02/07/1996 - C-View Task Force Meeting C-VIEW TELEVISION ADVISORY TASK FORCE
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 7, 1996
Present: James Martin Acting Chair/Task Force Member
Peter Caffentzis Task Force Member
David Campbell Task Force Member
Dan Hamsmith Task Force Member - arrived 5:37 p.m.
Rich Whitaker Task Force Member
Jeffrey E. Harper Information Management Director
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
Absent: Joseph Brown Task Force Member
Shawn Stafford Task Force Member
The Acting Chair called the meeting to order at 5:16 p.m. at City Hall Annex.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #1 - Approval of Minutes
Member Campbell moved to delay approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of January 19, 1996. The motion was duly seconded. Members Campbell and Whitaker voted "Aye"; Member Caffentzis
and Acting Chair Martin voted "Nay." Motion failed.
The January 19, 1996, minutes will be addressed at the next meeting.
ITEM #2 - Task Force Role and Direction
Information Management Director Jeff Harper reviewed the C-View TV Task Force role. The City Commission established a seven-person advisory task force in November 1995, to meet for
18 months. The Task Force's purpose is help develop policies based on input from Clearwater citizens and technical experts. C-View's mission is to televise government meetings, inform
citizens about the programs, services, and events provided by the City, and to market the City as an attractive and unique community in which to live, work, and do business.
Concern was expressed four-hour Task Force meetings are burdensome and discourage member participation.
Acting Chair Martin suggested the Task Force draw-up recommendations at the end of their meeting schedule. Mr. Harper said the Task Force will present a formal report with their findings
to the City Commission. The Commission receives copies of their minutes.
ITEM #3 - Task Force Member Reports
Acting Chair Martin expressed concern C-View's equipment will be damaged if the room remains too hot, as heat negatively affects components' life. Member Hamsmith reported the
City of St. Petersburg's television facilities set their thermostat at a maximum of 72 degrees. Their facilities are cooled by the building's main system and a back up system. It was
agreed air around equipment racks should not be warmer than 72 degrees. Member Hamsmith indicated some equipment in St. Petersburg had to be rebuilt twice a year due to high temperatures.
Acting Chair Martin said it is less expensive to cool a room adequately than repair and replace equipment. High temperatures can invalidate equipment warranties.
Acting Chair Martin reported a multi-channel audio board will be installed in C-View's City Hall facility. Construction of a required fire escape will occupy ('s of that room. Recording
facilities will remain at City Hall but C-View's main facilities will relocate to the new Municipal Services building. Concern was expressed current space is inadequate.
Acting Chair Martin could recommend little to change C-View's scope without additional expense. The quality of staff productions is excellent. He noted the difficulty of maintaining
a regular schedule due to staff's inability to control meeting lengths. Member Campbell recommended staff estimate meeting lengths on the high side. If meetings adjourn early and time
allows, they could be replayed immediately. He suggested the VBB (video bulletin board) could fill the extra time. Preemption would be necessary only if meeting lengths exceed estimates.
He said instant replay permits those who miss the beginning of a meeting to view it immediately after it ends. Majority support for this suggestion was expressed. Member Campbell
felt the schedule should be accurate.
Mr. Harper said City produced shows are plugged in during extra time blocks because the City Commission has requested less time spent broadcasting the VBB. Many citizens catch programming
by channel surfing. Member Campbell felt non-scheduled programming should not be broadcast so citizens know what is planned. Acting Chair Martin said, based on the varying lengths
of meetings, C-View must remain flexible and consistent. Member Whitaker felt airing programming was preferable to running the VBB excessively. It was noted programs cannot always
be scheduled because staff does not know in advance which time blocks will be available. Mr. Harper said preparing weekly schedules for newspaper publication absorbs a great deal of
staff time. Meeting schedules do not change unless they are canceled.
Member Campbell felt viewer access to an accurate schedule is important. He expressed concern the VBB now is one hour long. Member Caffentzis recommended airing a five-minute broadcasting
schedule VBB prior to each meeting.
Member Campbell's concern regarding the inaccuracy of the broadcast time clock was addressed. It was recommended that staff reset their PC's weekly by calling the Bureau of Standards,
the Naval Observatory, or MacDill Air Force Base. The majority felt purchasing clocks or a modem and program to set the correct time were not necessary.
Member Hamsmith said he serves the Task Force as a technical advisor and felt C-View staff are meeting their goals. In Exhibit A, he addressed several technical concerns: 1) chambers'
audio quality. Acting Chair Martin noted a problem with Time Warner's audio return feed and recommended the cable company monitor and improve it.; 2) chambers' video quality. Member
Campbell did not think video quality needs to be addressed. It was suggested C-View broadcast color bars and tone monitor weekly to correct tones and allow citizens to do so also; 3)
chamber remote control for cameras; 4) programming scheduling and automation problems.
St. Petersburg completes their schedules on Friday for the following week and runs a hotline bulletin board through their phone system; 5) audio music library. Member Campbell suggested
the City may be able to use other music sources at no cost. The majority recommended maintaining the current music library, citing concerns regarding royalty costs; and 6) the operating
budget. Member Hamsmith recommended a supplemental budget for new equipment and additional staff. Expenses will expand as broadcasting needs increase.
Member Hamsmith was impressed by the way C-View is run. He recommended the Task Force not micromanage the operation. He expressed major concerns regarding areas that are Time Warner's
responsibility, such as the quality of chamber cameras donated by Vision Cable. He suggested addressing these issues via the franchise agreement.
The meeting recessed from 7:00 to 7:04 p.m.
Member Caffentzis reviewed his budget concerns. He would like C-View to broadcast to homes without cable but felt that option may be too expensive. He recommended contracting services,
when possible, to lower costs. He suggested establishing a five-year budget that includes a spending cap so C-View expenditures do not expand. He said broadcasting meetings is a valuable
service and allows citizens to experience meetings' dynamics. In answer to a question, Mr. Harper said many VCR tapes of City meetings are checked out from the library. Member Caffentzis
suggested C-View use Time Warner facilities as often as possible. He recommended C-View report on topics of interest to citizens such as reclaimed water. Mr. Harper reported GTE wants
to establish a franchise in April 1996, and has offered some access support. The TV production staff member being recruited will replace an accounting position. C-View staff are salaried
and not paid overtime.
Member Campbell expressed concern regarding Time Warner's rate increase. Mr. Harper said the City has received many complaints regarding that issue. The City has little control over
cable pricing and regulates only the basic tier, channels 1 - 22. The City can act only if Time Warner raises rates above the FCC established benchmark. He said staff will be able
to record the broadcasting schedule for telephone access once the new telephone system is installed.
It was noted the skill levels of volunteers vary greatly. Mr. Harper said a previous volunteer inadvertently caused some software errors. Member Caffentzis suggested recruiting Clearwater
college students of mass communication or TV production and use City money to help Clearwater residents. Mr. Harper said the City has one paid intern and continues to solicit students
at local colleges.
Member Campbell agreed a budget cap should be instituted and requested his concerns be included as part of the minutes as Exhibit B. He recommended initiating quality control and reviewed
C-View errors outlined in his notes. He felt deviation from programming causes apathy and suggested trivia panels should focus exclusively on the City. Member Martin recommended presenting
historical facts of local interest to viewers.
Concern was expressed member interference with C-View business causes confusion. The majority agreed members should funnel all recommendations though the Task Force Advisory committee.
Member Caffentzis suggested C-View information be presented in a more friendly manner by using staff spokespersons who are enthusiastic about their programs or parks. It was noted
using amateur talent may have drawbacks. Mr. Harper hoped more staff will participate once the Municipal Services building studio is completed. Member Caffentzis felt information presented
by live people is more effective and interesting than the VBB.
Member Whitaker said public access, government access, and educational access are parts of a three-legged stool that will fall over if any leg is removed. He praised C-View for meeting
objectives and winning national and local awards.
Member Campbell felt C-View should not broadcast shows that do not focus on the City such as Air Force News and Navy News. Member Whitaker said C-View should address the interests
of the large local veteran population and continue to broadcast defense news and information programs, which are of high quality and encourage viewership. He suggested localizing the
broadcasts by providing introductions by local veteran(s). Acting Chair Martin noted good quality armed forces programming is available. Member Whitaker said residents are attracted
to and watch professionally produced, quality productions.
Concern was expressed that C-View not be used for public access. Member Whitaker felt C-View should promote City groups. It was suggested problems may occur if C-View promotes a community
business or one specific neighborhood and not others. Member Caffentzis said C-View should promote Clearwater and feature local achievements such as the chess club that produced three
national champions. He suggested developing a talent pool to promote the City and attract new businesses.
Member Whitaker predicted public access may be discontinued within five years. He said the stool will not be able to stand with only government and education access and suggested the
City may have to solicit community produced video programming. Concern was expressed the City then may have to accept programming from groups that do not reflect community standards.
Acting Chair Martin noted public access has faced severe criticism due to those who insisted on "pushing the envelope" of poor taste.
ITEM #4 - New Business
Member Whitaker moved to continue appointing Acting Chairs on a round robin basis. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Hamsmith moved to appoint Member Whitaker as the Acting Chair for the next meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Peter Caffentzis resignation
Member Caffentzis announced his resignation from the Task Force, effective at the end of tonight's meeting. He noted his concern had been the budget and recommended his replacement
represent the community's diverse mix. Task Force members expressed their thanks to Member Caffentzis for his contributions.
ITEM #5 - Schedule Next Meeting
Member Whitaker moved to schedule meetings once every two months. The motion was duly seconded. Members Caffentzis, Hamsmith, Whitaker and Acting Chair Martin voted "Aye;" Member
Campbell voted "Nay." Motion carried.
The next Task Force meeting was scheduled for April 3, 1996, at 5:00 p.m.
Member Hamsmith moved to limit the length of the April 3, 1996, meeting to two hours. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Acting Chair
C-View Television Advisory Task Force
Attest:
Board Reporter