SR-06-09-2015-3KID
City Council Report
City of
Santa Monica
City Council Regular Meeting: June 9, 2015
Agenda Item: 5 ` V�
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elaine Polachek, Interim City Manager
Subject: Professional Services Agreement with Santa Monica Community College
District to Air City Council Meetings Live on KCRW
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional service agreement with Santa Monica Community College
District ( SMCCD), a California -based junior college, to continue to broadcast regular
City Council meetings. This is a sole source service that will result in a three -year
agreement in an amount not to exceed $267,063, with future year funding contingent on
Council budget approval.
Executive Summary
The City of Santa Monica contracts with Santa Monica Community College District
( SMCCD) to provide live broadcasts of regular Santa Monica City Council meetings
from 8 p.m. to midnight on public radio station 89.9 FM KCRW. The current agreement
will expire on June 30, 2015. Staff recommends entering into a new agreement for an
additional three -year term at a rate of $86,403 for the first year, $88,995 for the second
year, and $91,665 for the third year, resulting in a total agreement amount not to exceed
$267,063 through FY 2017 -18.
Background
For more than 20 years, the City has contracted with the SMCCD to provide live
broadcasts of regular Santa Monica City Council meetings from 8 p.m. to midnight on
public radio station 89.9 FM KCRW. KCRW is a community service of Santa Monica
College (SMC) and broadcasts from the SMC campus at 1900 Pico Boulevard in Santa
Monica. KCRW has approximately 552,000 listeners each week and a broadcast area
including: Los Angeles & Orange Counties 89.9 FM; Greater Palm Springs (KCRI 89.3);
Oxnard/Ventura (KCRU 89.1); Mojave /Antelope Valley (KCRY 88.1); Ridgecrest
(101.1); Santa Paula- Moorpark (102.3); Ojai (102.1); Banning (90.9); Yucca Valley
(90.7); Gorman (89.7); Santa Barbara (106.9); San Diego -Lemon Grove (89.9); Borrego
Springs (92.9); and via KCRW- developed smartphone apps.
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Discussion
SMCCD is the incumbent provider of radio broadcast services for the City Council
meetings and KCRW is the only public radio station of general interest currently located
in the City limits. The current contract includes the broadcast of two regular City Council
meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 8 p.m. to midnight. The
scope of services provides for some flexibility when meeting dates are added or
changed, based on KCRW's availability. The current contract with SMCCD,
Professional Services Agreement #9526, expires on June 30, 2015.
SMCCD has requested a three percent increase per year for the next three years. The
contract amount for fiscal years 2013 -15 included a ten percent rate increase following
over ten years (2002 -2012) with no rate increases. The consumer price index, as
maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, increased by more than twenty
percent during the same period of time. Additionally, the proposed three percent annual
increase for fiscal years 2015 -18, is lower than if the rate had been increased annually
based on the CPI and considerably lower than current market rates.
Vendor /Consultant Selection
As KCRW is the only major public radio station based in Santa Monica, they are the
sole provider of services that perform the intended function and meet the specialized
needs of the City. Per Section 2.24.080 (a), competition does not exist. SMCCD has
agreed to a new three -year contract at a three percent increase to the current rate.
KCRW has been a reliable source for the radio broadcasts of the City Council meetings,
and therefore staff recommends entering into an agreement for the next three years.
The City maintains a radio station at KSRM AM 1680 that broadcasts within the Santa
Monica city limits. However, FCC regulations require that this station be used solely for
traffic and transit - related updates. Therefore, it is not possible to offer broadcasts of the
City Council meetings on this radio station.
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The agreement to be awarded to SMCCD is for an amount not to exceed $267,063.
Funds are included in the FY 2015 -17 Proposed Biennial Budget in the City Manager's
Department. The agreement will be charged to account 012071.578670. Future year
funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Melissa Lindley, Community Relations Coordinator
Approved Forwarded to Council
Elaine M Polachek, Interim City MfiYrl gOd5 Elaine M Polachek, Interim City MSWO695
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Reference:
Agreement No. 10074
(CCS)