SR-082807-1FCity Council Meeting: August 28, 2007
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager, Community & Government
Relations
Subject: Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Delegated Authority
Agreement with Los Angeles County for CityTV to provide programming
services and activate a County Pilot Channel in Santa Monica, and make
necessary budget changes and appropriate funds.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a Delegated Authority Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer of Los
Angeles County for up to $104,300 for CityTV to provide programming, video production
services and support to activate the Countywide channel as provided for in the Time
Warner franchise in Santa Monica.
Executive Summary
The City's cable television franchise with Time Warner provides for a total of six (6)
access channels to be available on the Basic Service tier for Public, Educational and
Government (PEG) access uses. One of those channels was earmarked in the
franchise to become a Regional Government channel. CityTV is proposing that the
regional government channel be developed into a Los Angeles County government
channel as a pilot project partnership with Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County
1
potentially will reach over 2.5 million cable households and this pilot project would be
the springboard for programming Countywide. The County would provide the funding to
cover the hard costs to start-up, equip and operate the channel. CityTV would provide
the production expertise to operate the channel.
Discussion
The City of Santa Monica has six (6) cable access channels activated in Santa Monica.
CityTV, the City's cable television operation, is responsible for programming four of the
six channels. Of the remaining two channels, one is for public access and operated and
programmed by Time Warner; and the other channel is operated and programmed by
Santa Monica Community College.
CityTV's main channel is cable channel 16 which runs live public meeting coverage,
local news, event coverage and other original and acquired programming. CityTV2,
cable channel 20, features repeats of CityTV's public meeting coverage. Cable channel
99 currently airs area event information and a CityTV program that encourages
residents to get out and explore Santa Monica. The event listings are provided at no
charge by ExperienceLA, anon-profit that promotes using public transportation to go to
area events.
CityTV is proposing to program cable channel 75 with content developed in partnership
with Los Angeles County. Channel 75 is currently afull-time graphics bulletin board that
promotes City and community events and services. Programming on the County
2
Channel will include live and replayed Board of Supervisors meetings ,and other
programming produced by Los Angeles County departments. Programming of regional
interest, covering events and topics such as the MTA/Metro-sponsored rideshare
program, transportation alternatives, and bike path locations, "green" initiatives and
sustainability tips for homeowners and businesses, and programs featuring arts and
cultural destinations, as well as programs like CityTV's recent live call-in program on
homelessness, could also be presented on the channel.
Funding would be provided by the County via a Delegated Authority Agreement ("DAA")
with CityTV. Specifically, the DAA would contractually convey funding to CityTV for
production and related services provided to Los Angeles County. This will allow CityTV
to partner with the County to produce programming of interest to both Santa Monica and
Los Angeles County cable TV viewers.
With the approval of this Delegated Authority Agreement, Santa Monica will be the first
City in the County to have the County Channel programming and will serve as the
launch site for the channel. Santa Monica residents will be the first to have the benefit of
viewing this dynamic, new regional channel and the City will receive the funding
necessary to launch, operate and maintain the channel for Los Angeles County. In
other words, there will be significant value-added at no additional cost to Santa Monica
residents.
3
The term of the agreement initially will be for one year. At that time the parties will
evaluate the pilot project partnership and determine the future of the project.
The current graphics that are on cable channel 75 will continue to air on CityTV2 and
will also be aired on cable channel 99 so that local residents will still benefit from
information on local services and events.
Alternatives
If Council chooses not to approve the Delegated Authority Agreement, only graphics will
continue to run on cable channel 75.
Budget/Financial Impact
Los Angeles County will provide the complete funding to necessary to cover the costs of
launching, activating and operating the channel. The estimated one-time costs are
$21,500 for telecommunications and playback systems. Monthly telecommunications
costs are estimated at up to $1400 per month to provide a live feed from the Los
Angeles County Hall of Administration to CityTV. Operating costs are expected to cost
up to $1100 per month for preparing programs to air, scheduling the channel, and
preparation of graphic bulletin board messages and program listing services. Additional
funding is available to jointly produce programming that could be made available to air
on both the Los Angeles County Channel and CityTV. The following budget changes
are needed to record receipt of the County funds in FY2007-08 and make them
available for program use.
4
1: Establish a revenue budget in the amount of $51,500 at account 01207.407820.
2. Appropriate the same amount at account 01207.544012.
Prepared by:
Robin Gee, Cable N Manager
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Assistant to the City Manager for ~Cify Manager ~` -
Community and Government Relations
Reference Contract
No. 8820 (CCS).