12/09/1981 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

C. Councilor Request e Councilor Haws requested postponement of the five-minute presentation he had planned to make until December 16. D. Metro Cable TV Audit Councilor Hamel noted that he is a representative to the Metro Cable TV/Trans- lator Commission. They are asking for an audit of Teleprompter in order to make a proper decision on the rate increase request. Eugene's cost would be $6,380. The audit must be completed by the last of January. Springfield and Lane County will each pay their own share. Action needs to be taken today. Mayor Keller asked who would conduct the audit. Keith Martin, City Attorney, stated that either the Cable Television Information Center Systems or Touche Ross & Co. is prepared to do the audit. Mayor Keller stated that some time ago, information was requested from Teleprompter. He asked if this finished product would be what they are looking for. Mr. Martin stated that there will have to be a limitation on how thorough this audit will be. Teleprompter will provide information and they are willing to fly the auditor to New York for an original document audit. A local evaluation is also being conducted. Ms. Miller asked if the City's share of the revenues from the franchise goes into the general fund. Mr. Martin responded that it does, and that is where the money will come from to conduct the audit. Ms. Miller asked if the same auditors will be used for this as were used for MSI and the ambulance review. Mr. Martin stated that staff will be using auditors from all three agencies. This is very complicated because decisions must be made regarding Teleprompter's rate of return. e Mr. Haws asked if the franchise would be open for bidding so that local com- panies could have a chance to participate. He would prefer a local firm, if that were possible. Mr. Martin stated that this is considered to be profes- sional services so it would not be put out to bid, but inquiries were made locally. Touche Ross is the only Oregon firm capable of conducting such an audit. Mr. Lindberg stated that Section III of the proposed resolution recommends development of a non-profit corporation to include public access into the franchise agreement. Mr. Martin stated that the franchise agreement requires four channels for government and public access. Most public access channels around the country that are successful have a non-profit corporation to link the public with the access. He is working on a description of this non-profit corporation now. Mr. Lindberg added that he would be especially interested in the board of directors and how they would be selected. Mr. Martin responded that usually this is a commission, and that the seven-member board would be first appointed by the Cable Commission, based on nominations from the advisory committee, and later turned over to the public. Ms. Smith stated that there appear to be two issues: the audit and access. She asked if action could be taken on Section III of the resolution later. Mr. Martin responded that this section only directs the commission to develop a proposal which would then have to be approved by the council. This does not bind approval. He would feel better if the council would authorize this, because this goes beyond the commission's general tasks. Mr. Haws asked if e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 9, 1981 Page 2