Provide staff with direction regarding the format, topics and taping schedule for the "Spotlight on RPV" cable television program.

At the April 2, 2002 meeting, as part of City Council Reports, Councilman Clark reported on a conversation he had with Cox Communication’s General Manager Steve Fowler. Mr. Fowler had extended an offer to produce a program for Rancho Palos Verdes that would be similar to an existing monthly program Cox produces for the PVP School District. For example, the School Board President acts as host and the programs focus on the highlights of the previous School Board meeting. At the conclusion of Councilman Clark’s presentation, the City Council directed staff to interface with the Cox Communications staff on producing a similar program for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.

On July 3, 2002, Councilman Clark and staff met with Cox Communication’s Production Manager Paul Fornelli to discuss the project. Based on the conversation that occurred at this meeting, staff is seeking direction from the City Council on the following items:

1.Program Format

The group felt that the format of "Spotlight on RPV" (which is a working title only) should be a little different than the School District’s program. First, it was suggested that the Council members take turns hosting/sponsoring each program, rather than just having the Mayor fill this roll. Second, the issues would be topical, and not simply be a recap of the most recent City Council meeting. Staff is seeking Council’s concurrence on these two concepts.

2.Topics

Assuming that each program would be topical, several potential program themes were identified and are presented below, in no particular order:

Council members could choose their issue from these suggestions, or select their own topic. Based on the topic, Council members could choose to be interviewed alone, invite another Council member to participate with them or invite special guests to the program, etc. Councilman Clark suggested that a program on the Palos Verdes Landfill/Golf Course Project could feature a "round table" discussion between one or two members from the PVP School District Board, the Rolling Hills Estates City Council and the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council. Staff is seeking input as to which Council members would like to host/sponsor an episode of "Spotlight on RPV," as well as the order of their appearance for the first few episodes.

3.Taping Schedule

When staff originally met with Mr. Fowler and Mr. Fornelli on April 23, 2002 to discuss the concept of the "Spotlight on RPV" program, the preliminary schedule was to broadcast the first program by August 2002. However, since that time, Liz Brown, who directed the School Board’s program and would have filled that same roll for our program, has left Cox. Therefore, Cox has asked if the City can delay production of our first program until they hired a new director, which they expect to do within the next 30 days. Once the new director is on board, taping would probably take place on a Monday, in the late afternoon or early evening, at Cox Communication’s Peninsula Center studio. After we have gained some experience with the new program, some interviews could be broadcast live, perhaps even with phone-in questions from the viewing audience. Staff is seeking input from the City Council regarding the tentative taping schedule.

Other than staff time to plan and coordinate the productions, all other expenses to produce the cable television program would be absorbed by Cox Communications. Cox would produce this program as part of the government access services that are stipulated in the City’s current franchise agreement with the cable company.

Respectfully submitted,

Les Evans,

City Manager