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SR-101408-1J~~~ ~;tYOf City Council Report Santa Monica" City Council Meeting: October 14, 2008 Agenda Item: ~iS To: Mayor and City Council From: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager, Community & Government Relations Subject: Continuation of Pilot County Channel Provided by City TV Recommended Action Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to a Delegated Authority Agreement with Los Angeles County for the City to receive up to $305,000 from the County in exchange for CityTV providing the County with programming and video services to maintain the Countywide channel as provided for in the Time Warner franchise. Executive Summary In August 2007 the City Council approved the execution of a Delegated Authority Agreement with Los Angeles County for CityTV to activate a Los Angeles County cable channel as a pilot partnership with Los Angeles County. In July 2008 the channel was activated. In August 2008 the term of the Delegated Authority Agreement was extended for ninety (90) days. Los Angeles County would like to extend the term of the agreement to August 31, 2010, add additional funding to the agreement and amend the Statement of Work/Deliverables. The maximum amount of the agreement is $305,000. The funding from the County would be used to cover on-going City costs to air live and replayed coverage of Board of Supervisors meetings, produce and air programming on the channel and maintain the technical systems necessary to support the channel's operations. Discussion The City of Santa Monica has six cable access channels activated in Santa Monica. CityTV, the City's cable television operation, is responsible for programming four of the 1 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 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 a graphic bulletin board to promote local events and services In July 2008 CityTV launched the Los Angeles County Channel. Programming on the County Channel includes live and replayed Board of Supervisors meetings and other programming produced by Los Angeles County departments. It also includes programming of regional interest covering events and topics such as the MTA/Metro- sponsored rideshare program, transportatiori alternatives and bike path locations; arts and cultural destinations; and programs like CityTV's recent live call-in program on homelessness are also presented on the chanhel. Funding is provided by the County via a Delegated Authority Agreement ("DAA") with CityTV. Specifically, the DAA contractually conveys funding to CityTV for production and related services provided to Los Angeles County. This allows CityTV to partner with the County to produce programming of interest to both Santa Monica and Los Angeles County cable TV viewers. Santa Monica is the first City in the County to have the County Channel programming. The amendment of this DAA will allow the City to receive the funding necessary to 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. 2 The term of the agreement will be extended for two additional years to August 31, 2010. At that time the parties will evaluate the pilot project partnership and determine the future of the project. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions Los Angeles County will provide the complete funding necessary to cover the costs of activating and operating the channel. Estimated one-time costs for the first year are $21,500 for telecommunications and playback systems. Monthly telecommunications costs are estimated at up to $1,400 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 $1,100 per month for preparing programs to air, scheduling the channel, and preparation of graphic bulletin board messages and program listing services. Additional funding for the remaining balance 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 FY2008-09 and make them available for program use. This is the estimated amount of funding that is expected to be received and expended. 1. Establish a revenue budget in the amount of $105,000 at account 01207.407820 for Fiscal Year 08/09; and $100,000 will be included in the department's budget for each of the next two fiscal years. 2. Appropriate the same amount at account 01207.544010 for Fiscal Year 08/09; and $100,000 will be included in the department's budget for each of the next two fiscal years. 3 Prepared by: Robin Gee, Cable TV Manager roved: Forwarded to Council: U`//f ` v ~ /.t/11 a Kathryn ernez ont Ewell Assistant to the City Manager for City Manager Community and Government Relations 4 Reference Amendment to Contract No. 8820 (CCS).