04-08-1991 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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i REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD APRIL 8, 1991 ( #12)CABLE TV REPORT CONTINUED Pattrin had drafted a .report on the LMCCC's activities, as well as those of Triax Cable Systems, and distributed a copy to each Councilmember. Hie then took the opportunity to review the contents of his report. Pattrin stated that the City of Orono contributed. $19,200 to the Cable Commission this year. He was concerned that the LMCC';: Excelsior location is over- staffed, yet it has the least amount of programming output of all Triax studios, including Mound, Wayzata and Orono. He said, "Another concern is that Orono has consistently asked for assistance from the LMCC in operating its studio. It appears that the LMCC does not want to make additional personnel available to work at.the Orono studio to promote access programming at that location. I :relieve that the LMCC needs to focus their attention toward the Orono facility to promote and upgrade to produce programming. The Orono studio, in 1990, received two new camcorders from the LPICC, having a total combined value of $3,000. This is the first equipment the LMCC has purchased for the Orono S-udio since the franchise was put together. Out of all the money Orono has contributed to the LMCC over tine past years, we have received administration assistance, but only $3.,000 in equipment. The Orono studio will serve the communities of Minnetonka Beach, Long Lake, and Medina, n addition :o th= Orono area. Those cities contribute 32% of the LMCC funding. .It is obvious to me that the LMCC has neglected our area and needs to focus their attention on development of the Orono studio." Pattrin summarized the service, fees, and channel changes that have occurred with Triax Cable System, as outlined in his report.. He stated that Triax does not offer the same amount of service for the money as Paragon or King Cable Systems, which• serve communities just outside of Orono. He said, "The- customers o:= Triax are paying more, but getting less, compared to the competition." Pattrin reported that he had brought several issues to the attention of the LMCC regarding operation and service policies of Triax. One issue is a $3.50 pr outlet fee Triax is charging to Hole Name parochial school. Pattrin stated that no other cable company does that. Another issue pertains to problems that are occurring with signal return language, which is a method of sending live- transmissions between two locations. Pattrin had observed that Triax was advertising on access channels, which are to be used for public, rather than commercial, use. He said, "On the government access channel, Channel 8, they tied up several pages of the City's billboard (designed to provide viewers with information about the City), with advertising about the services Triax provides. After bringing this to their attention, they removed it. The other issues will be addressed at our next meeting. As a further note, I do possess a ropy of the report from Triax Cable Company, the 1990 Annual Cable Television System Report, which covers everything that they do." - 17 -