HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-15 PACKET 05.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 2/15/2012
PREPARED BY Administration Ryan Schroeder
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Receive response to previously raised Open Form comments regarding public access cable
programming.
BUDGET IMPLICATION
BUDGETED AMOUNT
ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION
DATE REVIEWED
❑ PLANNING ❑
❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑
❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑
❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑
❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑
ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY El
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
ACTUAL AMOUNT
APPROVED
DENIED
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® MEMO /LETTER: Letter from SWCTC Administrator Fran Hemmesch.
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
f;
Administrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
Document2
January 24, 2012
Mr. Bob Zick
2231 Penn Place #104
North St. Paul, MN 55109
Re: Access Television
Dear Mr. Zick:
I was informed that you attended and spoke during the Open Forum at the January 18, 2012
Cottage Grove City Council meeting. From your comments at the meeting, I understand that you
would like the City of Cottage Grove to have a public access channel similar to the public access
channel in the City of North St. Paul where you live.
As you already know, the City of Cottage Grove is part of the South Washington County
Telecommunications Commission ( SWCTC), a municipal joint powers organization that is
responsible for cable franchising and operating the government access channels. Many years ago
the franchised cable operator in south Washington County (King Videocable) operated a public
access channel out of the Park and Woodbury schools. When the School/ Studio Agreement
between King Videocable and the School District expired King Videocable decided to eliminate
public access in south Washington County. The SWCTC did not "shut down" public access.
The SWCTC has never operated a public access channel.
Recently, the SWCTC updated its Channel Programming Policies and clarified the history and
operation of the SWCTC government access channels. You can view these policies on our web
site www.swctc.org
Regarding the PEG fee, it is up to the Commission or municipality to choose how to allocate
the PEG fee depending on the disposition of the local government.
Should you have any questions about SWCTC and its policies, you may contact the Commission's
attorney Michael Bradley at Bradley & Guzzetta. His direct telephone number is 651- 689 -3099.
Sincerely,
Fran Hemmesch
Administrator
Cc: Ryan Schroeder
Myron Bailey
Jen Peterson
Roger Peterson
Mike Bradley