Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, November 11, 2004

Board Members Present: Robert Vose, Floyd Child, Marido Huber, Mark Engebretson, Joan Higinbotham, Tamir Nolley, Joel Rainville
Board Members Absent: Tom Cassidy, Vusi Zulu
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, John Harrison (voice only)
Others Present: Pamela Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks

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

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff, and board – no comments

B. Approval of agenda. Add Agenda Item "II. F. Committee Reports" MSP Engebretson, Child

C. Minutes from the October board meeting. Add to item "III. B. Proposed Resolution" the final wording of the resolution and that the resolution was subsequently approved unanimously by e-mail. MSP Huber, Child


II. Reports

A. Minneapolis Public Schools
Colby said the Schools would not have a representative at MTN Board meetings until 2005 because of budget issues.

B. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold presented
The current Minneapolis subscriber number is 78,450. Time Warner Cable launched digital phone officially on November 10.

C. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison presented on speakerphone
City Cable is creating a snow emergency PSA in Somali, Spanish, Hmong and English. The PSA will also be shown on MTN. Harrison met with Colby to discuss the MTN/City Cable Merger Study. They will meet regularly to continue this discussion. The study will also include an investigation of MTN taking over government programming. Harrison has received initial Human Resources and Property Services reports on staff and space issues. Engebretson asked if parking for MTN access users and staff was considered in the report. Harrison said that it was. Huber asked whether MTN would be able to keep its current business hours in a City Hall location. Harrison said they have not gone that far in the study yet. Vose asked about an issue unresolved at the Members Meeting as to whether City Council approval of the Communications Department Business Plan implied approval for any action that the Communications Department might take as a result of its Merger Study. Harrison said that Communications does plan to go back to City Council for approval of their final decision. Vose asked whether a list of options or a recommendation would go back to the Council. Harrison said that it is his job to explore all the options, and not to make a recommendation. Vose asked about the Ways and Means Committee meeting on Monday. Harrison said that he had not been told to be at that meeting.

D. Executive Director?s Report – Pam Colby presented
Colby announced that MTN was on the agenda for the City Council Ways and Means Committee under "Discussion of merger, franchise renewal, and communications issues."
Colby spoke with Colleen Kosloski, Minneapolis Public Schools Director of IT Services. Koslowski said that the RFP for video services, which MTN did not receive, came from the Communications Department, and that all those people have since left the schools. She said that she regrets that it was not sent to MTN. She asked Colby to send her information about MTN?s Production Services.
The MTN Holiday Party and live promotional show will be on December 10th.
Colby felt that the members meeting went favorably. MTN had the time to air its issues and had support from the Council. The agenda item on the Ways and Means Committee meeting will be a follow up to that discussion.

E. Treasure?s Report – Child presented
Report handed out – Child congratulated Colby for working with staff to resolve the math issues on the previous Profit/Loss statement. In reviewing the Profit/Loss statement through September, Child pointed out that MTN income was under budget, but that expenses were even more under budget, so MTN is $16,000 ahead so far this year. Huber pointed out that Sublease Income was listed in the wrong Income category. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report MSP Engebretson, Nolley

F. Committee Reports
Equipment Committee - Child will work with MTN Engineer Jim Derks to establish Equipment Committee meetings. Child wants the Committee to look at where MTN will be going technologically in the next few years. Vose asked the Committee to be mindful of the Needs Assessment Report as they plan.
Public Relations Committee - Nolley reported that at its last meeting, the PR Committee suggested establishing a budget. Rainville suggested that the Committee meet and discuss this before the December 10th Holiday Event. Child suggested MTN produce a self-promotion PSA tape that producers can show on their programs.
Rainville asked about updating MTN's letterhead. Colby said that there would be new stationary for 2005

III. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. MSP Nolley, Child