10-25-1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission Year 2000 Budget The Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission has experienced some dramatic changes in its operations since the adoption of its 1999 budget in August of 1998. The franchise renewal process (a multi-year efifort) was finalized late in 1998 eifcaive January 1, 1999. Part of the new agreement was the rel^^ase of Triax Cablevision firom any obligation to provide funding or facilities for the purpose of public acces.s to the dedicated PEG channels provided on their cable system. The LMCC had agreed to take over all responsibilities for the provision of public access opportunities for the residents and institutions of its member cities. In order to support the public access studio and production facilities and activities, the new fi-anchise agreement provided for a subscriber PEG fee of .50 cents per month, and calls for the fianchise fees to be paid quarterly to the Commission during the year in which they are generated. Through 1998 ti:e fianchise fees were received in one payment after the end of the year. These changes, combined with negotiated one-time settlements, resulted in an increase in 1999 revenues of over $242,000. The Commission was also informed in December of 1998 that the lease, held by Triax with U S West, for the studio and office facilities in Excelsior had not been renewed. This required an immediate search for a new suitable location for the Commission’s activities and considerable expense and capital outlay which had not been anticipated in the 1999 adopted budget. These changes in revenues and expenditures, both current and going forward, called for major revisions to the 1999 budget The Commission (with the concurrence of its auditor) decided the current format of the budget needed to be expanded to better track the various revenues and new expenditures. The 2000 adopted budget, as presented to you, is represented in this new expanded format of three separate funds: Franchise Administration, Studio/Access Production, and Capital Improvements. Franchise Administration Fund This fund is supported entirely by fianchise fees and interest on investments. Activities accounted for in this fund are related to the oversight responsibilities of the Comnussion representing the member cities’ interest in the cable operators compliance with the fianchise agreement. The LMCC also represents its member cities by monitoring and participating in the ongoing le^slative activities at the stale and federal level relating to local government control of the use of its rights of way. Studio/Access Production Fund This fund is to account for all public access activities for which the LMCC has assumed total responsibility. Expenses cover staff time and all operating costs of assisting residents and institutions in producuig video presentations to be played back over the local public access