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COUNCIL MINUTES January 12, 2015 <br />DRAFT <br />December 15, 2014 City Council Minutes Approved 46 <br /> 47 <br />December 29, 2014 Special Council Meeting Minutes Approved 48 <br /> 49 <br />Application of Aquinas Roman Catholic Home Education 50 <br />Services for Excluded Bingo Permit Approved 51 <br /> 52 <br />FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT 53 <br /> 54 <br />There was no report from the Finance Department. 55 <br /> 56 <br />ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REPORT 57 <br /> 58 <br />3A) Cable Television Franchise Agreement: 59 <br /> i. Resolution No. 15-01, Granting Consent to Transfer Cable TV Franchise from 60 <br />Comcast to Greatland Connections; 61 <br /> ii. Ordinance No. 01-15, Approving Cable Television Franchise Ordinance 62 <br />Amendment 63 <br /> 64 <br />City Administrator Karlson noted that the council discussed this franchise transfer and franchise 65 <br />extension request at the recent work session. He introduced Mike Bradley, attorney for North Metro 66 <br />TV to review the proposed amendment and agreement. 67 <br /> 68 <br />Mr. Bradley gave some background on the city’s franchise for television services that is set to expire 69 <br />in three years. The franchise holder, Comcast, applied to transfer the franchise to another company, 70 <br />Greatland Connections. He explained that, as a result of that request, this became a good time to look 71 <br />at any issues with the franchise agreement. He has worked with Comcast to address issues and has 72 <br />negotiated the following terms to be included in the agreement for a transfer and extending the 73 <br />franchise: 74 <br />- The franchise agreement will be extended an additional three years; 75 <br />- Extension of a Memorandum of Understanding that continues the provision of financial 76 <br />support to North Metro Telecommunications Commission (NMTC); 77 <br />- Provision of HD channel(s); 78 <br />- Access to a programming guide across multiple platforms; 79 <br />- A refund related to a franchise fee underpayment; 80 <br />- Complimentary drops and outlets for municipal locations; 81 <br />- A small refund to cable subscribers; 82 <br />- Payment of all legal fees. 83 <br /> 84 <br />Mr. Bradley reviewed the requested action of approving a transfer of the franchise through resolution 85 <br />and first reading of an ordinance that amends the city’s franchise by the extension noted. 86 <br /> 87 <br />The council discussed the role of the City in denying or supporting the transfer. Mr. Bradley 88 <br />explained that this involves a very large scale business deal with many cities and subscribers 89 <br />involved. Mayor Reinert confirmed the future owner of the city’s franchise. 90 <br />2