CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMISSION
PRESENT: Don Deibert, Todd
DuBois, Bob Granstra, Roy Green, Jim Huber, Linda Malekadeli
ABSENT: Fred
Johnson
ALSO PRESENT: Ron Beacom – MCTV, Melissa Barnard – Library,
Brandi Pfohl – Secretary
I.
CALL To Order
By
Malekadeli at
II.
APPROVAL Of
New
Business - Item 2 Budget Response Plan. Added the wording of the resolution passed:
“The Commission supports the Cable Communications Fund Budget Response Plan as
submitted by City staff.” Minutes of
III.
PUBLIC Comments
None
IV.
OLD Business
1. CAAC Goals
Beacom
reviewed current goals.
2. Federal/State Legislation
Beacom
reviewed proposed federal and state telecommunications legislation. In
In
the
“Future of Access Television” was running on a regular basis. Beacom stated yes. MCTV is also sending it to
other access centers in the state and the country to be shown on their
stations. Malekadeli stated she had composed
a letter for the Commission to sign to send to their representatives. Deibert stated he has sent his own letters
and would also sign this one. Malekadeli
encouraged the public to contact the representatives. Deibert suggested that staff should send out
a supplemental newsletter with updates on the legislation. Granstra asked if Verizon and AT&T are
the main phone companies behind legislation.
Beacom stated yes.
3. Budget Response Plan
Beacom
reviewed the response plan that was presented to the commission and City
Council in November and December. Council accepted the report but wanted to see
more information after the City received the second quarter payment from
Charter and the results of the franchise fee audit. Beacom reviewed the new response plan
submitted to City Council on April 10. Given continued flat revenues for
Charter, more cuts are recommended:
-Reduce
the full-time production assistant and the full time office assistant positions
to part time.
-Eliminate
the internship position.
-Reduce
the meeting coverage of boards and commission to just Council, Planning and the
Zoning Board.
-Seek
$50,000 from “Friends of MCTV” to support capital equipment purchases.
-After
current agreement ends, reduce future payments to the Midland Public Schools
from $20,000 per year to $16,000 per year.
-Revise
tape duplication policy and fees
-Move
the costs for replacement of the MGTV 5 message board and the streaming video
fee from the Cable Fund to the General Fund.
These
projected cuts will mean the fund will reach the fund balance goal of $75,000
in five years. Green asked what the effect
will be if the proposed legislation passes.
Beacom stated there would be a further reduction in revenue. Green asked whether a customer with a
different video provider will be able to receive the access channels. Beacom
stated they should be able to.
Malekadeli asked if we have explored charging
individuals and organizations fees for using MCTV. Beacom said it has been discussed. There is
concern that it could discourage some access users from volunteering or
submitting programs. He also said if a fee was charged, the amount raised
wouldn’t solve the budget problem. Malekadeli suggested charging $25-50 for “outside
shows.” Granstra asked about other
funding including money from the foundations and the General Fund. Beacom stated City Council mentioned General
Fund support in December. Regarding
grant money, a “Friends of MCTV” would have to be developed to start raising
money. Beacom stated most foundations will provide money for equipment and
facilities but not for staff costs.
Malekadeli stated MCTV is going backwards. Are
there any other avenues to explore?
Beacom stated the growth of services has collided with no growth in
revenue. City budgets across the country
are facing challenges. Granstra said public
broadcasting has sponsors for day or a half day. Would that be a possibility
here? Beacom said we’d have to see if
there are limitations in the cable franchise agreement and in City ordinances.
Beacom asked who would get the sponsors. Granstra stated he would rather see
money spent now to get more money than cut staff right away.
Deibert
stated the commission should approve the response plan and also look into some
of these fundraising suggestions. Malekadeli stated she worked as a fund raiser.
She said it’s not that difficult to find ways to raise money from foundations
and write grants. We should delay this action while we try to find other ways. Beacom stated staff would support the commission’s
efforts to look for other money, but postponing the budget response plan at the
current rate of spending would continue to increase the projected deficit. Malekadeli questioned whether other areas have
been cut like new equipment. Beacom
stated all major items have been except for the plan to replace field equipment
in 2008-09. He said that replacement has to be somewhere in the budget.
Green
stated the deficit will be over $400,000 at the end of 2010-11 if no cuts are
made. He said City Council is looking for cuts now. Deibert stated we may not like the results,
but the fact is the deficit is there and the cuts are needed. We can still
continue to look for ways to raise money. Granstra did not agree with the
reductions in services and personnel. He said it would result in a reduction of
shows produced. He again said he wants the cuts delayed so there’s time to find
additional funding. Once the cuts are made, that’s it. Beacom stated it’s a difficult spot, but
policy mandates that we cannot have a deficit.
Huber asked about how much is saved by eliminating the production intern. Beacom responded approximately $19,000.
Green
stated the Commission could approve the response plan which would meet the fund
balance goal. The Commission could also approve a plan to seek more money. Green asked when the cuts would begin. Beacom
stated if Council approves the budget changes in late May, the process will
start after that and be finalized by July 1.
Any adjustments need to be made before then. Huber questioned whether the full time
positions are “year round.” Beacom
stated yes. Huber questioned how many
hours would the part-timers be scheduled. Beacom stated the Production Assistant
would be 24 hours per week and the Office Assistant, 25 hours per week. Granstra questioned what the impact would be on
productions. Beacom stated MCTV will be
closed on Monday and Friday nights and only open on Saturdays for training. Office Assistant will probably be scheduled 5
hours a day, 5 days per week. This means
Ron Browne and Beacom will fill in the gaps.
Malekadeli stated reduction in productions will reduce viewership. Huber stated that’s only a possibility.
Beacom
stated Council meets on May 1. One option would be to have a subcommittee meet
to develop some ideas and have the whole commission meet again. Council will
again discuss the budget on May 8. Council makes its final decision on May 22. Deibert stated the commission needs to be
supportive of the staff plan because it’s been done within the City’s
guidelines. To not recommend it, would diminish the commission’s credibility
with Council. Malekadeli stated the commission does not have to agree, if we
have to, what are we here for? DuBois agreed with Deibert. We can still work on
finding other avenues for money.
Granstra stated if we allow this process to continue, then we can’t reverse
the cuts that will be made. Granstra
stated we could stop it for a year. We’ll know what’s going to happen with the
legislation and the franchise fee and maybe find other funding. Right now, we
have just 30 days to figure this out. DuBois stated the reality is we only have
30 days or less anyway. There was a lot of time and money spent to put this
plan together. Deibert stated we can’t delay the process. Commission has to deal
with the realities. Beacom stated the
commission could meet again to develop ideas, get them on the table, and see
what the majority wants to send to Council. Green stated the commission has a narrow
time frame to develop a proposal. Council just wants to balance the budget. Malekadeli
stated a subcommittee could meet. Granstra asked how much money is needed per
year to meet the goal. Beacom said on average about $100,000.
Deibert
moved to approve the recommendation as presented and include in the resolution
a plan to have a separate meeting to explore more options to enhance revenues. Dubois
seconded. Granstra stated the current
response plan puts too many things in process that cannot be reversed. Our funds do not come from the General Fund, the
cable franchise fees do not affect the city, this could be put on hold. Malekadeli said she’s in agreement with Granstra
that the plan cannot be reversed.
Deibert again stated the commission should approve the recommendations
and then set up a separate meeting to come up with other ideas and submit those
to City Council. Malekadeli called for vote on Deibert’s motion. Motion passed,
6 – 0.
Granstra
asked if staff could give commission guidelines on types of fundraising and what
steps to follow. Beacom stated he would
look into it. Questioned whether commission
wants to meet as a subcommittee or as a whole.
Granstra suggested subcommittee first, then as a whole. Malekadeli, Granstra and Green offered to
serve on the subcommittee, which will meet on Monday, April 24 at
V.
Beacom
stated three commissioners’ terms are up, Malekadeli, DuBois and Johnson. Malekadeli has been reappointed. DuBois and Johnson did not seek
re-appointment. Council is looking for applicants.
VI.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. ACM Spring Conference,
Beacom
reviewed plans for conference. Stated
Edith Doil will be receiving the Roxie Cole Leadership Award.
Huber moved to adjourn, Granstra
seconded. Meeting adjourned at