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City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 17J
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 CMR: 360:00
NOMINATION OF SIX INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the Mayor’s nomination of six individuals to the
Silicon Valley Community Communications, Inc. board of directors, three of whom
represent the Joint Powers Agencies (Council Members Beecham, Burch and Kleinberg)
and three of whom will represent the Mid-Peninsula Access Corporation (Sally Kiester,
Christine Shambora, and Joan King).
BACKGROUND
In 1983, a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was entered into by Palo Alto, Menlo Park,
East Palo Alto, Atherton, and portions of San Mateo and. Santa Clara Counties for the
purpose of obtaining cable television service within these jurisdictions. In 1986, a cable
television franchise agreement was executed with Cable Co-op. The JPA gives the City
of Palo Alto sole authority to grant and administer the cable television franchise on behalf
of all the JPA member communities.
On July 24, 2000, the Council approved a transfer of the cable television system from
Cable Co-op to AT&T and a new franchise agreement with AT&T. The Council also
approved an agreement with Silicon Valley Community Communications, Inc. (SVCC)
for the provision of facilities and equipment for the Mid-Peninsula Access Corporation
(MPAC), the City’s community access organization. The agreement with SVCC requires
that it establishes a new board of directors within six months composed of three
individuals designated by SVCC and six designated by the City (three representing the
JPA and three representing MPAC). The new board of SVCC will be responsible for
overseeing the charitable donation of $17 million and will make decisions regarding the
allocation of the funds to meet the existing and future needs of MPAC. This new board
will replace the existing three-member board of SVCC. In addition, the agreement
requires that the new board of directors develop new bylaws within six months. The new
bylaws will include information regarding term limits, the selection of future board
CMR:360:00 Page 1 of 3
members, and the composition of future boards. It is envisioned that the new nine-
member board will be replaced after the new bylaws are in place.
On August 7, 2000, staff recommended that the Mayor nominate the six individuals to the
new SVCC board (CMR:346:00). This would allow the new board to be established
quickly so it could begin to address the significant deadlines facing SVCC. In addition to
the six-month deadline related to the new board of directors and the new bylaws, AT&T
is providing SVCC (and thus MPAC) office and studio space for only 18 months. After
that time, both will have to relocate to another facility. Thus, the new board must begin
making decisions immediately regarding the future of SVCC and MPAC.
DISCUSSION
On July 25, 2000, the MPAC board of directors convened a special meeting to select its
three representatives to the new SVCC board. The MPAC board of directors
recommended Sally Kiester, Christine Shambora, and Annie Niehaus as its three
representatives. On August 21, the MPAC board of directors substituted Joan King for
Annie Niehaus as one of its three representatives. The Mayor has endorsed MPAC board
recommendation and has nominated Sally Kiester, Christine Shambora, and Joan King as
the three MPAC representatives to the new SVCC board of directors.
Since 1986, the City of Palo Alto has been the local franchise authority for the JPA, with
the responsibility for granting and administering the franchise. This responsibility has
given Palo Alto City Council Members an in-depth understanding of community needs
and interests related to cable communications, local programming, and Public, Education,
and Government access services. As a result, the Mayor has nominated three Palo Alto
City Council members, Council Member Beecham, Council Member Burch and Council
Member Kleinberg, as the three JPA representatives.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no resource impact associated with the appointment of SVCC board members.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This report does not represent any change to existing City policies.
TIMELINE
Within 30 days after the approval of the nomination by the City, SVCC will hold a
meeting of its existing board to appoint the six individuals to the new board of SVCC.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY: Melissa Cavallo, Assistant Director, Administrative Services
CMR:360:00 Page 2 of 3
REVIEWED BY: Grant Kolling, Senior Assistant City Attorney
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Direct~inistrative
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant City Manager
CC:Mid-Peninsula Access Corporation (MPAC)
Silicon Valley Community Communications, Inc. (SVCC)
CMR:360:00 Page 3 of 3