Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, April 11, 2002
Board Members Present: Mark Engebretson, Julie Wallace, Joan Higinbotham, Floyd Child, Tomas Gonda, Robert Vose, Tamir Nolley, Vusi Zulu,
Board Members Absent: Cristina Stoeckel
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, Edie French, Leo McCafferty
Others Present: Pam Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks
Meeting called to order at 5:37 by Mark Engebretson
A. MTN Board Group Picture
Julie Wallace requested that mention be made in the minutes that the March meeting was cancelled.
Edie French distributed information about the Institutional Network (I-net) negotiations. This is the end result of a long discussion about how Time Warner compensates the city for the 25% of the capacity that the city is entitled to under the franchise agreement. In exchange for relinquishing the 25% capacity claim, Time Warner would establish an Institution network for use by the City of Minneapolis, Schools, Parks, public housing, and Library system. Bob Vose asked how MTN would benefit from this negotiation. French said that MTN would be served by the I-net. French said that this is separate from the renewal process. French said the recipients would pay for hookups to this I-net. Engebretson asked if MTN facility needs were part of the discussion. French said that they were not. Vose said that MTN needs to know how it will benefit from this proposal before it can take a stand on it. French said she would continue to update MTN on these negotiations.
Colby asked about the Sundance Channel, which replaced a PEG channel but is now on the digital lineup.
French said that this is a change in the ordinance, and that once details are worked out there will be public hearings.
French said that on April 23rd there will be System Services Review with Time Warner. This provides an opportunity for the franchisee to describe the scope of their offerings and for the public to express themselves. Engebretson suggested that the board prepare a statement for this meeting.
C. Approval of agenda, with addition of a new business item to discuss an MTN statement at the System Services Review. MSP Vose, Higinbotham
French said that they have been notified that Time Warner is interested in renewing the franchise and they have begun the renewal process. Any renewal process includes a Community Needs Assessment. She presented a list of items that MTN should consider including in this assessment. She suggested regular monthly meetings to prepare for renewal of the franchise. French does not yet have a calendar for renewal process.
The spring pageant season is here and they are getting more current programs to show on channel 15. There will be a live board meeting from Sheridan school on April 23rd.
The current customer number is 79,303. The Youth Service Awards ceremony is on April 25th. French asked about Time Warner opening their modem service to additional ISP’s. Leupold said they will be offering Earthlink and AOL in addition to their Road Runner.
Colby handed out a written copy of the report.
Daytime playback operator service has ended. MTN now has tape only daytime playback service. Jim Derks is investigating digital playback systems.
John Akre finished production of the 65th NRP program.
On Tuesday, MTN staff shot the GMCVA Annual Meeting.
The Monitor newsletter is now published bimonthly and in house.
Youth training with the Tibetan American Foundation has begun.
Staff is beginning a crackdown of weddings produced through MTN facilities but not shown on the channels. Colby mentioned a "Wedding Registry," a form for producers to complete so that their wedding video can be tracked. French asked about the possibility of unfair competition from users running a commercial business with MTN equipment. Leupold suggested rules establishing a definition for how a producer can get paid for the work they do. Colby said there is language of that nature in the handbook Wallace said that staff is dealing with this issue and the form is a good device to track whether a program is getting on the channels. French suggested getting language from other organizations to see what they do and incorporate it in the form.
MTN purchased a video projector and screen for teaching and doing regular monthly member screenings.
Colby said that she will be in Massachusetts in June to be a part of a public access panel. She will be gone when the June meeting is scheduled. Engebretson suggested that the board convene the June meeting without her.
Copies were handed out. Higinbotham and Colby met with the auditor who presented a draft report to them. The auditor had three major recommendations that will be included in her management letter. These are, 1) some reallocation of accounts, 2) job expectations of accountant staff need to be better established and the finance committee needs to take a greater role, and 3) that MTN develop an accounting manual. Higinbotham said that the manual will be developed this summer. Higinbotham recommended a finance report at the beginning of the board meetings.
Motion: Approval of audit. MSP Higinbotham, Zulu.
Motion: That a new unrestricted funds budget category for facility be established. MSP Child, Vose.
B. New Business
Wallace asked whether board members had met with new council members.
System Services Review Meeting Presentation – Engebretson commented that additional notice of this meeting would have been helpful. Engebretson suggested MTN mention the additional funds for equipment from the Cramer amendment. Engebretson suggested that board members circulate comments by e-mail before the meeting. He and Gonda would attend.
Meeting adjourned 7:33 p.m. MSP Zulu, Higinbotham