Minutes Cable Teleprog. 4 4 06
MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING
April 4, 2006
CITY HALL ANNEX - 2nd FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM #2
MEMBERS PRESENT: Burton Everist, Pauline Maloney, George Herrig, Jennifer Tigges,
Maria Araeipour
MEMBERS ABSENT: Sr. Carol Hoverman. One seat remains vacant on the
Commission.
OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Barefoot, Mediacom
Craig Nowack, City of Dubuque Cable TV Coordinator
Ms. Maloney called the meeting to order at 5:37pm.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Ms. Araeipour, seconded by Mr. Everist, the agenda was
accepted unanimously as published.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the March 7, 2006 Meeting
Upon a motion of Ms. Tigges, seconded by Ms. Araeipour, the Minutes of the
February 7, 2006 Commission meeting were approved unanimously.
3. Public Comment
None.
4. Access Equipment Expenditures
Mr. Nowack presented a Capital Grant for Access Equipment and Facilities
Update, noting that another $2,429.65 had been disbursed for the original Eleanor
Roosevelt Middle School request, as well as another $6,106.38 for the Mediacom
switcher. He said that $559.15 had been received in interest.
Ms. Maloney brought up the $13,606 request from the City of Dubuque back in
January for a message info system. Mr. Everist moved that the Commission
recommend up to $14,000 for that system; Ms. Araeipour seconded. The
Commission approved this motion unanimously.
5. Access Programming and Promotion
Mr. Nowack presented the brochure entitled "All About PEG." which he plans to
hand out at the Cable TV booth at next week's City Expo. Overall, the commission
liked the handout, although there was some discussion of updating the pictures
and removing some of the specific program titles. Mr. Nowack pointed out that
only 1000 were being printed for City Expo and that today's desktop publishing
enabled frequent changes in the future.
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There was a brief discussion of CityChannel 8's live telecast at City Expo and
staffing the Cable TV booth. The commissioners agreed to help out as needed.
Mr. Barefoot mentioned that Tim Brechlin had recently fixed some bad audio in a
recent videotaping to put together a program that might eventually air on public
access.
6. Revision of Public Access Handbook
There was quite a bit of discussion as to the length of time this item has been on
the agenda. Ms. Maloney said she thought the existing document was good as is.
Mr. Everist moved to name it a working document open to revision as needed and
to remove this from the agenda. Ms. Araeipour seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
7. Access Equipment Grant Process
Another lengthy discussion on this topic occurred. It was the general feeling of the
Commission that individuals seeking specific equipment for their production needs
should have their request funneled through the public access studio. This way that
equipment would then be available to any other members of the public who might
want to use it. Upon a motion by Mr. Everist to remove this item from the agenda,
seconded by Ms. Araeipour, the Commission voted unanimously to remove it from
the agenda.
8. Mediacom Cable Report
Mr. Barefoot reported the Dubuque Community School's Kids In The Kitchen
wrapped up its first season of programming - 10 episodes - and was very
favorably received. The Hy-Vee Asbury store where the show is produced may
include a permanent studio for the program in its future expansion plans. In the
future, Gary Olsen is planning a new twist on that theme - Kids In Your Kitchen -
as well as a program to be shot this spring and summer entitled The Garden
Organic. Mr. Barefoot also reported a possible access program from a production
of Sleeping Beauty by Marina O'Rourke and that Ms. Maloney had just finished
production of her quilt program. He also stated that Eleanor Roosevelt Middle
School had just begin its internal news broadcasts, but that it's too soon to know
when recordings of those newscasts might appear on Channel 19.
9. Cable TV Division Report
Mr. Nowack reported that the City's new equipment, purchased from the Capital
Grant for Equipment, should start arriving late this week or early next week.
10. P.E.G. Video on Demand
Mr. Barefoot stated that a trial phase for PEG. Video on Demand will begin in the
fall, and that he would like to wait for the phase to play out before determining any
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policies. Until more is known about this, the Commission agreed to remove this
item from the agenda.
11. Future Agenda Items
No new agenda items were suggested.
12. Adjournment
Upon a motion of Ms. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Herrig, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:43pm.
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