HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - CABLE FRANCHISE SERVICES (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager
Item to be presented by:
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: February 13, 2001
SUBJECT: CONTRACT WITH TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION FOR CABLE FRANCHISE CONSULTING
SERVICES
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council award contract to Telecommunication Management Corporation, for an
amount not to exceed $83,400, over a three-year period, for consultant services for
cable franchise renewal. Funds have been budgeted in fiscal year 2000-2001 in
account number 2100-8001. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all
documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
The City's cable franchise agreements will expire within the next three years.
AT&T's franchise is due to expire on November 7, 2003, and AOL Time Warner's on
August 1, 2003. Due to the lengthy process, which includes extensive audits of the
current franchise agreements and scheduling of multiple public meetings, most
cities begin the process anywhere from two to three years in advance.
Staff conducted a RFP (Request for Proposal) and solicited responses from several
well-known firms that specialize in cable television and communication franchises.
From the list of those firms that submitted proposals, Telecommunication
Management Corporation best matched the cost and the needs of the City. Their
general experience includes:
• Consultant services and support for the initial franchise award, renewal, and
transfer processes
• Cable system performance review and evaluation
• Technical evaluation of cable systems, including the introduction of new
technology, such as fiber optics and digital compression
• Financial evaluation of cable systems, including franchise fee and compliance
audits
• Planning studies of new and advanced services that could be provided via
cable systems, and evaluating the costs and benefits of such services
• Evaluating PEG (public, educational, and governmental) access needs
• Reviewing system construction, operations and technical performance, and
planning for governmental, educational, and public uses of cable system
facilities and channels
Agenda Item : q—
TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION FOR CABLE FRANCHISE
February 13, 2001— Page 2
Since Telecommunication Management Corporation does not handle legal work, the
City's law firm, Burke, Williams, and Sorensen will handle all specialized legal
matters. Telecommunication Management Corporation is scheduled, pending the
contract approval, to conduct the following tasks in assisting the City with franchise
renewal:
• Cable Franchise Audit
• Cable Franchise Fee Audit
• Technical Audit of two cable systems
• Assessment of Community needs
• Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access Needs Assessment
• Public Meetings and Workshops
• Subscriber Survey — Public Satisfaction and Future Needs
• Written Renewal Recommendations
• Financial Analysis
Staff is recommending that the City Council award a contract to Telecommunication
Management Corporation for consultant services, so that the City can begin its cable
franchise renewal process.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
City Council not award the contract to Telecommunication Management
Corporation, and ask staff to re -bid the project for cable renewal consultant services.
City Council request that staff reduce the number of consultant tasks and therefore
reduce the total overall cost of the contract.
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Additional funding in the amount of $75,000 for consultant services was added to
the mid -year budget to supplement the $25,000 that was approved for fiscal year
2000-2001. Since the actual contract amount is for $83,400, the additional funds
will be used to hire an opinion survey firm that will conduct a scientific survey of the
community on opinions about cable services in the City.
ATTACHMENT
Telecommunication Management Corporation Proposal (Available in City Clerk's
Reading file.)
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