Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, October 13, 2005

Board Members Present: Joan Higinbotham, Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Tamir Nolley, Robert Vose, Marido Huber, Tom Cassidy, Floyd Child, Joel Rainville
Board Members Absent:
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold
Others Present: Pamela Colby, Jim Derks, Beth Peloff

Child called the meeting to order at 5:34 PM

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public and staff. None.

B. Approval of the agenda. Motion to add new III action item about communication to the city. MSP Vose, Huber. Motion to approve agenda as amended: MSP Nolley, Vose

C. Minutes from the July board meeting (since there was no quorum at the September meeting). Motion to approve July minutes without looking at them. MSNP Huber, Nolley. Child suggested that the board approve the minutes at the next meeting since no one has a copy of them right now.

II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison was not present. Colby presented email. Gail Plewacki presented communications budget to the city council last week. Said renewal would go to 2006, after Adelphi deal went through. Colby asked Harrison what will happen if there is no agreement this year. Would MTN get the same amount as last year? Harrison said he didn't know. Would MTN receive the $50,000 equipment money again? Harrison said to ask Lance at meeting. Harrison said that City might do resolution about federal telecom legislation, but wouldn't say when they would meet to discuss it.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools – no report. School rep called, said she couldn't make the meeting.

C. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold reported
The current number of subscribers is 77,703. Leupold has no answer about $50,000 equipment money. It's very busy at Time Warner right now.
Questions: Vose: has city acted on Comcast transfer? Not as far as Leupold knows. What about lawsuit? No news. Do you know anything about the renewal? No.

D. Executive Director?s Report – Pam Colby presented
Pam Colby and John Akre went to NAMAC Meeting. It was a great conference. Colby was elected board president.
Producer Leon Mitchell finished series of programs for latino community sponsored by the YWCA, West Side Community Health Services and Hennepin County.
With new PDX10 Cameras and iMovie edit suites, we have really accomplished new level of digital entry.
Check out the new issue of the Monitor: John Akre's article on JCC youth media camp, Beth Peloff's state fair article.
Save date for MTN community gathering: December 9.
Colby said she is waiting for the election before she schedules the annual Members meeting.
Floyd asked the percentage of producers using digital. About half, according to Jim Derks.
E. Treasurer's Report
We're doing well. Questions: Child asked if we were really $30,000 ahead of budget? Colby said, yes, but that there are some big expenses coming up. Also, we're not including equipment depreciation in the operating profit and loss statement. Motion to accept report. MSP Nolley, Rainville.

III. Action items:
A. Communication with the city. Presented by Bob Vose.
Vose said that it is extraordinary that we don't know where the negotiations are or what the impact of the lawsuit is. We need to know if we will be funded next year. What can we do to change this situation?
Child suggested that we will probably need to wait until after the election. Motion to form a subcommittee to discuss issues related to communication with the city. MNS Nolley. The Executive Committee is already working on this issue.
Joel Rainville asked if we can ask the City Council Ways and Means committee. We could set up a meeting with Barb Johnson (who is running unopposed in her ward) and get her advice. Rainville agreed to go with Colby to that meeting.
Motion to turn off cell phones. MSP Huber, Nolley.
Motion: to tell Barb Johnson that communication with the city has not improved since her proposal passed. MSP Vose, Rainville

IV. Adjourn
Motion to adjourn. MSP Vose, Nolley

Next meeting: Nov 10