the fund. She noted that the City channel carries a lot of programming
and information and has many viewers and said that the City channel is one of the
channels that needs equipment the most.
Mr. Barefoot added that what is being done in Dubuque is very advanced in
comparison to most of the country. Ms. Araeipour asked Mr. Barefoot about the
remote. He replied that public access is good on non-linear editing, on playback, on
FM radio, production packages, and studio equipment. He said they could be a bit
better on audio, but it is acceptable for now. He said if he were to request anything
now, it would be studio tripods for the new cameras. Mr. Barefoot acknowledged that
Mr. McCallum's equipment is still "in the stone age" and needs to be updated.
Ms. Tigges suggested that everything but the message information system be
recommended for funding and encourage the City to submit another request in the
future for that remaining equipment. Mr. McCallum acknowledged that if he had to
eliminate something from the request, it would be the message information system.
Mr. Herrig suggested that the City come back to request funding in three months, if the
money is still available, rather than waiting until July.
After some discussion regarding the amount, Mr. Herrig acknowledged that all the
equipment requested is needed by the City but he agreed with the concerns raised
about funding the full request. He said that if only a portion is funded, the request for
funds for the message information system should have top priority in the future. Ms.
Tigges said she would feel comfortable funding an additional request after the April
adjustment to the account.
Ms. Tigges made a motion that City Channel 8 be authorized to purchase up to
$36,712 in equipment from the Capital Access Equipment Fund. The motion was
seconded by Ms. Araeipou. Sr. Hoverman suggested some "wiggle room" be included
and the amount be increased to $37,000 in case some things are higher. Ms. Tigges
amended her motion to $36,800 and the motion was approved unanimously.
5. Access Programming & Promotion
Mr. Barefoot discussed the activities of the last month and a half, including:
. A Wahlert High School student performance with Kenny Rogers
. Ms. Maloney's "Quilters and Quiltmaking" (15th and 16th episodes)
. Mr. Herrig has submitted more than 20 hours of programming from his trip to the
Czech Republic
. Washington Junior High Students Electronic Field Trip to New York (Baseball
Project)
Regarding promotions, Mr. Barefoot expressed an interest in updating the website with
Ms. Tigges.
6. Revision of Public Access Handbook
Due to time constraints, it was suggested that this issue be skipped until the next
meeting.
7. Access Equipment Grant Process
Due to time constraints, it was suggested that this issue be skipped until the next
meeting.
8. Mediacom Cable Report
Mr. Barefoot mentioned that the message information system server ordered by Gary
Olson for the educatin channel has been delayed. A 3D-day notice will be issued
regarding the channel change for the new channel.
Tom Degree is still getting equipment for Roosevelt Junior High and will invite the
commission to attend when they are ready for their first news broadcast.
He has spent some time at the Forum assisting them in improving the appearance of
School Board meetings.
Mercy's mass has been moved from Channel 22 to 15 because Channel 22 is now
fiber fed from Des Moines.
The production of "The Nutcracker" worked out phenomenally.
Mr. Gehl asked about the possibility of local sports on Channel 22. Mr. Barefoot said
if he had additional production equipment and staffing, it would be possible. He said it
must have high production quality and must generate revenue through ad sales to be
on Channel 22.
9. Cable Television Division Report
Mr. Gehl reported a new Cable Television Coordinator has been appointed! Craig
Nowack begins on Monday, Feb. 6, and comes to Dubuque from WGN in Chicago.
He also reported that the new robotic cameras in the City Council chambers are
working very well.
10. Future Agenda Items.
The Update of the Access Handbook and development of the Access Equipment
Grant Process were suggested as future agenda items. The possibility of a display at
City Expo (April 12) was also mentioned for the next meeting too.
Mr. Herrig suggested that Mr. Barefoot let the commission know when he would be
prepared to host a commission meeting/open house at the studio to display the new
equipment
11. Adjournment.
RG
Upon a motion by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Ms. Araeipour, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:30 p.m.