Minneapolis Telecommunications Network

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, January 10, 2002

Board Members Present: Mark Engebretson, Julie Wallace, Vusi Zulu, Joan Higinbotham, Floyd Child, Christina Stoeckel, Tomas Gonda

Board Members Absent: Michael Rainville

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

Others Present: Pam Colby, John Akre, Bob Vose

Meeting called to order at 5:30 by Mark Engebretson

  1. Opening Business
    1. Comments from public, staff, and board - no comments
    2. Approval of agenda, MSP Zulu, Stoeckel
    3. Minutes from the December board meeting. The minutes were approved with one clarification. In reference to the presentation of the check from Time Warner, Lance Leupold asked that the minutes read that "Time Warner presented a check for $50,000 though they did not agree that they were required to pay it." MSP Zulu, Stoeckel
  2. Reports
    1. City of Minneapolis - Edie French presented.

      2. MPD Live show has had sound problems. It was live tonight with no sound at the beginning. The City is expecting another significant cut in its budget.

      Engebretson introduced Mark Vose, who has applied for the MTN Board.

    2. Minneapolis Public Schools. Leo McCafferty presented.

      3. Colleen Koslowski is working on making a 30% cut to their department. Public input meetings on the budget cuts won't be telecast live because of budget cuts. The meetings will be presented on KBEM. Engebretson asked if MTN could show the meetings. Colby talked about the cost of this.

    3. Executive Director's Report - Pamela Colby reported.

    Colby handed out a hard copy of her report. Syretha Mitchell, MTN's receptionist died in December.

    MTN is still waiting for the Time Warner $50,000 and the first half of 2002 funds from the city. French has contacted finance staff. They said these funds would be sent a week from Friday.

    Taxes - MTN's lease agreement states that MTN pays property taxes for the portion of the building that it occupies. The tax bill is rising $19,000 this year. The property owner said there is nothing to appeal. On Monday, staff will discuss ways to make up for the tax increase. There followed some discussion about challenging the tax increase.

    D. Time Warner report - Lance Leupold reporting

    Currently, there are 79,694 subscribers in the system. Engebretson asked about Leupold's request to clarify the wording in the minutes (see above) Zulu asked about Road Runner. Leupold said it had a $5 price increase in November.

  3. Priority Items
    1. Channel Use Policy

      2. Colby presented a draft of a form for channel application. A change in a channel would come before the MTN Board for approval by the Board and the city Cable Franchise Officer. Leupold asked whether there should be a disclaimer that the users of the channel take responsibility for the content of channel, similar to that on the access program form. French suggested language that "channel assignments will be reviewed on an annual basis." Child asked clarification about the nature of this form. French said that role of MTN is to administer the channel capacity - this form restates the MTN role in that process. Child asked if MTN would issue the applicant a license. Vose asked if the document should say that the Board can take this license back. Leupold suggested that the form have language that this license not be granted for more than a year. French suggested a clause saying that significant change in the description of the channel may involve revocation of the license. There followed discussion to move this item to the next meeting for approval.

    2. Board Officers

    Engebretson suggested the formation of a Franchise Renewal Committee.

    Wallace suggested a motion to establish a Franchise Renewal and Facilities Committee. This would replace the current Facilities Committee. MSP Wallace, Zulu.

    Engebretson relinquished the Chair to Wallace for the purpose of electing Board Officers.

    Child nominated a 2002 MTN Board Slate of Mark Engebretson for Chair, Vusi Zulu for Vice Chair, Tomas Gonda for secretary and Joan Higinbotham for Treasurer. MSP Child, Stoeckel

    Wallace congratulated the new officers. She relinquished the chair to Engebretson.

    French said the City Nominations office will approve both empty MTN Board seats in February. Engebretson suggested that the Board wait until the February meeting to announce committee assignments.

  4. Adjourn

Meeting adjourned 6:44 p.m. MSP Zulu, Child.