City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2004 06 22

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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: WILLIAM A. SIMMONS CITY MANAGER DATE: June 22, 2004 SUBJECT: Comcast Franchise Renewal — Discussion/Direction ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office SUMMARY: Please find attached the proposed draft franchise from Comcast presented to the City on June 3, 2003. The current Comcast franchise expires September 17, 2005. This proposed franchise is a starting point for negotiations and there is every intention that modifications will occur as discussion progresses. A handout prepared by Comcast regarding renewal is•also attached. The previous franchise negotiations for cable service in 1995 with Scripps Howard, at the time, included a Cable Television Advisory Committee composed of three residents as well as consultant services and took place approximately nine months prior to renewal. Under the informal proceedings for renewal a public hearing and opportunity for comment from the public is all that is required prior to approval of a franchise. The City however, may expand the public process as it sees fit. At this point, staff would like to discuss the process for moving forward on renewal, not provisions of the proposed franchise. Initial process questions for moving forward on renewal are below, along with a preliminary schedule. • Should the City obtain consultant services to assist.with renewal? • Would City Council like to appoint a cable committee, along with a City Council liaison to conduct the negotiations? • Or would City Council prefer staff to negotiate the preliminary terms of the franchise and come to back to the City Council/public with an initial draft for comment and revision? A schedule might proceed such that City Council, staff, advisory committee, the City's consultant and/or others as City Council may see fit, hold a study session in early Fall to discuss the initial Comcast proposed franchise and areas the City wishes to see addressed in the franchise. After that initial meeting, work may begin on responding to the proposed franchise with a City draft including any changes and/or edits to the agreement. The hope would be to complete negotiations over the next six months with a proposed final draft to City Council sometime in March of 2005. This timeframe would provide additional opportunity for a study session to discuss the final proposal with the full City Council and respond to suggested changes. Staff would then proceed to formal approval at a City Council meeting sometime in June of 2005, with 1 and 2 readings on the proposed ordinance. Preliminary discussions with Ken Fellman from Kissinger and Fellman, P.C. who have assisted on a FE SUBJECT AGENDA ITEM Comcast Franchise Renewal — Discussion/Direction