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Item No: 14 <br />Meeting Date: April 7, 2003 <br />Type of Business: Worksession <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: James Ericson, Acting City Administrator <br />Item Title/Subject: Review Cable Franchise Provisions and an “Alternate” <br />Appointment to the North Suburban Communication <br />Commission <br /> <br />Introduction: <br /> <br />At a previous Council meeting, the question was raised whether or not an alternate had been <br />appointed to serve on the North Suburban Communication Commission. In addition, <br />questions were raised about the dollars in the Cable Fund and whether or not some of those <br />funds could be utilized for general fund purposes. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />The Council adopted Resolution 5950 on February 10, 2003 which appointed Barbara Haake <br />to serve as the City’s representative on the North Suburban Communication Commission <br />(NSCC). There was no discussion concerning the appointment of an alternate. If the <br />Council would desire to nominate an alternate, that action can be taken at your next meeting. <br /> <br />Regarding the franchise agreement, Ms. Haake provided copies of relevant sections of the <br />agreement pertaining to the use of the cable franchise dollars. According to Ms. Haake, the <br />Cable Agreement that was entered into by the ten cities includes the following language: <br /> <br />“The financial contributions of the Members in support of the Commission shall be in direct <br />proportion to the percent of annual revenues of each Member to the total revenues of the <br />system for the prior year multiplied by the Commission’s annual budget. The annual budget <br />shall establish the contribution of each Member for the ensuing year and a timetable for the <br />payment of said contribution. The remainder of any franchise fee paid to the Member by <br />Grantee shall be used for cable-related expenses.” <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />I was not able to read through the cable franchise agreement to get the full context of the <br />agreement regarding the franchise fees, however I hope to do so by Monday night and <br />will present and new information at that time. With regard to the alternate appointment to <br />the NSCC, the Council should appoint someone to fill that seat and a resolution <br />formalizing the appointment would be brought forward on April 14. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />_____________________________________ <br />James Ericson <br />Interim City Clerk/Administrator