HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3206
City of Palo Alto (ID # 3206)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 11/5/2012
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Cablecasting System Agreement with the Media Center
Title: Approval of Agreement Between the City of Palo Alto on Behalf of the
Cable Joint Powers Agency and the Midpeninsula Community Media Center,
Inc. for Cablecasting Equipment Funding Support
From: City Manager
Lead Department: IT Department
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve an agreement between the City of Palo Alto on
behalf of the Cable Joint Powers Agency and the Midpeninsula Community Media Center, Inc.,
in an amount not to exceed $55,000, for a new cablecasting system to support the government
channels.
Background
In 1983, a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement was entered into by the cities of Palo Alto, East
Palo Alto, Menlo Park, the Town of Atherton and portions of San Mateo and Santa Clara
counties (the Joint Powers) for the purpose of obtaining cable television service for residents,
businesses, and institutions within these jurisdictions. Cable television franchise holders
provide various forms of compensation (e.g., public, education, and government (PEG) access
fees; local channels; franchise fees, etc.) to pay for use of the public rights-of-way. The City of
Palo Alto has been given the sole authority to act on behalf of the Joint Powers. Palo Alto has
established a joint cable working group (Working Group) to consider all cable service issues and
funding decisions related to the Joint Powers.
The Joint Powers has designated a nonprofit Community Access Organization, the Midpeninsula
Community Media Center (Media Center), to operate and administer its PEG facilities,
equipment and channels.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Discussion
The Media Center’s existing master control equipment (cablecasting system) needs to be
replaced. The current cablecasting system was purchased in 2003 and has reached the end of
its useful life. This equipment is used to broadcast local community programs on cable channel
numbers 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. The system stores video content received from Joint Powers
locations (City halls and various locations on the municipal I-Net). It sends the video content to
Comcast and AT&T for transmission on our local channels and streams the video live over the
Internet.
The cost of the new cablecasting system is estimated at $151,573. The Media Center has
requested that the Joint Powers fund the portion of the system that sustains the government
channels, in an amount not to exceed $55,000. In October 2012, the Joint Powers’ Working
Group approved this funding request. Staff requests that the Council approve the proposed
agreement between the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the Joint Powers and the Media Center,
in an amount not to exceed $55,000, to pay for the portion of the new cablecasting system
linked to the government channels.
This funding request is consistent with the Joint Powers funding priorities. These funding
priorities include “Media Center support to operate the PEG channels.” Historically, the Joint
Powers has contributed to government channel equipment needs. As an example, in 2007, the
Joint Powers funded an expansion of the cablecasting system (in the amount of $7,000) when
East Palo Alto added its Council meetings to the government channel line-up.
Resource Impact
Funds for the agreement are available in the Cable Fiduciary Fund. As of June 30, 2011, the
Cable Fund has reserves in the amount of $726,021.
Policy Implications
This funding request is consistent with the Cable Fiduciary Fund reserve policies.
Attachments:
Attachment A - Cablecasting Equipment Agreement (PDF)