Minneapolis Telecommunications Network

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, January 9, 2003

Board Members Present: Mark Engebretson, Julie Wallace, Joan Higinbotham, Robert Vose, Floyd Child, Tamir Nolley, Vusi Zulu,

Board Members Absent: Cristina Stoeckel, Tomas Gonda

Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, Leo McCafferty, Edie French

Others Present: John Akre, Jim Derks

Mark Engebretson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

  1. Opening Business
    1. Comments from public, staff, and board

      2. John Akre talked about web site update and Media Smart Youth. Colby announced Akre’s reading.

    2. Approval of agenda.

      3. Motion: to place the "Creation of Universal Service" draft resolution as a priority item. MSP Child, Vose. Motion: to add "Election of officers" as Priority Item A. "Board committees" would become Priority Item B, and "Creation of Universal Service" draft resolution would be item C. MSP Wallace, Higinbotham. Motion: Agenda as amended. MSP Vose, Child.

    3. Minutes from the December board meeting. MSP Wallace, Child
  2. Reports
    1. City of Minneapolis – Edie French presented.

      2. There has been one application for Cristina Stoeckel’s board position. The applicant is named Todd Barnes. Vose is the sole applicant for the board position that he currently holds, and which has opened. The board appointments will be approved on January 13th.

      City Council will address the Time Warner transfer of ownership. The city staff recommendation will be to approve transfer of ownership with conditions. There will be a hearing with Ways and Means Committee on January 27th.

      Engbretson asked whether French and Colby would look at franchise agreements in other cities to see if cable companies can move channels as easily as they can in Minneapolis.

    2. Minneapolis Public Schools – Leo McCafferty reported.

      3. The schools are still getting converters in place to compensate for the channel changes of Dec. 30, 2002.

    3. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold presented

      4. Subscription total is 81,439. They are getting calls about the Fox Sports Net situation. They are still negotiating with the sports network.

    4. Executive Director’s Report – Colby handed out a hard copy of her report

    Colby described a change in MTN's Health Insurance coverage for employees. MTN will change to a plan with a higher co-pay rate. The plan will have a $2,000 hospitalization deductible. MTN will have an agreement with employees to cover these costs, and will establish a line item in its budget for such coverage. This change will save $700 per month. Colby spoke to every staff member who will be affected by this change. Board members discussed this thoroughly, and no board member spoke in opposition to this plan.

    April 11, 2003 is the date set for the MTN 20th Anniversary party.

    There will be a Midwest Regional Conference in February

    On Dec. 30, some channel numbers changed. There was discussion on the publicity efforts and the smooth transition.

    The Time Warner equipment payment has been received.

    French suggested a mayoral proclamation for the 20th Anniversary event.

    E. Treasurer’s Report – Higinbotham reported

    MTN is in the process of preparing for its audit. There will be a Treasurer's report next month.

  3. Priority Items
    1. Board officer elections

    Wallace presented the Nominating Committee report. She said that MTN has made some recent bylaws revisions but received no confirmation that those changes were accepted by the city. She said that the Board has agreed to follow the bylaws as amended. One amendment states that no board member may serve the same office more than two consecutive years. The Nominating Committee proposed the following slate: Robert Vose as Chair, Joan Higinbotham as Vice Chair, Tomas Gonda as Secretary, Mark Engebretson as Treasurer. Motion: Acceptance of slate. MSP Zulu, Nolley. The vote occurred as a secret ballot. Child counted the votes. There were 7 ayes and 0 nays. The motion was adopted

    Colby will identify the correct edition of the bylaws so that the Bylaws Committee can meet to send it to the city.

    B. Board committees 2003

    Finance Committee - Engebretsen, Higinbotham, Child; Equipment – Zulu, Child; Franchise Renewal/Long Range Planning – Vose, Engebretsen, Wallace, Higinbotham; Education – Nolley, Gonda; Public relations – Nolley

    Vose asked for updated board roster with committee assignments. Wallace also asked if board roster has board retirement dates as well. French would send copy of city clerk’s roster of board members.

    C. Draft of Universal service resolution

    Hard copy of resolution was distributed. Motion: Approval of resolution. MSP Vose, Nolley. Discussion: Engbretsen discussed two changes that had been made. Changes were underlined in the hard copy. Leupold's concerns included the source of funding for this, the possible increase in cable piracy, but said that if the board wants this explored Time Warner would hope to have input. French said that she felt comfortable with the wording of the resolution. Motion approved.

    French suggested that Vose mention this resolution on Monday the 13th when he is up for approval

  4. Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. MSP Nolley, Child