HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07.Lakeville
Memorandum
To: Mayor and City Council
Steve Mielke, City Administrator cQ
From: Sue Palm, Communications Managers)
Date: July 22, 2013
Subject: Franchise Renewal update
City of Lakeville
Communications
The current City Cable Television Franchise expires October 28, 2013. The renewal process began in
2012 with the appropriate legal notifications exchanged between Charter Communications and the
City of Lakeville. As part of the process, the Cable TV Board recommended four needs assessments and
the City Council approved the necessary funding.
These needs assessments included:
• Franchise Fee Desk Review - Moss & Barnett, Yuri Berndt
• Community Survey- Decision Resources
• PEG Access Review - Holly Hansen Consulting
• Technical Review - CBG Communications, Dick Nielsen
Through this process, the Cable TV Board and Franchise Attorney have determined the following as
top franchise considerations for negotiations:
1. Current provisions - don't lose anything in the current document
2. Customer service issues /maintain local office
3. Reporting by Charter
4. One franchise document - incorporate City Code references
5. Streamline regulation in the Franchise Agreement
6. Gross revenue definition
Franchise negotiation team
Franchise Attorney Brian Grogan
Cable TV Board Chair Robin Selvig
Communications Manager Sue Palm
Negations are expected to begin in August. Depending on progress, the City is prepared to request an
extension of the current franchise as needed.