Minneapolis Telecommunications Network

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, September 11, 2003

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

Board Members Absent: Robert Vose, Todd Barnes

Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, C. John Harrison, Leo McCafferty, Melissa Winter,

Others Present: Pamela Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks

Higinbotham called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

  1. Opening Business
    1. Comments from public, staff, and board – a video about J.C. Bagdadi, winner of the Alliance for Community Media's Jewell Ryan-White Award for Cultural Diversity, was presented; Wallace spoke about the presentation of Media Smart Youth videos at the Humphrey Forum; Zulu announced the Black Storyteller’s events.
    2. Approval of agenda MSP Zulu, Nolley
    3. Minutes from the June board meeting. MSP Child, Nolley
  2. Reports
    1. City of Minneapolis report – C. John Harrison presented

      2. The MTN Member’s Meeting is set for October 8th from 11 a.m. to noon. The City Council would like an agenda before the event. MTN is now under the Communications portion of the City Budget. Harrison said that the Mayor’s budget proposal included nothing specific about MTN. Colby said that she met with C.M. Barret Lane, and that MTN is in the administrative part of the budget at the same level as last year. It would take council action to change that. Colby asked Harrison to let us know if he hears anything else.

    2. Minneapolis Public Schools – Leo McCafferty presented

      3. McCafferty reported that new programming will begin soon. This year they were able to acquire some new video equipment. He is retiring in November, and Melissa Winter, Public Relations Coordinator, will take on some of his responsibilities. Winter said that she is a print journalist by training. The board thanked McCafferty for his services and wished him well.

    3. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold presened

      4. The current subscriber total is 78,333. The August Time Warner newsletter announced their new division leader, and new high definition channels. Zulu asked about relocation plans. Leupold said that they have gone no further in the discussion of this. McCafferty asked if customers can get PEG channels for no charge. Leupold mentioned the Basic Service for $11.

      D. Executive Director’s Report – Pam Colby presented.

      Colby handed out an article in City Pages about Somali TV.

      Colby spoke about a letter from MTN's landlord saying that he would draw up a lease renewal document in the next six weeks.

      Colby spoke about the passing of Roberta Delegard and Ray Whebbe.

      Akre reported on his participation in the Alliance for Community Media Conference.

      Colby mentioned the arrival of new replacement equipment at MTN.

      Child asked about the City Ethics Law, and how that applies to Board members. Child said there should be a city ethics officer. Zulu asked about the Gun Policy decision at the last meeting. Colby said that the board decided to look at what the city did. The city did not set a policy because they are in a county building and the county set a No Gun policy. Higinbotham suggested gun policy as an agenda item for the next meeting.

    4. Treasurer’s Report – Engebretson reported

    Engebretson proposed the following Motion for tax reporting: "We hereby state and acknowledge that we are duly constituted officers of the organization named in this Annual Report, being the board of directors of the Minneapolis Telecommunication Network duly adopted on the 11th day of September, 2003 approving the content of this Annual Report and all its attachments." MSP Zulu, Nolley

    Engebretson went over the profit and loss budget – no red flags. Motion: accept treasurer’s report. MSP Zulu, Nolley.

    Child asked when the budget process begins for 2004. Colby said that she would draw up the 2004 budget based on last year’s city budget number. Engebretson, Higinbotham and Child will set up a budget meeting. Child asked about changing MTN's fiscal year based on the city’s late acceptance of budget numbers for MTN. Higinbotham said that changing budget dates was something to consider.

     

  3. Priority Items
    1. Needs Assessment Survey – Colby reported

      2. Mark, Bob and Colby met with Gail Plewacki from the city. She will be the franchise officer for renewal. The first part of the renewal is a Needs Assessment Survey. Because of city financial difficulties, she asked if MTN would pay for it. Vose estimated cost of such an Assessment at $10,000. The attorneys working on re-franchising for the City bid $40-60,000 for the Assessment, not including expenses. Vose said this was much more expensive than other Needs Assessments he was familiar with. Motion: that the Executive Committee study this issue of Needs Assessment Survey further and come back with a more reasonable plan. MSP Zulu, Wallace. Discussion: Engebretson said that some other public access facilities had paid for their own Needs Assessments. Plewacki had told Colby that MTN may choose the firm to do the Needs Assessment. Engebretson asked if the city would do the rest of the Assessment and Colby did not know.

    2. Facilities Report - Colby reported

      3. Included in the Executive Director report

    3. Member’s Meeting – Colby reported

    Colby asked Board Members to attend. Colby would show youth PSAs, and speak about the Needs Assessment. Zulu asked about button for Council Members – Colby suggested the 20th anniversary pins.

    D. October Board Meeting

    Colby and Akre will not be present at the next scheduled meeting date. Motion: The date of the next MTN board meeting is October 16th – MSP Engebretson, Zulu. Child asked if we needed to post the meeting change. Suggestions were made to post the change in the newsletter, web site,

    and on site.

  4. Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. MSP Nolley, Child