CC Minutes - 01/12/98 Work Session

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Community Television and the programs initiated by local government. She asked if start-up funds would be supplied by other government entities. Phil Weiler, Administrative Services Department, said that the contingency funding would not increase government broadcasting. It would allow members of the community to produce and cablecast their own programming. He referred the latter question to Mr. Laue, representative to the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC). Mr. Tollenaar said he was inclined to support the motion because of recent budget reductions in the cultural diversity programming offered by the Hult Center. He believed those reductions left a gap in the community that Community Television could help to fill to a small degree. He said that he had been impressed by the fact Eugene was a long way behind other Oregon communities in the field of community television. Mr. Laue concurred with Mr. Tollenaar, pointing out that in other communities the funding for Community Television came from the franchise fees paid by local cable providers. Eugene had chosen not to do so. Subsequently, the program budget was reduced through the Ballot Measure 47/50 process. He said that the MPC had discussed the issue at great length and agreed that the supporters of Community Television would form a nonprofit organization and assume responsibility for the program. Mr. Laue said that the Contingency Fund was used for a variety of reasons, with the caveat that funding was for one-time requests. He did not think that the supporters of Community Television would be able to make the transition to a nonprofit organization without the City's assistance. Mr. Torrey indicated he would vote to support the motion in the case of a tie. He considered the funding seed money that would give the transition process a lift. Mr. Torrey asked the supporters of Community Television to reach out to the entire community, not just those aware of the program now. Ms. Taylor said that Community Television increased career opportunities for young people and helped keep people informed. She said that she was aware of many Iow-income people who purchased cable services, although she regretted the channel was not available otherwise. Ms. Nathanson recollected her opposition in past years to Eugene's funding what was essentially a metropolitan program on its own. She supported the funding as seed money for a new organization. Roll call vote: 6:2; Ms. Swanson Gribskov and Mr. Meisner voting no. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 12, 1998 Page 5 5:30 p.m.