HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/08/1997 COW agenda COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
AGENDA
Meeting Location: Meeting Date and Time:
Mount Prospect Senior Center Tuesday, July 8, 1997
50 South Emerson Street 7:30 P.M.
I: CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF JUNE 24, 1997
Ill. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
IV, CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS
The current Franchise Agreement with Telecommunications, Inc. (TCI) expired in
August of 1996. Since that time, the Village Board has granted two six-month
extensions, the second of which is set to expire on August 1, 1997. Franchise
negotiations with TCI have been very slow in developing. More recently, Ameritech
has expressed an interest in providing cable television services to communities in
the northwest suburban area. This potential for competition has arisen out of the
recentIy enacted Federal Telecommunications Act which is specifically designed
to foster a competitive telecommunications environment.
This Federal legislation has highlighted the need for the Village to reassess its
philosophy regarding local regulation of cable providers. The current Village Cable
Code is designed specifically to deal in a non-competitive, monopolistic
environment. Given the advent of increasing competition and legal limitations on
the Village's ability to regulate cable providers, our current Code may, in fact, be
a deterrent to attracting alternate cable television providers. Perhaps even more
important, it may, in some cases, be unenforceable. In some very preliminary
discussions with Ameritech, they indicated a reluctance to come into Mount
Prospect because of our current Cable Code.
As a precursor to serious Franchise negotiations both with TCI and other potential
cable providers, it is necessary for the Village to reassess its current Cable Code
and the underlying philosophy of the Village. The purpose of this discussion is to
provide Board members with a general overview of the new regulatory landscape
as well as to provide Board members with an opportunity to hear about the practical
considerations in attracting alternative cable providers. The likely result is that the
Village will need to undertake a substantial rewrite of its current Cable Code,
In order to provide background and perspective on this topic, representatives from
Ameritech New Media and TCI have been invited to make presentations.
Additionally, attorney Peter Coblentz, who has worked in the past for the Village on
cable and telecommunication issues will also be present to provide a legal
perspective on what the Village can and cannot do in this area. The attached
memorandum from Assistant Village Manager David Strahi provides a general
overview of the status of discussions with TCI and Ameritech along with a summary
of action steps which the Board will need to consider in the near future,
NOTE: ANY INDIVlDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING BUT
BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODATION TO
PARTICIPATE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFFICE
AT '100 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056,
847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064.
V, COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAMMING OPTIONS
With the changes taking place in the arena of cable television franchising, it is
apparent that there is growing reluctance on the par[ of cable providers to provide
and staff public access studios as par[ of their Franchise Agreements. For Mount
Prospect, this may be an especially critical issue due to the fairly weIi developed
network of community access producers and studio users.
Given that Federal and State Telecommunications laws require municipalities to
approach franchising from a "level playing field" environment, a practical problem
arises in how to treat multiple cable providers when it comes to public access
studios. It may be unrealistic to require each provider to build, equip and staff its
own studio. The practical alternative may be the creation of an independent public
access studio that is funded in Iarge par[ by the various cable providers. This
alternate path, however, has its own pros and cons which must be considered and
assessed.
Ross Rowe, the Village's Cable Production Coordinator, has drafted a brief memo
which covers some options which may be available to the Village Board. It might
be helpful to ask the cable television representatives what their thoughts and
feelings are on the whole topic of public access studios. Mr. Rowe will also be in
attendance to answer questions and to facilitate discussion.
VI. CELLULAR ANTENNA LOCATION POLICY
The new Federal Telecommunications Act also promotes a competitive environment
for the proliferation of cetlular and personal communication service technologies.
Commonly referred to as wireless communications, this industry is anxious to build
cellular networks which consist mainly of a series of strategically placed antennas.
The Village of Mount Prospect has received an increasing number of requests for
placement of cellular towers both on private property and Village-owned property.
With estimates that 100,000 new cellular antennas will be installed throughout the
country over the next several years, it is imperative that the ViIlage begin
developing a clear policy on how such requests should be handled.
Again, the discussion is designed to provide an overview of the regulatory
landscape and what municipalities such as Mount Prospect can and cannot do in
regulating these towers. Attached is some general background information along
with some exampIes of siting policies and Ordinances from neighboring
communities. Appropriate Village staff along with Mr. Coblentz wiII be available to
facilitate discussion and answer questions.
VII. MANAGER'S REPORT
VIII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IX. ADJOURNMENT
CLOSED SESSION
]LCS 120/2 (c) (2) "Collective negotiating matters between the public
body and its employees or their representatives, or
deliberations concerning salary schedules for one
or more classes of employees."
ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) "Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on
behalf of the particular public body has been filed
and is pending before a court or administrative
tribunal, or when the public body finds that an
action is probable or imminent, in which case the
basis for the funding shall be recorded and entered
into the minutes of the closed meeting."
DEFERRED ITEMS
Signs in Rights-of-Way
Density/Residential Redevelopment
Downtown Redevelopment Options
Busse Road Widening
Annexation Opportunities
Parliamentary Procedures