04. Resolution 5279 - Government Access Channel Policyk-"Ity of Kalispell
Post office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903- 997 - Telephone 0658 -7000 Fax - = 0 5 - 7758
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Katharine Thompson, Assistant to the City Manager
James H. Patrick, City Manager
SUBJECT: Cable Channel 9
M EETWG DATE: May 5, 2008
BACKGROUND: In the past, the City of Kalispell has relied on Bresnan Communications to
televise Kalispell City Council meetings and to find or create additional progranuning to fill the
remaining airtime throughout each week for Cable Channel 9. with the franchise agreement
entered into on September 4, 2007, it is now the City's responsibility to set policy for and operate
Cable Channel 9.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allows such channels be used for public,
educational and governmental (PEG) use or for governmental use only in which case it isreferred to
as a government access channel (GAC). Briefly, these uses are defined as:
Public access channels are available for use by the general public. A public access channel
requires that opposing viewpoints be given equal time and that this time be closely monitored
for equity.
Educational access channels are used by educational institutions for educational
programming.
Govemment access channels are used for programming by local government. The
franchising authority directly controls the channel and uses the channel to communicate
information of import to area residents.
At the April 7, 2008 Council work session, these options were discussed with the general feeling that
the Government Access Channel was the appropriate direction. Councilman Klusner also requested
a business plan for Channel 9 operations as it expands to other local governments. This plan is
attached.
R.EC O NDAI`ION,* Staff recommends that the City of Kalispell utilize Cable Channel 9 as a
Government Access Channel and Council adopt the attached Resolution. Government Access
Channel designation will allow the televising of such information as Council meetings, Planning
Board meetings, a calendar of meetings, Parks and Recreation schedule of events, Public works
notices, board vacancies, and meetings of other area local governments. No political programming
will be a flowed.
Respectfully submitted,
Katharine Thompson
Assistant to the City Manager
James atrick
City Manager
RESOLUTION NO, 5279
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE "KALISPELL GOVERNMENT
ACCESS" TELEVVISION CHANNEL.
WHEREAS, the City of Kalispell entered into a Franchise Agreement with Bresnan
Communications on September 4, 2007, which included a provision that gave the
City of Kalispell access and administrative control over the local "Channel 9"
Government Access television station; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Kalispell that the City of Kalispell establish
a policy which details how the Government Access channel will be managed and
operated; and
WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council finds that the written policy of management and operation
of the Government Access Channel, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is in the best
interests of the City and its citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The City Council of the City of Kalispell hereby adopts the policy, attached
hereto as Exhibit "A", for the Kalispell Government Access Channel.
SECTION II. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage by the
City Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 5TH DAY OF MAY, 2008.
Pamela B. Kennedy
Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa white
City Clerk
EXHIBIT "A"
KALISPELL GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
POLICY
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Kalispell's Government Access Channel 9 will strive to keep residents of the
Flathead Valley informed of the services, programs and activities of the City of Kalispell, and
other local governing bodies through the video medium..
The primary purpose of Kalispell Government Access Channel 9 is to provide coverage of a
variety of meetings of boards and commissions of the City of Kalispell and to other local
governments within the reasonable constraints of time. The purpose is to augment the local
government's statutory and constitutional mandate to provide the public with meaningful access
to its governmental processes. other programming will be used to provide residents with direct,
non -editorial information and to provide public information materials sponsored by the City of
Kalispell or other governmental entities. Priority will be given to programs or announcements
concerning public safety, health or welfare information. The cable channel is not intended to be
a political forum nor a mechanism for building support for a particular policy, program or issue.
PRIORITIES
The following general priorities will apply to Kalispell Government Access Channel 9 and may
be altered on a case by case basis by the City Manager's office.
1) Programming of an emergency nature, involving public safety, health or welfare matters,
2) Programming of or about meetings of the policy -making bodies of the City of Kalispell,
such as the City Council,
3) Programming of Flathead County, or other municipalities, or state or federal government
agency, or other agencies and authorities that use public dollars,
4) Programming of various departments and their services,
5) Programming produced outside sources relevant to local government.
MANAGEMENT
Management and programming of the City of Kalispell's Government Access Channel 9 is
provided by the City of Kalispell, administered by Kalispell Television Staff. Decisions
regarding programs or schedules may be appealed to the City Manager.
POLITICAL PROGRAMMING
No political advertising will be permitted on Kalispell Government Access Channel 9. Factual
information on any ballot issue directly affecting the local residents may be permitted.
EDITING POLICY
Public meetings shall not be edited nor subjected to editorial comment. Programs produced in
the studio that summarize legislative activity may include edited segments of meetings
previously shown in their entirety. Full editorial control of programs will be made by the City of
Kalispell Television staff. Any video submitted to the Kalispell Government Access Channel 9
may be modified or edited as appropriate.
Bulletin board messages may be submitted by appropriate user departments, agencies and
individuals who are representatives of a local governmental entity serving the City of Kalispell
area. Editing by the Kalispell Television staff to provide clarity and maximum utilization of
pages available may be required.
The City of Kalispell shall not be held responsible for the accuracy of any information cablecast
over the channel that was submitted by outside sources.
PROMOTION AND ENDORSEMENT
Promotional announcements for governmental sponsored events, programs and activities will be
permitted on the Kalispell Government Access Channel 9.
RETENTION AND OWNERSHIP OF MATERIAL
All video tapes, DVDs or CDs or any other medium submitted and content are the property of
the City of Kalispell. A copy of all completed programs will be maintained by the City of
Kalispell for a period of one year. As a general policy Kalispell Television Staff will not retain
original, unedited videotapes of staff produced programs, meetings and events. At any time, tape
originals may be reused and the original material erased at the discretion of the Kalispell
Television Staff. Video tapes shall not be considered an official record of any meeting and there
shall be no liability for inadvertent erasure or omissions.
COPY REQUEST
Copies of televised programming requested by the public will cost $15 per DVD. Only copies of
the entire program will be available.
Franchise Fee
2008-2009 Revenue
2.008-2009 Anticipated
Expenses
Personnel Services
Equipment Purchases
Phone
Contract Services
Programming
Total M&O
Remainder to General Fund
City of Kalispell
Government Access Channel
Funding
$29,789
$ 5,000
$ 400
$ 2,500
$ 11000
$38, 689
$116,311
Potential Contract with Outside Agencies
Potential Revenue
Personnel Services $14,895
Equipment $ 31000
Total $17,895
8% Administration Fees $ 11432
Total Contract $19,327
$155,000
$ 19,327