Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, December 8, 2005

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

Child called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m.

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public and staff – no comments

B. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve the agenda with the following changes: that Reports item E be advanced to item A , that "Report from nominating committee" be added as item B, and that "Approval for a letter" be added as item C. All other items would move down in the agenda. MSP Huber, Higinbotham.

C. Minutes from the November board meeting. Approved with correction of the spelling of "Treasurer." MSP Vose, Jenkins

II. Reports

A. Treasurer?s Report – Huber reported
Huber presented the Profit and Loss report. She reported that all items are in line aside from training and certification revenues, which are lower than budgeted. Overall, MTN is showing a net income of nearly $31,000. Motion to approve Treasurer's Report – MSP Vose, Nolley
Huber presented MTN?s 2006 budget. She has studied it and recommends that it be passed. Vose asked about franchise fee money. Colby explained that it has not been approved by the city but MTN traditionally goes ahead with the number proposed by the city. Motion that the MTN 2006 budget be accepted. MSP Nolley, Higinbotham.

B. Nominating Committee – Higinbotham reported
The Committee of Higinbotham, Hedden and Jenkins finished its work. The election will be held in January. Recommendations for slate of officers: as President, Child; Vice President, Rainville; Secretary, Higinbotham; Treasurer, Huber. There were no additional candidates for those positions.

C. Approval for a letter - Vose presented
Vose reported that one of the conditions of the transfer of the Minneapolis cable franchise from Time Warner to Comcast is that the franchise renewal be completed before the transfer happens. A public hearing is coming up on Dec. 19th to get public input on items that the city has identified as franchise violations. Vose proposed that MTN send a letter re-emphasizing that for MTN it is crucial that the renewal be completed. Colby will draft letter and Vose will review. Motion to write and send such a letter. MSP Vose, Huber.

D. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison presented
On Dec. 2nd, the City Council approved the transfer of the franchise from Time Warner to Comcast. Harrison met with Colby to discuss a performance agreement that MTN will develop, similar to one existing in St. Paul. The performance agreement would be an instrument to evaluate the organization's work toward its goals. Budget request numbers will be submitted in this reporting mechanism. Colby will work on the development of this. City Cable was off the air with equipment troubles, and MTN informed City Cable about the problems. Two MTN Board positions are up for renewal. Harrison needs letters from Nolley and Huber if they wish to reapply for their seats.

E. Minneapolis Public Schools – Kathy Burns reported
Their focus is to get a new show going with news from the school district. It will be either a talk show or a news magazine show. They would like to put the show together at MTN with MTN staff assistance.

F. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold reported
78,232 is the current number of subscribers. Leupold presented MTN's $50,000 equipment fund check to Harrison for 2006. Child asked when the transition from Time Warner to Comcast would happen. Leupold said it might be toward end of 2nd quarter of next year.

G. Executive Director's Report – Pam Colby presented
Class income is down in the last couple years. The staff is discussing increasing class options and looking at ways to outreach to increase class attendance. MTN is also considering hiring a part time person to cover some training and public relations work.
Peloff is attending meetings of the Twin Cities Youth Network. Various groups that work with youth will put together a film festival of shorts for and by youth.
Last Monday night MTN presented a live call-in show in Somali about breast and cervical cancer. Somali doctors hosted the show. When MTN goes live in Somali, the calls are frequent and discussion is lively.
MTN has started the South High Voices classes. There are 77 students this year.
Tomorrow night is the MTN Party. Former board member Mark Engebretson and engineer Jim Derks will be honored.

Child announced that appointed board members will stay after the meeting for a closed meeting to review Colby

III. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned MSP Nolley, Jenkins at 6:05 p.m.