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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 26, 2017 Page 2 Councilmember Gray introduced the ordinance for Comcast Cable Television Franchise. 1 Council is requested to approve the first of three readings of an ordinance to adopt the renewal of 2 the Comcast cable television franchise. A memorandum from Mike Bradley, Attorney for the 3 North Suburban Cable Commission (NSCC) was provided for Council review summarizing the 4 Franchise Renewal. The second reading will be on October 10, 2017 and the third and final 5 reading will be on October 24, 2017. Following the adoption of the ordinance, the ordinance 6 goes into effect upon publication in the St. Anthony Bulletin. Councilmember Gray serves as the 7 liaison to the North Suburban Cable Commission and North Suburban Access Corporation. For 8 the past four years this agreement has been worked on. Before Council is a very favorable 9 franchise agreement. He reviewed some of the highlights of the agreement. The agreement has 10 a ten-year term. There will still be a 5% franchise fee paid to each City in the NSCC (9 cities). 11 That may be at risk as in many states there is a State Franchise Agreement or it may be 12 eliminated completely by the FCC. The franchise fee is for the right-of-way. The current PEG 13 funding continues until the end of the year. After 2018 the PEG funding is cut 40% by the new 14 franchise agreement. PEG fees are on each subscriber’s bill. This is for Public, Educational and 15 Government programming. With these cuts the way CTV is run will need to be changed. 16 Councilmember Gray stated a budget is being done for next year currently. The Executive 17 Director intends to retire at some point so a new Director will be needed. A point of concern is 18 the number of people going to the internet to get their information. A consultant will be assisting 19 the Commission in looking at the future of the NSCC. The old franchise agreement included 20 universal service. This has been eliminated in the new franchise agreement. 21 22 Councilmember Stille thanked Councilmember Gray for serving on the Commission and 23 clarified the use of “we” refers to the North Suburban Cable Commission. He asked how this 24 content can be delivered to the public in the best way. Councilmember Gray stated this is a good 25 deal compared to what other States are paying across the nation. 26 27 Mayor Faust pointed out this is a user fee and no funds come out of taxpayer dollars. It is paid by 28 the subscribers to Comcast and CenturyLink. The City is not at risk for any liability or funding. 29 30 Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. 31 32 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve First Reading 33 of Ordinance 2017-03; an Ordinance Approving the Comcast Cable Television Franchise. 34 35 Motion carried 4-0. 36 37 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE 38 39 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 40 41 A. Fire Prevention Presentation 42 43 Fire Department Representatives Chief Mark Sitarz and Firefighter Mattie Jaros provided the 44 Fire Prevention Presentation to Council. The Department provides education to all residents. The 45 Open Houses over the last few years has been a great success thanks to Mattie Jaros. Ms. Jaros 46