TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS

FROM: CITY MANAGER

DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

SUBJECT: CABLE TELEVISION COMMITTEE

RECOMMENDATION
Appoint a second member to the Cable Television Committee.

BACKGROUND
At their meeting of September 17, 2002 the City Council established a Cable TV ad hoc Committee (Gardiner/McTaggart) to explore opportunities for use of public access channels with the schools and the public, possibly using volunteers and/or students. Later, while the committee was still ad hoc, Councilman Stern replaced Councilman McTaggart as the second committee member.

On March 29, 2005 (revised on July 19, 2005), the City Council adopted policies to formalize the pending start up of programming on Channel 33 and assigned specific responsibilities to the Cable TV Committee. Pertinent excerpts from the policy documents are provided below:

The Manager, RPV Public Television works closely with the City Manager but reports to and receives direction from the City Council and/ or any appointed Cable Television Committee or point of contact designated by the Council.

Any disagreement with a programming decision shall be presented first to the Manager of RPV Public Television Productions (“Manager”). If the Manager is unable to resolve the issue in a manner that is satisfactory to the affected party, an appeal may be made to the Cable Television Committee, which is comprised of two Members of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council. Decisions of the Cable Television Committee may be appealed to the City Council for a determination; however, the Subcommittee or any other Council member may refer an appeal to the City Council for determination at a duly noticed City Council meeting.

The Manager of RPV Public Television Productions, in consultation with the Cable Television Committee, shall allocate programming time among the programming categories. The City Council reserves final authority to prioritize RPV-CTV programming.

A disagreement with a decision concerning the use of the Video Bulletin Board shall be presented first to the Manager of RPV Public Television Productions. If the Manager is unable to resolve the dispute in a manner that is satisfactory to the affected party, an appeal may be made to the Cable Television Committee. Decisions of the Cable Television Committee may be appealed to the City Council for determination; however, the Subcommittee or any other Council member may refer an appeal to the City Council for determination at a duly noticed City Council meeting.

On May 17, 2005 the City Council created a standing Cable Television Committee and appointed Councilmembers Stern and Gardiner to the Committee. During Mayor Wolowicz’s City Council appointments in January of this year, only Councilman Gardiner was appointed to the Committee. At the September 5, 2006 City Council meeting, Councilman Gardiner suggested that a second Councilmember be appointed.

DISCUSSION
Since the former Cable TV ad hoc Committee has now been tasked with formal responsibilities. It is appropriate that this Committee be established as a standing committee and appointment of two Councilmembers to the Committee be made.

Respectfully submitted:

Les Evans
City Manager