MINUTES. February 12, 2015

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MINUTES

February 12, 2015

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson, Harvey Gersin, at 7:30PM at West Bloomfield Town Hall.

2. Roll Call

Members Present:

Representing Keego Harbor: Michael Grogan

Representing Orchard Lake: Anne Dziuba, Dan Krause Representing Sylvan Lake: Jim Endres, Preston Wertheimer

Representing West Bloomfield: Larry Brown (arrived at 8:10PM), Harvey Gersin, Mark Kowalsky, Deborah Macon

Members Absent:

Representing Keego Harbor: John Horger

Representing West Bloomfield: Carla Schwartz, Gerald Walters Others in Attendance:

David Albery (Executive Director, GWBCCC)

The Executive Director reported that Mr. Walters, Ms. Schwartz, and Mr. Horger had communicated their inability to attend and that Mr. Brown would be arriving later in the meeting.

3. Approval of Agenda

Motion by Mr. Krause, support from Mr. Endres:

“That the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission approve the agenda as provided for the February 12, 2015 meeting.”

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Voting YES: Dziuba, Endres, Gersin, Grogan, Kowalsky, Krause, Macon, Wertheimer Voting NO:

The motion carried.

The Executive Director stated that material in addition to that delivered earlier in the week had been provided to the Commission at this meeting.

4. Public Forum

The Chairperson stated that the forum provides an opportunity for residents to address the Commission regarding cable-related issues at the beginning and the end of each meeting. Those unable to attend should contact the Commission at gwbcable.org.

No member of the public rose to address the Commission.

5. Approval of Minutes

Motion by Mr. Kowalsky, support from Mr. Endres:

"That the Minutes of the February 12, 2015 meeting be approved as presented." Voting YES: Dziuba, Endres, Gersin, Grogan, Kowalsky, Krause, Macon, Wertheimer Voting NO:

The motion carried.

6. Acceptance of Financial Reports

The financial report for 2014 and the report for January 2015 were summarized by Mr. Grogan, the Commission’s Treasurer.

In response to a question from Mr. Kowalsky, the Executive Director stated that revenue to the Cable Joint Venture Fund was about $615,000 in 2013 and is projected to be about $640,000 in 2014.

Motion by Mr. Kowalsky, support from Mr. Wertheimer: "That the Financial Reports be accepted."

The motion carried.

7. Commission Reports

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report to the Commission.

Report of the Commission Operations and Strategic Planning Committee

Members were provided a written report which was summarized by Mr. Kowalsky, the chairperson of the committee.

Mr. Kowalsky directed commissioners’ attention to the report of the Cable Advisory Board’s 2001 goals and objectives process and asked for comments as the committee considers initiating another such process this year.

Mr. Endres stated that the core ideas from 2001 are still relevant, needing perhaps some updated verbiage, and that he favors having a special meeting of the Commission, with additional invited guests, to develop a new document in 2015. Mr. Kowalsky stated that perhaps the Commission could hold discussion sessions with various stakeholders before that special meeting in order to incorporate those ideas into the strategic planning process.

Mrs. Macon stated that both non-profit best practice and how organizations conduct and implement strategic planning processes have evolved since 2001. The document has some gaps because the Cable Commission has matured and developed, with a broader reach, and is therefore fundamentally different from the Cable Advisory Board of 2001. She suggested that in 2015 the Commission consider member and/or constituent engagement and/or feedback. The model used in 2001 included that component, but the Board did not include it. She added that the Commission could incorporate input from viewers and listeners and also consider metrics and outcomes and/or performance measures and has resources available to undertake that consideration. The Commission could also take the strategic planning results and cross-reference them with planning and work agendas in order that each Commission action is directly related to a strategic goal or objective. A dashboard could also be initiated to display citizen outcomes or performance measures.

Mrs. Dziuba stated that since 2001, the Commission has needed to take a much more active role in advocacy, both related to Michigan Public Act 480 and changes at the federal level, including the Comcast/Time Warner merger. She added that such advocacy should be part of a strategic plan developed this year. She stated her belief that the plan should also include short and long-term planning in the areas of finance and evolving technology, specifically the movement from traditional cable television to the internet, and its impact of the Commission and Civic Center TV.

Mr. Gersin stated his appreciation for Mrs. Macon’s reference to the Commission’s extensive agenda as compared to the Board agenda in 2001, and added that public awareness of the Commission and Civic Center TV should be an important component of a strategic planning initiative this year.

Committee Recommendation:

“That the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission adopt the ‘Resolution in Support of Sunshine Week 2015’ as recommended by the Commission Operations and Strategic Planning Committee.”

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Report of the Community Programming Committee

Members were provided a written report which was summarized by Mrs. Dziuba, the chairperson of the committee.

In response to a question from Mr. Kowalsky, the Executive Director stated that the vendor producing coverage of Oakland County Board of Commissioners meetings and meetings of its committees is obligated to provide that coverage on-line, both live and archived, and to local cable channels across the county. Civic Center TV has cablecast and web-archived that coverage, with some flaws in each, with the exception of a few that had major technical problems. The committee has asked for information regarding how other Oakland County communities are dealing with the meeting coverage provided.

Mrs. Macon stated her support for Mrs. Dziuba’s previous comments regarding advocacy and added that efforts regarding county commission coverage might be undertaken in concert with other communities.

Motion by Mr. Endres, support from Mr. Wertheimer:

"That the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission accept the reports of the Commission Operations and Strategic Planning Committee and the Community Programming Committee and consider recommendations under New Business later in this meeting.”

The motion carried.

8. Executive Director's Report

Civic Center TV

Commissioners were provided a written report of 2015 Civic Center TV programming, those projects completed, those in production, and those planned for the future.

Cable Operators

No communications were received.

Cable Franchise Transfer

The cable franchise transfer recommended by the Commission on January 8 was approved by the West Bloomfield Township Board on February 10, and the Keego Harbor City Council and Sylvan Lake City Council on February 11. It will be considered by the Orchard Lake City Council on February 17.

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GWBCCC Directory

Members were provided an updated directory of Commission membership, contractors, and committee assignments.

Periodical Review

The Executive Director stated that in January he had provided to commissioners a New York Times article comparing the bundling of cable services to the bundling of airline services and pointing out that while unbundling in the airline industry has lowered costs for some, it has also decreased customer satisfaction.

He thanked Mr. Horger for passing along an article outlining the FCC’s intention to classify the internet as a telecommunications service under Title II of the federal code, giving the Commission the authority to force internet service providers to treat all on-line traffic equally. At this time, there are no plans to regulate the cost of internet service, although Title II classification would allow such regulation.

The FCC’s emphasis on the importance of broadband may spell trouble for the Comcast/Time Warner merger as regulations focus on the size of the new internet provider more than the size of the new cable operator. The companies have extended the deadline for completion of their merger agreement to mid-August, and analysts now believe the odds of that completion are around 50 percent due to growing public opposition and the FCC focus on internet service. Both companies’ stocks have eroded since the end of 2014.

The cost of sports channels, a large component of the cost of cable service, has increased 5 percent a year since 2000 and is projected to increase 7 percent a year until 2018. Sports channels cost cable subscribers an average of 1 dollar a month, compared to 81 cents for film channels, 39 cents for general and variety channels, and 29 cents for family and kids channels.

Communication

No communications were received.

Preview

The Executive Director presented his agenda for the time period between this meeting and the next.

In response to a question from Mr. Krause regarding federal government control of the internet and the possibility of shutting it down, the Executive Director stated that the reclassification of broadband into Title II will give the government the same authority that it currently has over telephone service.

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Mr. Brown arrived at 8:10PM.

9. Unfinished Business

No items of Unfinished Business were presented.

10. New Business

Recommendation of the Commission Operations and Strategic Planning Committee The Chairperson presented the recommendation.

At the request of the Chairperson, Mr. Kowalsky read the resolution into the record.

Mrs. Macon stated that her support for Sunshine Week arises from the fact that the goals of the initiative, public access to information, are the goals of the Cable Commission, including as much cablecasting of meetings as possible.

Motion by Mrs. Dziuba, support from Mr. Brown:

Voting YES: Brown, Dziuba, Endres, Gersin, Grogan, Kowalsky, Krause, Macon, Wertheimer Voting NO:

The motion carried.

Dissolution of the Select Committee on the Civic Center TV Facility

The Chairperson stated that the committee was formed in May of 2011 to oversee renovation of the West Bloomfield School District’s Green Media Center building, the equipping of that building to create a modern television production facility, and the construction of an addition to the building. He added that now that all goals have been superbly accomplished under the leadership of committee chairperson Larry Brown, he is recommending dissolution of the committee.

Motion Mr. Gersin, support from Mr. Brown:

“That the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission dissolve its Select Committee on the Civic Center TV Facility.”

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Voting YES: Brown, Dziuba, Endres, Gersin, Grogan, Kowalsky, Krause, Macon, Wertheimer Voting NO:

The motion carried.

11. Public Forum

The Chairperson stated that the forum provides an opportunity for residents to address the Commission regarding cable-related issues at the beginning and the end of each meeting.

No member of the public rose to address the Commission.

Mr. Endres stated that this meeting is his one-year anniversary as a member of the Commission and he thanked commissioners for all he has learned and complimented their dedication to serving residents. He also complimented the Executive Director for his presentation the previous evening to the Sylvan Lake City Council regarding the cable franchise transfer from Comcast to Greatland Connections and thanked Mr. Brown for his efforts in the renovation and expansion of Green Media Center.

Mr. Brown stated that it was a labor of love and that the end result was actually better than expected. He thanked commissioners for their cooperative spirit in all endeavors.

Mrs. Macon echoed Mr. Endres sentiments and informed commissioners of several items regarding Michigan Week coming up in May. The Community Awards breakfast will take place on Friday, May 15 at Knollwood Country Club, with tickets going on sale on February 15 and the price going up on March 20. Nominations for awards are also due earlier than in previous years. She complimented Motown Digital, the Commission’s programming contractor, for its contribution as a prime sponsor for the event and for providing the web site. She added that Melanie Torbert is chair of the Michigan Week committee and that Youth Assistance is receiving all payments related to the event. In response to a question from Mr. Brown, she stated that all event information and tickets are available on-line at michiganweek.org.

12. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by the Chairperson at 8:20PM.

The next meeting of the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission is

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015, at 7:30PM at WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWN HALL, 4550 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, Michigan.