HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works January 23 1996WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
January 23, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Council member Barbara
Brenner in the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present: Absent:
Kathy Sutter None
Tom Brown
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB96 -015A)
Brenner opened the nominations.
Brown nominated Brenner.
Hearing no further nominations, Brenner closed the nominations.
Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. ORDINANCE GRANTING A 15 YEAR FRANCHISE TO TCI
CABLEVISION OF WASHINGTON (AB95 -307A)
Discussion began regarding coordinating Bellingham and the County's contract
with TCI. A meeting with the City Council was suggested.
Those speaking included:
Mary Scrimsher, Executive's Office
Dan Crocker, General Manager, TCI
Pam, Secretary, TCI
Dale Litsell (sp ?), Citizen Committee
Marlin Crowell, Citizen
Crocker clarified the fact that the contracts do not have to be identical. The key
provision is public access. He explained the need for a contract by January 31 in order
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1 to arrange the rebuild (the lines); otherwise, the rebuild start time will be delayed one
2 year. However, the rebuild would not be done any differently with or without public
3 access.
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5 Public access was discussed. Brenner noted her concerns included: approving the
6 Franchise and then returning for public access discussion; equipment quality (this has
7 been taken care of according to Crocker); increasing the availability hours of the
8 equipment for public access use; and using a citizens advisory committee to deal with
9 complaints (this is contained in the new contract as an Administrative Board). Crocker
10 thought the main concern was the cost of the public access facility and equipment.
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12 Sutter's concerns included: full use of Channel 10; how to ensure quality
13 programming (subscribers paying for something they find offensive); the possibility of
14 senior discounts; different rates per area; and a joint venture with some of the
15 educational institutions for shared facilities and job training programs.
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17 Crocker explained the rates are regulated by the Federal Communication
18 Commission (FCC) and are based on programming and business costs. He also pointed
19 out that the original franchise with Bellingham named WWU to run public access with
20 TCI having the channel capacity. As this did not happen, TCI voluntarily picked up the
21 tab for public access. TCI does not advertise public access; word of mouth is the
22 transport agent. If public access is to be actively promoted and new community
23 programs are to be created, this cannot be incorporated into his operations without
24 significant changes.
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26 Crocker explained that federal law requires TCI to put access channels as a basic
27 package. The number of these access channels are negotiable. Channels cannot be
28 added at this time without present channels being dropped. He stated the real issue is
29 the desired extent of the access channel. Public access and new and future
30 communication technology was discussed.
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32 Brown had questions about amending the contract to be able to return to the
33 table to discuss public access. He also was concerned about the Bellingham document
34 because the County would have no flexibility should something happen regarding
35 Bellingham (the facility would revert to the City, Section 6.21). Brown requested TCI
36 extend their present hours in order for the public access facility to be better used; billing
37 complaints were also an issue. On Section 10.1, line 7, Brown called attention to those
38 wishing service when service not provided. Crocker replied that billing negotiations are
39 done in these cases. He spoke to cost effectiveness.
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41 Brown further stated he had received many citizen concerns regarding the lack of
42 programming controls. Crocker replied that normal cable programming is regulated by
43 the FCC. However, what the customer wants and programming contracts both drive
44 programming for TCI. TCI is following the direction of the set up of third party studios
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1 (as in the proposed contract). If a citizen wants to put on a program, the only guideline
2 TCI has is the very broad federal obscenity law. According to federal law, local
3 communities can create their programming and basically write the rules and regulations
4 as a third party entity; TCI cannot.
5
6 Randy Watts, Council's counsel, responded to a question regarding program
7 controls. Bob Woods, Council Budget and Program Analyst, commented on certain
8 times for objectionable programming. Discussion followed.
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10 Dale Litsell (sp ?) had a billing question regarding a separate line item (1992
11 Cable Act). Crocker noted that TCI has done no internal tracking regarding public
12 access costs from their studio operations. He stated public access costs are presently
13 absorbed into their basic rate and is considered a community service.
14
15 Colleen, Citizen Advisory Committee, commented regarding the 4% franchise fee,
16 which will be increasing 1% to 5 %.
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18 Discussion followed on the public access section. Woods suggested he would
19 assist in developing language with Watts and the individual Council members.
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21 Marlin Crowell commented on the City's decision to include Section 6 (public
22 access).
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24 Brown moved to recommend approval of the ordinance with the trigger
25 mechanism and modification language to follow on Section 6 and the proposed rate
26 increase (Section 11.1).
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28 Motion carried unanimously.
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30 ADJOURN
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32 The meeting was adjou ned at 2 :55 p.m.
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36 gfiiib&h Bennett, Recording Se etary
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38 ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
39 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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4yry-Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Barbara Brenner, Council Member
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