HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.A. Downsizing of Current Public Access Studio
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City of Shako pee
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: John Peterson, Telecommunications Coordinator ~
SUBJECT: Downsizing of Current Public Access Studio
DATE: November 25, 2008
Introduction
The Telecommunications Advisory Commission has voted to recommend that the City close the
existing Public Access cable studio space, relocate equipment check-out services to the front
desk of the Community Center, and relocate channel operations to City Hall.
Background
At a workshop between the City Council and T AC members earlier this year, the idea of
. downsizing the cable studio and returning the space to the Community Center was discussed.
Some of the reasons for this included:
1. The cable studio space and edit suites receive minimal usage.
2. A majority of the cable technician job description assumes customer service work.
Currently the studio is open 12 hours a week, while on average staff is actually conducting
customer service for about 2 of those 12 hours.
3. The Community Center is running out of room for all of the events and programs that they
host. They could make a much better use of the space than the cable studio can.
The Proposed Plan
The existing public access space at the Community Center includes a customer service counter,
staff work area, equipment storage, studio space and two edit suites. The equipment that is
commonly checked-out would be moved to within easy access of the soon-to-be remodeled front
desk area of the Community Center. This will allow the front desk staff at the Community
Center to easily check-out equipment and accept returns. Older equipment that is simply sitting \
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around the current access studio will be declared surplus property and sold or disposed of.
While the vast majority of the current public access space will be turned back to the Community
Center for their use, the plan is to retain one edit suite for resident use by relocating the door onto
the main hallway of the Community Center. Residents could then check-out a key from the
Community Center front desk and utilize the edit suite without disrupting any event or
programming taking place in the larger space. The larger space is currently divided into two
rooms - at some point in the future, the Community Center may look to remove the dividing wall
to create one large room.
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Lastly, the equipment that actually operates the public access channel will be relocated to
available space at City Hall. Comcast has confirmed that we will be able to send out
programming for both Channel 15 and Channel 16 from City Hall, by running a minimal amount
of new cable within the building. We would retain our current part-time public access staff
person, although at reduced hours per week, enough to accommodate review and capture of
submitted programming, duplication requests, etc. He would work out of the space at City Hall
for these hours.
The public access channel will need to be off-air for the duration of the move, which we expect
to take one to three days. The government access channel may be impacted for a few hours.
Overall, the goals of this change are to:
. Increase the amount of meeting and programming space available at the Community
Center.
. Expand check-out hours, making it more convenient for users to check -out and return
equipment.
. Reduce operating costs within the Telecom Fund.
Budget
One-time costs associated with moving the channel operations to City Hall are expected to be
under $1,000. No longer renting and operating the public access cable studio space is expected
to save the Telecommunications Fund approximately $10,000 per year.
Recommendation
The Telecommunications Commission recommends to the City Council that the studio portion of
the Shakopee public access channel be closed effective December 23,2008, the transfer of the
equipment check-out duties to the front desk of the Community Center be effective by January 5,
2009, and the transmission capabilities of the channel be transferred to City Hall also by January
5,2009.
Relationship to Vision
This item is related to goal D - a vibrant, resilient and stable City.
Requested Action
If it concurs, the Council is asked to offer a motion to close the existing public access studio
effective December 23,2008, transfer equipment check-out duties to the front desk of the
Community Center beginning January 5, 2009, and transfer the transmission capabilities of the
channel to City Hall.
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