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Home My WebLink About10/02/1990 Adjourned Meeting 138 .. CITY OF YAKIMA, "WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING , OCTOBER 2, 1990 The City- Council met in session-on-this -date at 11:30 A.M. at the Restaurant at the Airport, Yakima, Washington . for.the,.purpose of meeting , with the Community Programming Advisory Committee. Mayor_ _ Pat Berndt presiding, '_Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, George Pechtel,,,Skip Semon And Bernard Sims present., Council_member Clarence Barnett,,' absent. and excused. Community Programming _Advisory Committee (CPAC) Chairman Donna West and Vice Chairman Elliott Ambramovitch also present. Cable Communications,Managet W Warren, Programming Assistant Lynn Tobin, - Mid, Valley; Cable Access" Coordinator Robert ' Swanson, City ManagerZais and Deputy City Clerk Lovell were in attendance.',' Programming_ M anager Warren welcomed the Council members and advised them that the Advisory Committee would be conducting its regular board meeting during the luncheon. Ms. Warren Said the Advisory Committee currently has three vacancies, and is hopeful the Council will fill these positions soon. CPAC Chairman Donna West apologized that some Board members had commitments which prevented their attendance . at ,this meeting. Ms. West urged, the Council to f ,'r`eview',applications' ori, for s ,Board,�, vacancies. Ms Warren said that new appointees will: i be 1 r 1 j j j nvolved-_:in t communit y is � � l � ,, j � i ,. needs" assessment for t re franchising . _agreement. Council member Semon t observed - • 1 that .this ,function might, n' with the' Visioning process. -- Council member _Sims "asked Deputy, City Clerk Lovell to cgmpile a list of the applications on file for review by the CPAC Council Committee. Programming Manager Warren reviewed the YCTV Monthly Report and `offered to answer questions.. Council member, - Pechtel_ a sked if the ,December date was firm for installation of television cameras in, the Council Chambers. Ms. Warren replied that the equipment has been ordered. Delays were caused because the equipment is extremely specific to the application, which made the bid process very difficult. Ms. Warren, said. that she will -be asking Council-for- - -an- additional appropriation of about $2,000 to cover the total equipment cost of $13,500. Council members were anxious to improve media coverage of Council activities, and Ms. Warren suggested they develop and participate in programs on YCTV. She suggested a live, call -in shwa -to enable- members to directly answer questions from the public. Mayor Berndt felt this idea should be a Council policy issue, and suggested that it be discussed at today's Council meeting. Ms. West asked if the televised Council meetings will be promoted with the department's advertising budget. Ms. Warren said that funds are available for this purpose, and she will follow Council direction. Programming Manager Warren suggested that Council address the provision of a separate channel for government access during the refranchising process. This would enable more production time for informational programs. Ms. Warren shared some of the program topics that are available in Tacoma, and suggested they might be applicable in the local area. Programming Assistant Lynn Tobin reported that staff and volunteers are operating a booth at the Central Washington State Fair, which helps to increase the visibility of Channel 36. This is the second year the station has operated a booth, and this year they have been presenting live AAD /1 OCTOBER 2, 1990 1 3 9 mini - programs on Fair :adt Wittes. Ms.` WarrenT` invited Council members to visit the booth which is located in the Agricultural Annex. Ms. Warren stated that two controversial programs have been aired on the station. The programs contairi'`disclaimers from the station, and only three phone calls have been received in response. Ms. Warren explained that the legal parameters the station must work with in pulling a program are: (1) The current legal definition of obscenity; (2) The current legal definition of liable; and (3)'If the program clearly incites a person to a felony. Ms: Warren said the programs'are provided by a. local citizen and are shown on Sunday evenings at 11:00 P.M. In response to these programs, a local "Respond' to Racism Committee was formed,' and the members 'understand why YCTV had to'allow this freedom Of expression. Ms. Warren is hopeful that the Committee and other'communi•ty groups will succeed. in their efforts to present counter programming and educational services. Ms. West observed that protecting first amendment rights and presenting'. both-. sides of a story are important facets of community access television. • CPAC Vice Chairman Ambramovitch discussed the 1990 Annual Awards Ceremony. The 1991 ceremony'will be - held at the Yakima 'Valley Museum in May, and invitations will be sent to Council members. Council members will also be invited to attend the annual YCTV - Opera House in December. Cable Manager' Warren stated that YCTV must do a better job of program marketing and delivering the finished product. Mayor .Berndt encouraged continued improvement in '.broadcast quality as a means of increasing viewership. Council member Sims suggested that the United Way may wish to utilize the station to publicize their programs and activities. The following topics were briefly discussed: 1. Formation of a subcommittee to develop the concept for an Ethnic Video Competition; " 2. Update on the "status of the REP for the Public' Relations Consultant; and 3.' Announcement' that the National Federation' of Local Cable Programmers will hold their Tri- Regional 'Fall Conference in Reno on October 26 -27, 1990. . Mayor 'B•ernde thanked .staff members and CPAC-Board for their attendance•today and for their'service throughout the year. The meeting • '\. was adjourned'at the hour of 1:05 P.M. - READ AND.CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY / / , kg_ `ja, /q/ COUNCI 1 I: DATE Oa CIL MEMBER - DATE • • ATTEST: • • CITY' CLERK MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Lovell AAD /2