Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/1998 ! � Telecommunications Advisory Committee City of Apple Va11ey October 13, 1998 7:00 P.M. City Hall Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Chairperson Bible. Members Present: Dale Rodell, Rollin Bible, Jerry Brown, Scott Hugstad-Vaa Members Absent: David Westbrook, John Magnusson Others Present: Charles Grawe, Dennis LaComb, John Erar, Thomas Creighton, Michael Bradley, Karen Sanderson (arrived at 7:09), Jane Bremer (arrived at 7:11), Carol Wold-Sindt (arrived at 7:11) 2. Introductions Those in attendance introduced themselves. Mr. Creighton introduced Mr. Bradley as a new attorney with the firm Bernick and Lifson. Mr. Bradley will be working with Mr. Creighton on cable franchise issues. 3. Franchise Renewal U�date Mr. Creighton distributed a copy of a joint and cooperative agreement he prepared for the Cities of Apple Valley, Farmington, and Rosemount. While much of the language was boiler plate, Mr. Creighton identified several issues which need to be discussed-- number of inembers, division of inembership, distribution of votes, and division of funding. Mr. Rodell asked what impact the joint powers body would have on the existing Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Mr. Creighton responded the joint powers body could replace the Telecommunications Advisory Committee or the Telecommunications Advisory Committee could make recommendations to joint powers members. Mr. Creighton explained the Burnsville/Eagan joint powers body has four representatives from each city. Mr. Creighton said he felt the Burnsville/Eagan body may be too large and recommended three representatives serve from each city at most. Mr. Erar suggested two representatives serve from each city. Mr. Bible requested the scope of the joint powers body be explored before deciding on an appropriate size. He noted that franchise issues do not constitute a large scope. Mr. Creighton said the current language in the agreement speaks largely to dealing with the � � franchisee. Each city would continue to hold an individual cable franchise with the company and the local advisory committees would still have their responsibilities. The joint powers body would serve to make recommendations and hold public hearings on behalf of the three cities. The joint powers body would thus serve to create efficiencies for the company, which could attend meetings for the joint powers body, rather than individual meetings for all three cities. Mr. Rodell asked if Lakeville could be included in the future. Mr. Creighton said the language allows Lakeville to be added as a member in the future. Mr. Bible asked how the joint powers body would be dissolved. Mr. Creighton responded the budget process allows members to withdraw. The joint powers would continue until the parties want it dissolved. Assets will be divided in proportion to the most recent year's percentage of contribution to the joint powers. Mr. Erar suggested dividing votes such that Farmington and Rosemount would each have one vote and Apple Valley would have two votes. Mr. Bible requested Mr. Creighton prepare a number of options for membership and voting. Mr. Creighton briefly explained what elements of other joint powers agreements were included and not included in the draft presented to the Committee. Mr. Creighton said he and Ms. Bremer have discussed the renewal issues and the franchise is about 90% agreed upon. Ms. Bremer will be writing Mr. Creighton with counter proposals on the outstanding issues over the next five to seven days. Mr. Creighton said they have yet to reach an agreement on the capital grant issue. The Lakeville franchise is scheduled for final approval tonight, which includes educational and government PEG fees, but nothing for public access. The Apple Valley franchise differs by relieving the company of the responsibility for providing public access. The Fiberlink contract also needs to be incorporated back into the process. Ms. Bremer said there have been no delays in construction of the new system. She said the Lakeville agreement with Fiberlink can also be used in Apple Valley. She said she met with Charter's general counsel on the franchise issues last week. Her instructions from Charter are to complete the franchise within the next 30 days. Mr. Erar expressed his concern that the 30 day deadline be honored. Mr. Erar asked what provisions allow the City's use of some portion of the company's fiber for data transmission or other purposes. Ms. Bremer said the Lakeville agreement with Fiberlink addresses this issue. She also said the broadband design of the system allows for uses other than television. Mr. Bible expressed his concern about writing language about data networks into the cable franchise document. Mr. Creighton said there may be interconnected networks over and above the cable television subscriber network. He said he could try to negotiate internet access for the cities into the cable franchise document. Mr. Erar said he didn't want the franchise agreement to exclude the fiber backbone. Mr. Creighton clarified the cities require a broadband platform, but wouldn't require some of the electronics until it is economically feasible. He also explained there may be fees charged for the use of some of these services. Mr. Erar requested Marcus provide the cities with bandwidth on the fiber network for data services. Ms. Bremer responded bandwidth can be provided, but not free of charge. She noted Lakeville didn't want their data on the subscriber network for security reasons, but � • wanted a point-to-point connection or a parallel network. Marcus will build and maintain such a parallel network at about 80% less than what US West is charging Lakeville over a 10 year lease. Mr. Creighton added that an institutional network could also be negotiated and exists in some other Metro cities. There was brief discussion about how the Fiberlink agreement would be separate from the cable franchise. Mr. Bible set the next meeting for Tuesday, November 17, 1998. Mr. Creighton and Ms. Bremer committed to presenting a franchise document to the cities at the meeting. Mr. Creighton asked that the negotiating task force members be prepared to meet before the meeting of November 17 to resolve any outstanding issues. Mr. Erar requested a report from Mr. Creighton around November 1, outlining the progress on the outstanding issues. Mr. Creighton provided a brief update on the issue of the interconnect. He said representatives from Marcus, Media One, Apple Valley, Burnsville, and Eagan discussed interconnecting the cable systems. Mr. Grawe said he spoke with Mr. Roeder recently and was told the physical connection of the systems would not be difficult, but that issues regarding payment for services would need to be resolved. Mr. Brown asked when cable modems would be available in Apple Valley. Ms. Bremer '' said she expected them to be available by the end of the 1 st quarter of 1999. ' 4. Adjourn Mr. Rodell moved, seconded by Mr. Brown to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 P.M..