Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 2006

Board Members Present: Tom Cassidy, Floyd Child, Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Tamir Nolley, Marido Huber, Robert Vose, Joan Higinbotham Joel Rainville
Board Members Absent:
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, C. John Harrison, Kathy Burns
Others Present: Pamela Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks, Martin Hallanger

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

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff and board – Hallanger announced new CG systems in the studios. He is also working with Derks on setting up a video server. Hallanger and Cassidy modeled the MTN t-shirts, on sale for $10.

B. Approval of the agenda with amendment that item IC. include :approval of February minutes." MSP Higinbotham, Huber.

C. Approval of Minutes from the February and March meetings with amendment to change the name of the March Minutes to "Board of Directors Meeting of the Whole" and to state that Nolley called the meeting to order. MSP Nolley, Huber


II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison presented
Council Member Ostrow is acting as chair for cable violation hearings. Between May 4 and June 5 Ostrow will make his recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee, which would then move the recommendation to the full council. The City Council liason is looking for a June date for the MTN Member's Meeting, which will be held at MTN. Vose asked about progress of negotiation of renewal. Harrison stated that there has been no progress recently.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools – Kathy Burns present
MPS will replace "Deutche Welle: on channel 76, with "World View." May 1st is the proposed date for change. "World View" has programming from several different nations. Colby recommends that the board approve this change. Hallanger and Leupold are working on language to notify subscribers of this change. Leupold said TW thinks PEG capacity should be used for truly local programming, but if the change will take place, he hopes that customers will receive proper notification. Motion: approve change of channel 76 to satellite downlink of "World View." MSP Huber, Vose.
Burns suggested publicizing the change with the school's web site, press releases, and on their channels. Huber suggested Burns work with Colby and Hallanger on a PR campaign.
Burns announced changes in leadership of school district. She said there is increasing interest in getting better coverage of sports and they have no resources to do this. Colby suggested that she and Burns meet to talk about how to accomplish this.

C. Time Warner Cable – Leupold reported
There are currently 78,622 subscribers. TW has closed Youth Service Award nominations. They received a record number of nominations. They will announce 6 winners.

D. Executive Director's Report – Pam Colby presented
Colby attended a Common Cause Media Reform Steering Committee Meeting in March. There is quite a bit of legislation under consideration in Washington that could affect MTN.
Colby passed out the Civil Rights Department complaint from Council Member Don Samuels. She will be working on a formal response to it. Vose said that this issue has already appeared before the MTN Grievance Committee.
Colby talked about the strategic planning she worked on for NAMAC. She said such planning should also be done by MTN. Huber suggested a timetable for this process. Colby suggested that a good consultant is essential. Child asked if such a plan is necessary while re-franchising is still pending. Motion: that MTN begin a strategic planning process in September 2006. MSP Higinbotham, Jenkins. Amendment: that Colby present the Executive Committee with a list of possible consultants by the next board meeting, Amendment moved and seconded by Rainville, Jenkins, and accepted.

E. Treasurer's Report – Huber presented
Huber presented P & L report. Rainville asked about whether the board would see a balance sheet occasionally. Huber said yes, and it would be included in the audit.

III. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m. MSP Rainville, Jenkins.