Minneapolis Telecommunications Network

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, February 14, 2002

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

Board Members Absent: Vusi Zulu, Michael Rainville

Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold

Others Present: Pam Colby, John Akre, Robert Vose, Tamir Nolley

Meeting called to order at 5:36 p.m. by Mark Engebretson

1. Opening Business
1. Comments from public, staff, and board – Bob Vose commented on the article on Viva and Jerry in the Star Tribune. Pam welcomed the two new board appointees, Vose and Nolley.
2. Approval of agenda. MSP Gonda, Wallace
3. Minutes from the January board meeting. MSP Wallace, Stoeckel
2. Reports
1. City of Minneapolis – Edie French was not present.
2. Minneapolis Public Schools – no representative was present.
3. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold presented.

The current subscription number is 79,214. Leupold spoke about the Time Warner Cable Youth Service award – for youth doing volunteer work for the community. He encouraged MTN to submit the name of a youth who meets the qualifications. They also want to collect names of groups of youth that have made a contribution to relief of events of 9/11/01.

Higinbotham asked about the subscription numbers. Leupold said that Time Warner has penetrated about 46% of Minneapolis households. Engebretson asked about facility. Leupold said no dates have yet been set, but they are moving forward.

4. Executive Director’s Report – Pamela Colby presented.

She handed out a hard copy of her report.

MTN Budget 2002 – The staff is making some cuts in shifting in checkout and cablecasting.

Black History Month program – last weekend MTN went live from Walker Church.

Publicity – Viva and Jerry were on the front page of Star Tribune; however the article made no mention of MTN. Wallace said it might be an opportunity for a letter to the editor.

Youth Training – MTN has a contract with Tibetan American Foundation of MN.

2001 Audit – the audit is being done in a more professional manner this year, though the same firm is doing the work. Colby said she is confident it will be finished in the spring.

 

3. Priority Items
1. 2002 Committee Assignments

The standing committees of the MTN Board are Finance; Education; Equipment; Franchise Renewal and Long Range Planning; and Public Relations/Fundraising. Board members volunteered for committees as follows:

Finance – Higinbotham, Child, Engebretson.

Equipment – Child, Zulu (volunteered in absentia).

Franchise Renewal and Long Range Planning – Nolley, Gonda, Wallace, Vose, Engebretson, Higinbotham.

Education – Gonda, Nolley.

Public Relations and Fundraising – Stoeckel, Nolley.

Engebretson urged committees to set aside time to meet in the next couple months. Vose suggested Engebretson come up with meeting time for the Franchise Renewal committee.

2. Draft Resolution

Engebretson reported on a meeting that Colby, Vose and he had with Council President Paul Ostrow. Ostrow is interested in universal access – that anybody in the city can receive the PEG Access Channels. The City of Roseville has this. Engebretson wishes to offer a resolution by MTN in support of universal access for consideration at the next board meeting.

C. Channel Use Policy

Colby handed out the Channel Use Policy form. This form expresses MTN’s role as manager of the access channels. Colby said this form would give MTN more control of the channel if there is a problem. Child suggested that language saying, "MTN shall review channel assignments on an annual basis" be added to the form. Motion: that the Channel Use Policy be approved with the addition of the language: "MTN shall review channel assignments on an annual basis." MSP Wallace, Child.

Engebretson encouraged board members to visit the new city council members.

4. Adjourn