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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Reference Amendment to
Contract No. 8820 (CCS).