03/08/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e ~ M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Work Session Treehouse Restaurant March 8, 1982 5:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Gus Keller, Councilors Bill Hamel, Emily Schue, Mark Lindberg, Cynthia Wooten, Brian Obie, Gretchen Miller, and Betty Smith; Micheal Gleason, City Manager; Dave Whitlow, Assistant City Manager; Pat Lynch, Carol Baker, Kent Gorham, City Manager's Office; Keith Martin, City Attorney's Office; and Susan Pack, Eugene Register-Guard. I. ORDINANCE AMENDING TELEPROMPTER FRANCHISE Mr. Martin reviewed the changes in the Teleprompter franchise as recommended by the Metropolitan Cable Commission. He said that leased access did not apply to the access center, but the access center could have privately financed program- ming with corporate identification as long as the identification was not a commercial. Mr. Martin believed the access center would be heavily used for governmental and educational cablecasting. One of the provisions of the fran- chise would allow an individual to buy a low-cost single-channel converter to watch either the commercial programming on Channel 4 or convert to a second access center channel. Mr. Martin emphasized that these changes give the Cable Commission the responsibility for success of the access center. Ms. Wooten asked about procedures for arbitration should one of the three jurisdictions not approve the franchise as amended. Mr. Martin said that in the event arbitration is necessary, the commission and Teleprompter would try to select a single arbitrator. Failing that, each would select an arbitrator and still try to pick a third. If they cannot pick a third, the presiding judge of Lane County Circuit Court selects a third arbitrator. Ms. Wooten asked if arbitration would be limited to a single issue of concern or if the entire agreement would be open to arbitration. Mr. Martin said that the agreement stated that a process of fact-finding and mediation would occur first, followed by binding arbitration if mediation does not resolve the controversy. He felt that the changes in the ordinance would be the issue. Mr. Gleason said that typically a mediation or arbitration process attempts to narrow the focus of the discussions. Mr. Martin explained that the agreement, as far as Teleprompter was concerned, was a package deal. The agreement requires Teleprompter to stipulate which items are in agreement and which are not and they, in theory, could open the entire agreement to arbitration. Or they could keep the focus narrow. Ms. Wooten asked if the council could theoretically approve all of the agreement except for one particular section. Mr. Martin stated that under the terms of the settlement with Teleprompter, the council could not. Ms. Miller asked about the cost of binding arbitration. Mr. Martin said it would probably cost about $1,000 a day. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session March 8, 1982 Page 1