03/18/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e requested increase must involve determining if the rate ensures an adequate rate of return for the company. The burden of proof is placed on Teleprompter. An evaluation and recommendation from Shirley Swenson, consultant, has been distributed. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m., and it will be broadcast live on KOlY. She feels that the second issue facing the community is public access. Public access means that the public is given the chance to air its own programming on television. It is programming by the public for the public and it does not compete for large audiences. She showed the council a video tape of an example done in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She feels that some testimony at the public hearing will deal with the adequacy and amount of access facilities. The current franchise contains minimal access provisions. Other communities have received extensive access facilities including staff and equipment as part of their franchise agreement. Staff is currently working with Teleprompter to produce a 30-minute color special on the City budget. This will provide staff with information and demonstrate how spending $40 per hour to produce a video tape works. The third issue will be the reviews provided in the franchise. A review must be done in October. The commission will begin reviewing the franchise in early fall once Teleprompter has completed their report indicating their new level of service. Another review could be done after: the rebuild is complete. The fourth issue is that of timing. The commission must decide whether to consider the rate increase now and whether to consider the access question along with rate increase, or to postpone both decisions until the franchise review in October. e Ms. Baker said that a decision does not need to be made today. This is only an informational item. However, she would like to get some indication of how the council feels. Mr. Lindberg stated that he is excited about the Eugene budget show being prepared and feels that this is a good way to get information to the public. Ms. Wooten thanked Ms. Baker for the thorough background material. Ms. Wooten is a strong advocate of public access and thinks the commission should consider this issue. The rate increase request must be decided by April 15, but additional decisions may be made later. Ms. Wooten moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the following resolution: e "The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that Teleprompter Inc., has requested authorization from the City to increase the rates charged for its services. There has been considerable concern expressed by the public with respect to the present level of public access services and amenities provided by Teleprompter, Inc. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Eugene, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. Based upon the above findings, the City Council hereby expresses its support that further negotiations be conducted with Teleprompter Inc. with respect to an increase in public access services and amenities prior to considering its requested rate increase." MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 18, 1981 Page 11