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PWM19960201• PUBLIC WELFARE COMMITTEE - CITY OF MUSREGO MINUTES OF MEETING HELD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1996 The meeting was called to order at 9:00 P.M. by Chairman Patrick Patterson. Also present were Committee Members Suhr and Salentine, Helen Dixon and Mike Lund, representing Ameritech. The Committee noted that the meeting was posted on 1/26/96, in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. The Committee discussed the status of Recycling and requested that Supt. Loughney review the contract to determine whether there is a cold weather provision since refuse had not been picked up on Thursday, February 1, 1996. Ald. Suhr also noted that he had received a complaint from a resident on Cornell Circle regarding a failure of BFI to collect refuse for a week, despite telephone calls. The lack of a response by BFI, including the lack of a customer service representative, was noted. Ald. Suhr suggested that contract procedures regarding complaints should be published in the next BFI newsletter and that the complaint log should be reviewed to determine the nature of the problems, in particular on Cornell Circle. The Committee discussed the status of Cable TV. Ms. Helen Dixon • and Mr. Mike Lund, representing Ameritech, appeared at the Committee's request. Ms. Dixon noted that Ameritech was not pulling out of the Milwaukee area, despite recently published reports, and noted that the response was very positive. Ms. Dixon confirmed that Ameritech was in the franchise business and would honor their obligations to the City of Greendale and would continue to seek franchising opportunities. Ms. Dixon noted that while the City of Muskego would not be in the first tier of franchised communities, Muskego could anticipate construction beginning in approximately mid-1998. Ms. Dixon cited Ameritech's technology capabilities, including a 750 megahertz transmission 300 channel capability. Other technological advantages provided by Ameritech, as outlined by Ms. Dixon, include improved sound and picture reception. Programming initially would include 80-90 channels, with 60 channels comprising a basic package, and twice the number of premium channels as are currently offered. Ms. Dixon also cited other customer service levels offered by Ameritech, including a 24-hour response crew and a live telephone response less than 20 seconds after a call is received. Ms. Dixon further noted that Ameritech would provide two public access channels, two free drops to every public building, including schools, and internal wiring to be negotiated with the contract. A 5% franchise fee would be paid, with an additional amount of a fraction of a percent, to be paid for telecommunications services. Ms. Dixon anticipated commencing negotiations in two • years, but noted the need to establish a fiber ring from 99th and Carmen to Greendale, prior to negotiating with second tier cities such as Muskego. The Committee requested that a copy of the cable PUBLIC WELFARE COMMITTEE - PAGE 2 February 1, 1996 • ordinance and Warner agreement be sent to Mr. Mike Lund (Cooke & Franke, S.C., 660 East Mason Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202-3877). Chairman Patterson noted that he had received a call from a cable subscriber who would like to see the cable box as an option, not a requirement. Another resident at Kelsey Drive and Racine Avenue noted that he had been attempting to obtain cable service for five years, but has never received a direct response from Warner Cable as to why he did not receive cable service. The constituent's letter is attached to the minutes. There was nothing new to report on status of Landfill Agreements or PRP status of East Troy Landfill. The Committee discussed concerns from Informational Hearing on Cable preceding the meeting, minutes attached. Chairman Patterson suggested that we request a copy of the Greendale contract, as well as review the contract utilized by the Milwaukee Consortium prior to further discussion with Warner Cable. Ald. Suhr also felt that further public feedback was needed in noting the high proportion of residents who subscribe to cable. Ald. Salentine moved to require Warner Cable to provide a certified updated financial report as previously requested, by March 4, 1996. Seconded by Ald. Suhr, motion carried 3-0. • Ald. Suhr moved to adjourn at 10:10 P.M. Seconded by Ald. Salentine, motion carried. /ca • Respectfully submitted, Ald. Mark Suhr Secretary • January 25, 1996 Alderman Patrick Paterson Muskego City Hall W182 S8200 Racine Avenue Muskego, WI 53150 Dear Sir: I recently read an article in the Muskego Sun regarding a meeting with Warner cable. I have tried off and on for 5 years to be connected. I am told I am not serviceable. When I ask why they respond they don't know but they will look into it. They have never once called me back. I surmise it is because of the distance from the raod that they are reluctant to service me, although I have never been told that. • This should not be an issue since I'm sure when they contracted with Muskego they were aware it was a rural area and not just simple installations of apartments or subdivisions. If it were up to me, I would not renew a contract with Warner. Their lack of courtesy with the p blic in inexcusable. Henry Herdeman S103 W20171 Kelsey Drive Muskego, WI 53150 • INFORMATIONAL HEARING - CABLE TV' The Cable TV Informational Hearing was called to order at 7:15 • P.M. by Public Welfare Committee Chairman Patrick A. Patterson. Also present were Committee Members Salentine and Suhr, Ald. D'Acquisto and those per the attached list. Ald. D'Acquisto provided a summary of the proposed contractual changes as outlined in a proposal submitted by Ald. D'Acquisto and Ald. Salentine. Ald. Salentine elaborated further on the usage by other communities of franchise fees in order to promote quality public access, citing the City of Fitchburg as an example. Mr. Charles Boerner, Director of curriculum for the Muskego-Norway School District, recommended further pursuit of the proposal by Ald. D'Acquisto and Ald. Salentine and asked the Council to consider upgrading the infrastructure to facilitate connection with the Internet. Mr. Boerner noted that the utilization of the Internet would greatly increase the educational resources available to students. Jerry Hulbert, W173 S7616 Westwood Drive, noted that it may not be appropriate to wait until 1998 for infrastructure upgrades. He also indicated that public access needs to include direct access to and by students, requiring an upgrade in the school's ability to receive the necessary cable and telecommunication transmissions. • Earl Duewel, W151 S6587 Glenbrook Drive, noted that other communities have established a connection between the library and students utilizing library services from either home or school. He questioned why there can't be direct live broadcasts into the School District? The cable in the classroom project was cited as an example of direct school access. Jerry Hulbert noted that there needed to be an adequate oversight structure and knowledge in order to oversee cable programming. Ald. D'Acquisto also expressed support for the establishment of a separate entity supervising cable operations. Ald. Suhr questioned whether other communities utilized multiple (more than two) public access channels and the oversight provisions used by those communities. Ald. D'Acquisto noted that other communities utilize a public board to oversee cable operations, citing the City of Fitchburg as an example. He further noted the value of having cable access to schools from an educational standpoint, enabling students to learn while events are actually happening. The high cable penetration rate in Muskego was also noted by Ald. D'Acquisto • as a demographic advantage when bargaining. INFORMATIONAL HEARING - PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 1, 1996 • Jerry Hulbert noted that the technological aspects of linking schools to each other or to City Hall needed to be addressed when discussing the cable systems. Earl Duewel expressed a need to build viewership which required school involvement. Ald. Patterson asked Cable Club representative, Jeff Jones, whether the existing equipment was sufficient to handle two simultaneous public access channels and whether there was enough programming to utilize two channels. Mr. Jones felt that there would be sufficient programming availabile, but that modulators would be needed. Jeff did not anticipate a substantial expenditure to provide the necessary cable equipment upgrades. Ald. Salentine noted that there may not be as many people needed to run the cable programming, and questioned why franchise fees weren't channeled back into cable programming and confirmed the need to restructure the way cable programming is currently supervised. Ald. Patterson noted the need to obtain additional cost data before considering infrastructure changes, but indicated structural changes in the manner in which cable programming was • overseen could proceed prior to 1998 or entering into a new contract. 11 Ald. Suhr felt that discussions as to utilization of franchise fee revenues were being portrayed as absolute, with either all funds going into the general operating funds or into cable operations. He felt that compromise as to franchise fee allocation was possible, perhaps by allocating franchise fees to cable operations based on the proportion of cable subscribers within the community. Jeff Jones questioned whether the cable box was necessary, since it was to some extent just another source of revenue for the cable operator. The January 31, 1996, correspondence from Bev Greenberg, Warner Cable Communications, was read, noting that current technology does not allow for stereo transmission, but that the availability of that technology was anticipated within 36 months. The Hearing ended at 9:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Ald. Mark Suhr /ca Secretary • SIGN -IN SHEET FOR CITY MEETINGS PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME AND AGENDA ITEM BELOW. THANK YOU. Meetina: NAME: Date: allN ITEM C AaP/4?,5 36L� YNG�(/ LM �5�11 �J'/JpFcy4Y Sc�o�is ) L= "Ile `i1 c ice t vt � ce ��_/ T (� r� u a�