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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/18/03 Telecommunications , ~~~ , --- . TELECOMMUNICATION MEETING MINUTES February 18, 2003 The Regular Session of The Telecommunication Board of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:01 p.m. on the 18th day of February 2003 at City Hall with the following members present: Board Members Present Staff present: Clark Switzer, Chairman Rebecca Koo, Finance Director Richard Kuether, Vice Chairman Linda Camerlin - LT. Manager Walter Gillett Rhonda Gann - Recording Secretary Marcus Leatham Jonathan Alzamora - LT. Specialist Bill Cunningham Michael Fogarty Wallace Gehrke, Alternate Absent were: Melvina Sparks . With seven (7) board members present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. Citizens Input Ms. Janice Rose Presented to the board the possibility of a cable - T.V. program - "The Colony's Living Treasures" On the agenda: a. Arts by the Lake b. Senior Citizens in The Colony Clark Switzer agreed to add this item to the agenda for the next scheduled board meeting. Clark Switzer requested that Ms. Rose be at the next scheduled meeting to answer any questions that may come up by the board. . 1 . 2. Consideration of approval of the minutes of the Telecommunications Board meeting held on February 18, 2003. Richard Kuether made a motion to approve the minutes from the board meting held on February 18,2003. Bill Cunningham seconded the motion. Those in favor: All Those oppose: None 3. Staff Liaison Report a. Bio of Board Members Linda Camerlin received and read the bios on Wallace Gehrke, Marcus Leatham, and Mike Fogarty. b. AT&T Name Information Linda spoke to Ela Sizemore with AT&T. Ms. Sizemore said the name change from AT&T to Comcast is not official until March 1,2003. Ms. Sizemore is not . able to release information on number of residence in The Colony that subscribes to cable T.V. due to the subscriber's numbers being proprietary. This information is confidential due to competitive reasons. Richard Kuether requested that Linda bring the contract that the City has with AT&T cable to the next appointed meeting. c. Council Agenda Items for March 3, 2003 Rebecca Koo informed the board she will not be able to submit their request to re-write the ordinance and the goals for the board at the council meeting for 03- 03-03, but will submit their request at future council meeting. 4. Discussion report on DSL Service in The Colony Linda Camerlin asked the SBC DSL representative if SBC completed all of the maintenance of adding DSL to all the residence in The Colony. Linda reported the DSL representative does not have the information available at this time. Bill Cunningham asked Linda if she would contact Darlene Buhl, who is the . Government Liaison at SBC. Ms Buhl will be able to find the coverage area, and if the City is wired all over this area, if the DSL in The Colony is of high quality, and are there any problems in the area that she is aware of at this time. 2 . Michael Fogarty requested that Linda bring a copy of the franchise agreement that we have with Southwestern Bell, to the next meeting. 5. Discuss penetration of AT&T cable in The Colony Linda reported that she would contact Ella Sizemore in reference to the penetration of AT&T cable in The Colony and report to the board at the next meeting. 6. Discuss penetration of cellular service in The Colony. Linda reported that she would contact Ella Sizemore in reference to the penetration of cellular service in The Colony and report to the board at the next meeting. Bill Cunningham asked Linda to see which companies have cell towers in The Colony. Linda suggested the board to elect a sub-committee. She is being bombarded with questions that could take a lot of her time and it takes away from her day to day responsibilities at the City. 7. Discuss equipment to be repaired. Clark Switzer reported the following pieces of equipment that needs repair: . a. $1,500 Shot Gun Microphone b. $3,000 Main Record Deck for Council Meetings c. $1,000 Switcher box for Audio to Channel 17 Jonathan Alzamora told the board he looked into the problem with the audio to Channel 17 and he thinks it is the switcher box, something to do with the wire connection. Richard Kuether agreed to look at the Audio to Channel 17 - switcher box and try to fix it to save money. Clark Switzer suggested that no one on the board or with the City should be messing with equipment if it is broken, unless they know what they are doing. Bill Cunningham asked Linda to e-mail everyone the final quotes on the three items to be sent out for a quote for repair, so that this item does not have to come back to the board for another approval. Richard Kuether made a motion for the equipment under item a., b., and c. to be sent for quotes for repairs, and to be repaired as needed. Bill Cunningham seconded the motion. . Those in favor: All Those opposed: None 3 . 8. Discuss new equipment purchases Clark Switzer presented a list of items to be given to Bob Sparkman, City Purchasing Agent, for quotes. Item 4, 5, and 6 are being tabled for correct information that was listed on paper incorrectly. Total of all items, $4,438.27. Marcus Leatham made a motion to send the equipment list to Bob Sparkman for quotes, tabling items 4, 5, and 6, and for Bob to get with Clark Switzer to discuss quotes and then to purchase the items. Wallace Gehrke requested that Bob Sparkman get quotes, and purchase all items from same source, and frequency must be tested coordinated before purchased. Richard Kuether seconded the motion. Those in favor: All Those oppose: None 9. Chairman Input a. Mayor's program on Cable T.V. . Clark Switzer informed the board that the Mayor's program will air through the month of February 2003. He would like to post it on the website. Jonathan Alzamora told the board that he would talk to Diane to get Dale's approval. b. Future programs on Cable T.V. Clark Switzer would like for anyone that wants to air programs on Cable T.V. to come to the Telecommunication Board meetings for review and approval. Linda Camerlin reminded the board that any proposed programming for cable T.V. has to be by City sponsored departments. 10. Suggestions on setting agenda items Richard Kuether told the board and staff that the board was informed at the last meeting that they cannot ask to put anything on the next agenda during the current meeting. Richard said that the board can make plans as to what to put on the next meeting agenda, during each meeting in process, but cannot discuss the items on the next agenda until that appointed meeting. . Rebecca Koo told the board that staff was instructed by the City Secretary not to discuss any items that are not on the current meeting agenda. If the board has a question in 4 . . reference to this, please send the questions to Rebecca or Linda bye-mail and she will forward it to the City Secretary. 11. Discuss Addition of Channel 17 and P.E.G. to our city website Clark Switzer asked what it cost the City to add something to the web site, and can the meetings currently broadcasted over cable channels be added? Walter Gillette said the City web site shows the council meetings are on channel 6 but does not mention channel 17 on it at all. Linda suggested that the board e-mail Diane if they are requesting any changes on the website. Rebecca Koo asked the board to e-mail Clark Switzer for any changes, Clark Switzer will e-mail Linda, and Linda will e-mail Diane Baxter. Clark Switzer appointed Richard Kuether and Walter Gillett to e-mail Linda Camerlin on this matter so that Linda can e-mail Diane. Get the schedule as to which programs will be aired each month. 12. Discuss possible sources of funding . Clark Switzer appointed Michael Fogarty, Marcus Leatham and Wallace Gehrke as a sub-committee to check into possible funding sources. Bill Cunningham ask the sub-committee to check into Allen, Texas, Allen is already doing this. Rebecca Koo asked the sub-committee to have their reports in writing. The Telecommunication Board will have to approve it, and then present it to the city council for approval and adoption. 13. Discuss search costs of web casts Clark Switzer ask Jonathan what is the cost for additional space on the website? Jonathan Alzamora stated there was not additional cost. He can do the following two things for more room: a. We can use the hosting company for live broadcast. b. Archive City information in-house. Clark Switzer reminded the board members to e-mail him any items that need to be put . on the agenda for the March 4, 2003 meeting. 5 , . . Clark Switzer adjourned this meeting at 9:00p.m. APPROVED: Clark Switzer, Chairman Rhonda Gann, Recording Secretary . . 6