HomeMy WebLinkAbout98-020Resolution No. 98- 3~~
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
AUTHORIZING THgMAYOR TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDWM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY AND OEFFERSON COUNTY FOR A COUNTY CONTRI-
BUTION TO THE PgG ACCESS STUDIO FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1998
The City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, resolves as follows:
WHEREAS, on July 1, 1996, the City granted a 15-year non-exclusive franchise to Port
Townsend Cable, Ltd. (Summit). Key components of that franchise were: (1) the
establishment of a designated cable television channel to be reserved exclusively for Public,
Educational and Governmental ("PEG") programming, and (2) the establishment of a PEG
access account, funded by contributions from Summit in the amount of $0.45 per customer per
month, for the purchase of capital equipment and facilities for a PEG access studio; and
WHEREAS, in November of 1997, the City of Port Townsend and the Port Townsend
School District entered into a 10-year Interlocal Agreement to jointly use television production
space available at the Port Townsend High School, and capital equipment and facilities to be
provided by the City, in order to better serve the community and students in a cooperative
endeavor; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the City and the School District is to work together in a
partnership to facilitate communication and the sharing of information within the community,
as well as experience and training in video production, thought the medium of a PEG access
channel and studio facilities; and
WItEREAS, in order to make the studio a vision capable of being achieved, in its 1998
budget the City Council dedicated the entire five percent (5%) franchise fee paid by Summit to
the operation and maintenance of the studio; and
WHEREAS, the revenue from the five percent (5 %) franchise fee, minus contractual
payments due to a consultant hired by the City, is approximately Thirty-eight Thousand
($38,000) per year; and
WHEREAS, the PEG access capital equipment fund, supported by the $0.45 per-month-
subscriber charge, amounts to approximately Thirteen Thousand ($13,000) per year; and
WHEREAS, most communities with successful PEG access programming do so by
combining resources with various governmental agencies, typically cities and counties; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that it is an ambitious task for one government
entity to bear the entire financial burden of purchasing capital equipment and operating and
maintaining a PEG access studio; and
WHEREAS, any programming broadcast on the dedicated PEG access channel is currently
available to Jefferson County residents served by Summit; and
WHEREAS, the County has formed a telecommunications task force, which has identified
telecommunications as a key strategy towards meeting its communication, economic and
education goals, and is assessing the County's current cable infrastructure needs and franchise
agreements; and
WHEREAS, through the Interlocal Agreement, the City and School District formed a
PEG Access Coordinating Committee to implement the Agreement and establish a PEG access
studio; and
WHEREAS, the County has requested representation on the Coordinating Committee in
order to represent the interests and needs of citizens of the County with regards to the
governmental, educational and public programming and video production; and
WHF_IIEAS, the Board of County Commissioners has approved a contribution of $4,000
to the studio, to be paid to the City for the funding, and operation and maintenance of the
studio for the fiscal year 1998, in exchange for representation on the Coordinating Committee;
WItEREAS, in light of Jefferson County's commitment to the studio as demonstrated by
its financial contribution, the City of Port Townsend and Port Townsend School District are
willing to grant Jefferson County representation on the Coordinating Committee, and desire to
work with the County in establishing the studio,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council for the City of Port
Townsend that the Mayor is authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with
Jefferson County for a PEG Access Studio in substantially the form as attached.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend and signed by the Mayor on
this 17th day of February, 1998.
Attest:
Pam Kolacy, City Clerk
02/06/98 [Cable] CA§Res{PEG-mou.res}
Julie~'~/.~ul~ch, Mayor
Titan, ~ity Attorney ~-~
2 Res. 98- OF~9