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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBCCF Min 1985-07-15 r; .. , . . . ( SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING JULY 15, 1985 The Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation met in regular session at 7:35 p.m., with the Chairwoman, Mrs. Terri Jones, calling the meeting to order and leading the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Chairwoman Jones Members: Arnold, Covington, McCurdy, Stein None Allen Parker, City Manager Ginger Bennington, Recording Secretary Absent: Also Present: MINUTES OF JUNE 17, 1985 REGULAR MEETING Mr. Arnold moved to accept the minutes of the June 17 session as presented; Mr. Covington seconds. AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones, McCurdy, Stein None Motion Carried Mrs. Jones, with concensus of Directors, accepted the 6/30/85 statement of income balance. NEW BUSINESS - Presentation/Kenneth H. Ha ashida Jr. Mr. Hayashida in icated he had served as student representative on the Los Alamitos Board of Education and has presented this project to the School District, receiving positive support from them. His proposal is to create a program about the Los Alamitos High School curriculum, services and student activities. It would provide the community with greater information regarding the school and also provide students with a video tape record for their own personal use. Although this program would be for the Los Alamitos Educational Foundation, Mr. Hayashida is applying to this Board for a grant as he would like to use the Group W facilities due to their high quality equipment. Mr. Hayashida did note that the three persons in charge of the program are from Seal Beach. The "Salute to Education" program would need approximately 3 hours of studio time for "cut-aways" and to piece together the program. Group W Production Manager, Fred Esters, had indicated that production cost f9r this program would be approximately $500. Responding to Board's questions, Mr. Hayashida indicated that 9 hours of raw footage has been done on the high school itself, not counting school activities already tape, i.e. football games, drill team, etc. He further stated this would be a montage of the 84/85 school year, highlights and teaching curriculum. Mr. Hayashida mentioned that Ivy Chou, a graduate of Group W, has been involved in this program, along with Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) and the educational community. Mr. Arnold mentioned that . Cable Foundation Meeting 7/15/85 Page 2 he had been directly involved with ROP for the County of Los Angeles for 10 years and could vouch for the program. Mr. Covington indicated that this program request received full support of the Los Alamitos Board of Education and administration. Hayashida indicated there would be 20 to 25 minutes of faculty interviews and actual classroom work on the program. The fact that Los Alamitos had a banner year regarding its student activities was a major incentive to go ahead with this program. . Mr. Arnold was fully supportive of this effort, venture with another educational cable company. to be involved in the editing. Peter Arnold moves to approve this funding request for $500 to complete production of the education and high school activites program with Group Wand to return to the Foundation Board for any other costs associated with the production (i.e., editing, etc.) and to use existing MUC for post production. Jay Covington seconds the motion. Mr. Stein was in favor of the project, but felt that grant guidelines should be adopted prior to funding any requests. Mr. Covington stated that if Group W felt that Mr. Hayashida had met all the minimum requirements Group W uses, the Board could utilize their forms for this procedure until coming up with the Board's own application guidelines. Mrs. Jones mentioned that in studing the City of Lakewood's forms and Group W's, that those of Group W fully meets the Board's requirements. especially as a cooperative He expressed the desire AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones, McCurdy Stein Motion Carried Peter Arnold moves to accept Group W application forms for this particular program as Board's application. Jay Covington seconds. AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones, McCurdy Stein Motion Carried Barbara Rountree, audience member, requested clarification of balance statement. Mrs. Jones indicated that $75,000 per year is given to the Cable Foundation from Group W through the Seal Beach City Council for the administration of public access. Some monies have been expended in grants for production for local orgination and public access and to set up the Cable Foundation office. Mr. Allen Parker, City Manager, indicated that the $75,000 is paid to the City with the City Council choosing to turn over the entire amount to the Cable TV Foundation Board. . NEW BUSINESS - Group W Support of Foundation Mr. John Monsen, General Manager of Group W, indicated that the original proposal concerning the Foundation funding was given to the City Council several months ago and since that time he has spoken to many interested people. He stated that the figures that were provided to the Board and Council were a 4% rate investment on 3 years. In terms of this operating budget, Monsen pointed out that this Board is in better financial position . . ie Cable Foundation Meeting 7/15/85 Page 3 than Group W. The original proposal was no foundation funding during the next 13 years, but would also provide staff assistance and would not request monies from the Board. The original proposal would improve Group W's rate on investment of about 10%. Group W is at a very low rate now and needs to raise that return in order for the parent company, Westinghouse, to be encouraged to stay with Group W. O~tion 1. Forgiveness of $75,000 annual payment for three years, commencing 1 85 and ending 1987. O~t$o~ ~. To provide for three years commencing with 1985, the amount o 1, 00 in lieu of the $75,000 annual payment. This would generate a reasonable operating budget for the Foundation. This would allow the Foundation an operating budget of $62,500: $20,000 interest on principal, $17,500 Group W payment, and $25,000 Group W would pay directly for local origination productions (by not asking Foundation for funding). Option 3. Three years for Group W to provide $17,500 (starting 1985 thru 1987) and for the Foundation to spend its reserves at $75,000, with Group W not requesting $25,000 for local origination productions) which would give Foundation an operating budget of $127,500 Option 4. Group W would pay the Foundation $75,000 anua11y for 1985, 1986 and 1987 with the Foundation guaranteeing $25,000 for Group W LO programming (half of programming to be chosen by Foundation) and Foundation to provide $32,500 for existing public access operations (which would include a portion of Kathy Risk's salary plus some other minor costs. Mr. Monsen stated that all other sections of Group W's proposal would remain in place. Mr. Monsen futher stated that Group W' financial status should be improved in those three years, and in 1988 the cable company would revert back to original contract of annual payment of $75,000. Mr. McCurdy asked that these options be given to the Foundation in writing. Mr. Stein felt that the Board did not have the right to make a recommendation to Council on these matters. Mr. Parker stated that the Council is looking to the Foundation Board for their guidance. Mr. Steve Friedman, audience member, felt that low subscriber rate was due to lack of success in the Leisure World area, but that if subscriber rates are increased by approximately $2 per premium channel, higher cost should make up for the difference. It was also mentioned by Mr. Parker, that Group W is looking for a better rate on their investment and that if this Foundation says no to their options, they will achieve the desired rate of investment by a rate increase. Mr. Arnold felt the only option he was comfortable with was Option 4 but that he would like to see it clarified in writing. He would also like to see Council and Planning Commission meetings televised. Also, he would like to see how many shows would be done, how much involvement with education. , . ~!. {e Cable Foundation Meeting 7/15/85 Page 4 Mrs. Jones stated that for public access to do its job, the Foundation has to work hand in hand with the cable company. She asked Mr. Monsen to come back in writing addressing the fourth option with some guarantees for coming closest to Group W for fulfilling its contract and closest to the Foundation being able to do its job. Mr. Covington also endorsed the forth option in concept. Mr. Monsen agreed to bring back a summary of his four options to the Board in writing, fully detailing all aspects of the forth option. Mr. Steve Friedman expressed concern that Group W was not publicizing its PA and LO programs and should do so more often to encourage more viewers. Agreement Overview 1. The audit proposal would be simplified to allow cost savings to Group W. 2. .Rates 3. Composite channels - Group W would like some discretion in only programming the number of channels it takes to put the number of programs they have on television. Jay Covington urged that channel be one of the lower numbers (1-11). Mr. Arnold asked for consistency in viewing programs, to repeat more broadcasts for those who miss. It was also agreed that cable meetings should be well publicized so that all citizens may attend. NEW BUSINESS - Group W FundinR Request As production manager for Group W, Fred Esters requested a grant of $5,000 to cover the production cost of local community events for the third quarter of 1985. He provided the Board with a list of 12 completed programs and a list of those 6 programs proposed for July through September of 1985. Mr. Stein moved to approve $5,000 funding request from Group W, Mr. Covington seconds. AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones, McCurdy, Stein None Motion Carried Mr. Arnold requested Group W publicize all 40 programming and have available a tape library where any resident in Seal Beach could see any Group W program. Mr. Monsen felt that after Group W acquires channelmatic equipment, no viewer would be missing programs. Jay Covington moved the Foundation approve the concept of expanding the availability of existing tape library and Peter Arnold to work with Group W without charge and to return to the Foundation should any costs arise. Terri seconds. AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones McCurdy, Stein Motion Carried , ... . ;. Cable Foundation Meeting 7/15/85 Page 5 In reply to a question from the audience, any monies received by Mr. Ken Hayashida for sale of his video, would return to the be given to the Performing Arts OLD BUSINESS - Discussion of Grant Guidelines Mrs. Jones asked the Foundation if they would be willing to use the Group W application guidelines or to develop own standards. Mr. Stein prefers FCSCT guidelines. Kathy Risk of Group W indicated that their guidelines were patterned after FCSCT. In addition, she recommended that the budget sheet form be included, as outlined in the Portapak manual. Mrs. Jones felt that Group W's application gave all the necessary information. Mr. Covington moved to adopt as an interim, to be amended at future date if necessary, the Group W applications as a format for receiving grant requests from the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation. Mr. Arnold seconds. AYES: NOES: Arnold, Covington, Jones, McCurdy, Stein None Motion Carried In reply to a question by Francis Looney, all requests would be judged individually. Therefor~ while not yet reimbursing applicants for programs already cablecast, each request would be heard. It was the concensus of the Board and so ordered by the Chair, to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. ~. -K. ~L._'_~~ G. K. Bennington NOTE: ,11\/, 'I"~ / ...., . .' " THESE MINUTES ARE TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.