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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM1985-0381 - 08/20/1985ft MOTIONS — 8/20/85 4 . Approval of specifications and authorization to receive bids September 11, 1985, for 9,050 lbs. of grass seeds for the Park and Recreation Department to be used for overseeding in city parks and golf courses during winter months. Estimated expenditure is $10,000. M85 -0381 8C O� �t City � 185 Co I. Call to order A. Roll Call Commission Members Staff Charles Irby Jay Doegey, Assistant City Attorney Mrs. Mary Wyatt Becky Gadell, Information Officer Dr. John M. Etheridge Clifford Hoskins, A.A., Public Utilities Mrs. Gloria Fuller Others Norberto Viamonte firs. F. H. Uhlenhaker Randy Grimes, Manager, Athena Cablevision firs. Linda Bridges John Bolles, Program Director, Athena B. Approval of minutes from the June 24th Cable Commission Meeting. II. Reports A. Athena Cablevision 1. Update on System Audit - Randy Grimes 2. Update on Cable Installation for La Armada Public Housing Units II & III. 3. Public Access Program - John Bolles 4. Other General Information B. Public Utilities 1. Complaints and Other Information Related to Public Utili Clifford Hoskins C. User Access Groups ,� 1. Religious W Ago 2. Higher Education �4ECEID 3. Other Education `3 SECICT 4. Government or C 5. Public fro III. Old Business `e *49lrtt� A. General discussion about the review and audit of Athena's Public Access and Local Origination (form K) requirements. IV. New Business V. Other Business VI. Establish date for the next Commission meeting in September. 302 South Shoreline - P.O. Box 9097 - Corpus Christi, TX 78469 (512) 880 -3476 of Corpus Christi Department of Public Utilities AGENDA rpus Christi Cable Communications Commission 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 26, 1985 City Council Chambers, City Hall 302 S. Shoreline Charles Irby, Chairman 8C O� �t City � 185 Co I. Call to order A. Roll Call Commission Members Staff Charles Irby Jay Doegey, Assistant City Attorney Mrs. Mary Wyatt Becky Gadell, Information Officer Dr. John M. Etheridge Clifford Hoskins, A.A., Public Utilities Mrs. Gloria Fuller Others Norberto Viamonte firs. F. H. Uhlenhaker Randy Grimes, Manager, Athena Cablevision firs. Linda Bridges John Bolles, Program Director, Athena B. Approval of minutes from the June 24th Cable Commission Meeting. II. Reports A. Athena Cablevision 1. Update on System Audit - Randy Grimes 2. Update on Cable Installation for La Armada Public Housing Units II & III. 3. Public Access Program - John Bolles 4. Other General Information B. Public Utilities 1. Complaints and Other Information Related to Public Utili Clifford Hoskins C. User Access Groups ,� 1. Religious W Ago 2. Higher Education �4ECEID 3. Other Education `3 SECICT 4. Government or C 5. Public fro III. Old Business `e *49lrtt� A. General discussion about the review and audit of Athena's Public Access and Local Origination (form K) requirements. IV. New Business V. Other Business VI. Establish date for the next Commission meeting in September. 302 South Shoreline - P.O. Box 9097 - Corpus Christi, TX 78469 (512) 880 -3476 /%. a Cable Commission Minutes Page 3 Hoskins reported on the access equipment audit meeting held June 5 at Athena. Hoskins was uncertain at this time who would pay for an engineering consultant to help with the audit. He reported that Assistant City Attorney Jay Doegey had said that, perhaps, the City would pay for an engineer. The City is not committed to the payment at this time, Hoskins added. A discussion of pay services followed. Grimes said the firm was looking at adding Showtime next year. He added that he believed Home Sports Entertainment was also worth consideration as the channel deals primarily with Texas sports. Question: What is Showtime? Grimes said Showtime is similar to Home Box Office (HBO ), He believes HFC might present a better package as there are so many movie channels now on the cable. Grimes also mentioned that pay - per -view possibilities exist. Question: What is pay -per -view? The service offers subscribers the opportunity to purchase a particular program, like a boxing match or Broadway play, Grimes explained. The subscriber pays an additional amount for the particular show. He added that Cinemax, HBO, Showtime and others are considering adding a few pay - per -view events to their monthly .line -ups. Question: Is this already happening in other markets? Grimes said yes, but added that there are problems as the service demands an addressable convertor if it is to be effective. In the Corpus Christi situation, the 3,900 Disney subscribers have such convertors. They could be served easily. It would not be feasible, however, for Athena to place $100 convertors in other homes just for a one -shot program purchase. Doegey commented that he was pleased with the decision to run Nicklelodeon since the only other children's channel, Disney, is a pay service. Doegey added that he believed Sports Entertainment would be accepted enthusiastically by the subscribers. Wyatt asked for a motion to authorize replacement of Showtime with Nicklelodeon. Ethridge so moved, Fuller seconded. Motion carried. Nicklelodeon will go on the air on or about July 1, Grimes said. The Commission discussed meeting dates, agreeing to cancel the July meeting as it appeared there would be a quorum present. The August meeting will be held on Monday, August 19. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m. Cable Commission :Minutes Page 2 Luna will take the plan and molding to the Housing Authority Board for approval and installation will proceed as aquickly as possible. Question to Grimes: Do you want anyone else present at the board meeting? Grimes said he believed the board had already met. Athena had agreed with Bright that in the event of difficulties, Luna would lay out an installation strategy. Grimes added that he had found Bright cooperative and that he believed both Athena and the architect now understood each other's concerns. Channel Guide Mailers Grimes supplied samples of the new channel guide mailers, explaining that one would be sent to each subscriber. Information included facts on the channel realignment and new rate schedule. Grimes believes the guide is great improvement over the old one, adding that the utilities /complaint phone number was, perhaps, not displayed prominently. Athena did face a problem in the realignment as they were advised by the Denver office last Wednesday that Athena would not carry Showtime. Showtime, therefore, was replaced with Nicklelodeon, a 24 -hour channel designed for children. Grimes believes this is a good move, adding that the channel had recently signed a contract to carry the National Geographic series. In response to the change, SPN was moved from Channel 31 to Channel 6 and Nicklelodeon was placed on Channel 31. Access Programming John Bolles reported on access channel usage. See report of June 22 meeting. Question: Why isn't Bellview Baptist Church permitted to run on the religious access channel? Bolles answered that the church was based in Portland and, therefore, not eligible to run programs on the channel. Churches must have a Corpus Christi congregation to use the channel. City Staff and Commission Reports Public Utilities Cliff Hoskins reported 139 complaints, the majority from subscribers who could not get calls through to Athena. Grimes responded that the firm has addressed the phone problem by adding a,4 p.m. to 1 a.m. phone crew. These staff members will handle paperwork, primarily, in order to free workers on other shifts. This crew addition brings total of customer service reps to nine. These reps, Grimes said, are responsible for just phone calls. The firm is also working on changes in the repair group. Religious Access Users rcoup (RAUG) Dr. Ethridge reported that new schedules were in effect. Several congregations have not satisfied the requirements associated with tax free institutions, he said. The RAUG executive board plans to address this problem at a June 28 meeting. Government Access Cliff Hoskins reported for the City Information Services,Office that the recently formed City staff user group was examining background material. A July meeting of the group is scheduled, ,' Ah MINUTES Corpus Christi Cable Communications Commission June 24, 1985, 7 p.m. Athena Cablevision, 4060 SPID Commissioners Present: Mrs. Mary Wyatt, Mrs. Katherine Conoly, Mrs. Gloria Fuller, Dr. John Etheridge. Commissioners Absent: Mr. Charles Irby, Mr. Norberto Viamonte, Mrs. F.M. Uhlenhaker. City Staff Present: Mr. Jay Doegey, Mr. Cliff Hoskins, Mr. Fred Cano. Athena Staff Present: Mr. Randy Grimes, Mr. John Bolles. Mr. Robert Hughes. Mrs. Mary Wyatt called the meeting to order at 8 p.m. Wyatt called for a motion approve the minutes of the May 29 meeting. Mrs. Fuller cited a correction to the minutes and they were approved as amended. Reports Athena: System Audit, Sales & Convertor Distribution Athena General Manager Randy Grimes reported on the system audit. As of June 21, 1985: 23,780 homes passed; 16,844 drops passed; 2,300 unauthorized drops; 10 per cent unauthorized cable drops thus far Grimes said the audit was discontinued on June 10 in order to allow crews to check for re- connections of illegal hook -ups. Regarding the re- audit: 5,241 homes passed; 2885 drops passed; 47 unauthorized drops; ,..one per cent unauthorized drops thus far. This one per cent deals only with basic service, Grimes added. The figure jumps to five per cent when theft of pay service is included. Grimes reported that initial reports indicate a 52 per cent sales /conversion rate. The national rate runs at 35 to 38 per cent. Convertor distribution is still in progress, Grimes said. Figures as of June 15: 7,752 convertors distributed; 4,225 remote convertors distributed. Total: 11,977. One additional week of distribution is planned. Grimes added that the firm has advertised in the newspaper that a customer may either pick up a convertor at Athena or call Athena and request that a convertor be delivered. Question: How difficult is it for an individual to repair or install a convertor? Grimes responded that he felt installation was simple and that Athena provides customers with a how -to handout. Phone service reps are prepared to talk customers through problems. Customers with VCRs are also provided a how -to handout. La Armada II and III Athena Manager Grimes reported that he met with project architect Jim Bright last week. Athena Work Supervisor Homer Luna believes there is a solution in sight. Bright realizes, Grimes said, that Athena was principally concerned with the safety of the system. The architect also understands that wiring under the building did not offer a solution to the cable company's concern. Grimes suspects they may find that Athena's orignial wiring plan may be used, but that the firm had agreed to provide a conduit in open spaces in order to prevent the wires from dropping. Bright is examining a proposed molding.