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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBCCF Min 1994-04-18 . . . SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 18, 1994 The Board of Directors for the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation met April 18, 1994 at the Mary Wilson Library in Seal Beach, California. Mr. Palmer called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Paul Rowland. ROLL CALL Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Clow and Mr. Rowland were present. Ms. Dahlin was absent. Barbara Luna and Greg Mackney from Comcast were present. CONSENT CALENDAR REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 21, 1994 Changes were made by the Board. Mr. Rowland motioned to file the minutes and Mr. Clow seconded. AYES: Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mueller NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 4-0 REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 6, 1994 Changes were made by the Board. Mr. Clow motioned to file the minutes and Mr. Rowland seconded. Mr. Mueller abstained from voting - he was not present at the meeting. AYES: Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow, Mr. Palmer NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 3-0 FINANCIAL REPORT Mr. Mueller said that the Board does have a budget, lie said that the major item this period is the part time employees. Mr. Mueller asked Mr. Mackney to break down the invoice sent to the Board, He said that the invoice currently just states the name and hours completed by the employee and he would like the hours to be broken down by day and by production that each part time employee is working on. Mr. Mackney said that he would take care of it. Mr. Mueller said that the Board is solvent and is a 4/4% with the cash flow. he also said that there is a check request for a small dollar amount. - . . . SBCCF minutes. 4/18/94 pg. 2 CHECK REQUEST Ms. Luna gave the checks to Mr. Mueller to sign. OLD BUSINESS GUIDELINE CHANGES There was much discussion about advertising and the definition of advertising. Mr. Peter Anninos read from the guidelines for Long Beach which stated a clause that each political candidate is responsible for asserting his/her 1st Amendment right for time on public access. It also explains that the Fairness Doctrine Equal Time Rule applies to PBS and network stations. Mr. Palmer suggested that the Board use the clause from Long Beach with modification regarding the Fairness Doctrine. There was discussion and it was decided to table this issue until Ms. Luna could research the Fairness Doctrine to see if it could be adapted for Seal Beach. It was suggested to locate the Teleprompter Corporate Access Rules and also table the topic of Supplement A to Form K unit 1 the next meeting. LOCAL ORIGINATION Mr. Mueller stated that he felt that Comcast was fulfilling their obligation to the Board with too many OCHSA programs. There was discussion about who determines what shows will be considered for the list of upcoming productions. Ms. Luna stated that Evan Guyer lists the programs available to produce and then presents it to the Board. After much discussion, some people were feeling that there are too many sports programs and others were feeling that there are too many OCHSA programs and it would be better to have more diversity. It was suggested to research different ways to get a consensus from the public of what whey would like to see. Someone suggested bicycling Los Alamitos programs. Ms. Luna reminded the Board that Los Alamitos programs contain commercials. There was further discussion about advertising. The question was raised why other cities are advertising and the subject went back to the need to define advertising. It was also suggested that Public Access Producers work with L.O. Producers on L.O. shoots as a combined effort for everyone. Mr. Palmer asked if anyone had any problems with Comcast filling out their schedule with two OCHSA programs J Los Alamitos Kids Baseball and Seal Beach Kids Baseball. " . SBCCF minutes 4/18/94 pg. 3 The two OCHSA programs are Dance Classical and the Season Finale. Mr. Rowland moved to accept the show production schedule and Mr. Clow seconded. AYES: Mr. Palmer, Mr. Clow, Mr. Rowland NA YES: Mr. Mueller MOTIONED PASSED: 3-1 EXHIBIT B Mr. Mueller stated that under the contract agreements with Comcast, that it provides Seal Beach with a staff of local professionals and he is wondering where those people are along with equipment and maintenance provisions. In summarizing bits and -pieces of the Franchise Agreement, Mr. Mueller state that Mr. Palmer has a contract from year ago which was never signed by Comcast. Mr. Palmer stated that by Comcast's refusal to sign the agreement with specifics to pages 3, 3a and 3b, the Board then reverts back to the Form K from 1982. He stated that Comcast promised Telepromter that they would inform Seal Beach as to what they were going to do, and have not done so. Mr. Mueller said that Form K mentions nothing about $25,000, 25 shows or $75,000 . so when the Board receives the $75,000 they may do with it what they wish. Mr. Palmer stated that Mr. Mackney was fAmmar with these documents and he handed him copies of them. Ther~ was discussion a~out the Franchise Agreement. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Palmer stated that the revision pages to the Franchise Agreement we~e pages 3, 3A and 3B and he read aloud a letter from the Board to Mr. Mackney summarizing the revisions. He then read pages 16 and 18 of the Franchise Agreement signed 2/8/1982 which stated that the City Manager is supposed to keep a log of customer complaints. He said not many people are aware that this is the procedure. He then read from page 21 entitled educational responsibilities. A clause reads that the franchisee is to provide an educational station or educational work with Long Beach State College. This was in 1982. Two years ago the Foundation spent $20,000 at Coastline Community College for an educational station. He stated that Comcast has done nothing for the people of Seal Beach and the Board has spent money and received negative info from Comcast. He read from page 22 regarding $75,000 to the Foundation of which two-thirds goes back to Comcast. He read from pages 23 and 24 regarding rate raises which go before the City Council for approval. He read from page 26 which states the grant for $75,000 to the City of Seal Beach. . There was discussion on these issues with Mr. Mackney. Mr. Palmer stated that he felt the Franchise violations in revisions were very . . . . ~.... SBCCF minutes 4/18/94 pg. 4 important and asked Mr. Mackney if he were ready to sign the Franchise Agreement with the revisions. Mr. Mackney stated that he was refusing to sign the revised agreement at this time. He said he would like to see what Comcast is proposing and he would like to open up the issue of the Franchise Agreement again and research a new proposal. AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION Mr. Anninos stated that he would like the Board to add the issue of using phone numbers in graphics on a show put on the next agenda. \ There was discussion about the use of phone numbers on shows by people, organizations and businesses that are not non-profit organizations. The Board does not wish to change this rule. - Mr. Arnold stated that it appeared to him that on several L.O. shoots, it appears that there are several unmanned cameras and if the Foundation is paying for these shoots, the cameras should be manned. He stated that the production quality lacked because of this. Mr. Anninos stated that there is a problem with equipment not being maintained. He stated that two cameras in the studio are constantly a problem and have been for at least six months. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Mueller stated that he had spoken to Ms. Gail Jones of Coastline Community College regarding a letteJ' she wrote to Mr. Rosenthal at Comcast. He stated that the Board has copies of this letter and the areas that she would like to have done are written of to the side. There had apparently been a misunderstanding between Mr. Rosenthal and Ms. Jones. A copy was also given to Ms. Luna. Mr. Palmer suggested that the remaining items be tabled until the next meeting. Mr. Palmer moved to adjourn the meeting until Monday, April 25th at 7:00pm. Mr. Rowland seconded the motion. AYES: Mr. Clow, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Rowland NAYES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 4-0 Joseph Palmer, Chairman Barbara Luna, Recorder