Bod Minutes January 19, 2006
Posted March 13th, 2006 by carol in Board of DirectorsAccess Tucson
Board of Directors
Thursday, January 19, 2006
MINUTES
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of Access Tucson was called to order at 5:27 p.m. on January 19, 2006 by chair J. Lisa Jones.
Present
Sandee Brooke
Cynthia Dickstein
Ben Jacobs
J. Lisa Jones
Vern Lamplot
Carole Marlowe
Michael Mulcahy
Karla Ronquillo
Absent
Gerry D’Paco
Jerry Freund
Shelli Hall
Gerald Harwood
Elaine Schramm
Colleen Mahoney-Greer
Others present: Sam Behrend, Michael DiMaria, Vicki Evans, Larry Foster, Yael Grauer, Lisa Horner, Tim O’Grady, Carol Romano and Debra Rollinson.
Call to the Audience: No members of the public addressed the Board.
Minutes - Approval of the minutes for December 15, 2005 – Carole Marlowe moved to approve the minutes and Ben Jacobs seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
City of Tucson report/update – Sam Behrend reported that Ann Strine is not feeling well and apologized for not being there.
Cox Communications report/update- Michael DiMaria, Director of Government Relations for Cox introduced himself. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications and has been with numerous cable operators and joined Cox on November 1st, 2005. He reported that Cox participated in a Three Kings celebration, handing out stuffed animals to children. He will have more to report next month.
Comcast report/update- No report.
Executive Director – report/update- Sam Behrend reported that we were part of a press conference to kick off the Rodeo Parade, along with Channel 13 KOLD. Last year the Rodeo Parade was not televised, so we worked together with Jeff Sales to get in touch with the Rodeo Parade Committee. We are collaborating with Channel 13, using our truck and their production staff, and will be broadcasting the parade live on February 23rd and replaying it starting Sunday the 28th each night for ten nights on Cox channel 99 and channel 74 on Comcast. We are very excited to be involved with the Rodeo Parade. We received an award and are also co-branded as a sponsor along with other media on the poster. As a sponsor, we also have an entry. We are looking at a theme on telecommunication. Sam asked those interested in participating in the parade or decorating the wagon to let him know.
Sam has continued to meet with the City and PEG channels, and the group has made significant progress. They have agreed to continue meeting to study different models and ideas of ways to work together. Local media groups including Fox Theatre, KXCI, AZMAC, Pan Left, PCC, the U of A and TUSD, as well as City Channel 12 and the Public Safety channel, are all interested in continuing discussion.
Sam reported that he finally has heard from the City about the budget, they gave us forms for outside agency funding but the new rules specify that you can’t apply for more funding than you’ve received.
We have been meeting with Council to discuss increasing current funding; we’ll start another round of discussions with the City. There has been a good response from the Council, but they are under a lot of pressure. We will also continue discussions with Pima County; Supervisor Elias wants to take the lead on negotiation in terms of money. We will need to have a Fiscal Affairs meeting to fill out paperwork due February.
There is new possible state legislation, similar to last year’s narrowly defeated bill, which would reduce the franchise fee, limit channels to 1 PEG channel and 1 public service digital channel. It has not been introduced yet, but Representative Nelson is working on this. The way it is written is very bad for us. The FCC is discussing rulemaking on cable franchising and local/public rights of way, and the Alliance for Community Media will make comments. Michael DiMaria said that Cox is willing to work with PEG channels and the City regardless of the outcome of this bill.
2006 Annual Meeting timeline and CPA – discussion/action– Sam Behrend recommended using the CPA company DeVries CPAS’s of Arizona, P.C. who we’ve done business with for the last two years. Sandee moved to pass the timeline presented, with Ben Jacobs seconding. The motion passed unanimously.
Retreat planning –discussion–Lisa Jones said we haven’t settled on the subject yet, but there will be a lot of important items to discuss this year, including franchise renewal, our budget, and how to survive given the political climate. She hasn’t e-mailed the possible dates for a Saturday retreat, but it was suggested at the Executive Committee meeting that rather than meeting for seven hours on a Saturday, the Board could have two shorter meetings, one in February and one in April, for 3 and a half hours each. Michael Mulcahy clarified the suggestion he made at the Executive Committee meeting, which was to make a decision on what issues need to be addressed and to meet several times in order to sustain the work, break up the time and allow for follow up. Carole Marlowe recommended that the Executive Committee define the dilemma and needed direction, and Vern Lamplot recommended discussing the next few years, the franchise renewal, the future of PEG and a potential community media center. Michael Mulcahy recommended discussing preparation or a plan to have in place if the bill passes. Lisa Jones recommended education on new technology and changes in technology, as well as the National Telecommunications Act.
Grants & Scholarships Committee – report/discussion/action –
Ben Jacobs reported that no scholarships were awarded. The Committee is continuing plans for a scholarship in Albert Soto’s name. Carole Marlowe will be on the Committee. A meeting is scheduled on February 21st at El Con Artworks at 12:30 p.m. The scholarship will likely be a partnership with the Artworks section of alternative education at TUSD, and a collaboration with TPAC. The money used will be the $250 tax credit given to Artworks, which can only be used for things that can’t be done during school hours.
Date, time and agenda items for the next meeting – The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on February 9, 2006 at 5:00 pm, at 124 E. Broadway Blvd.
Michael DiMaria will talk with Sam Behrend about a presentation on technology for the next meeting.
The next Executive Committee meeting for retreat planning will be on Monday, January 30th at 9:30 am.
Adjournment – Vern Lamplot moved for adjournment. Karla Ronquillo seconded. The motion passed unanimously at 6:47 p.m.