Report - MOU/California State University

Browse Search

CITY OF COLTON AGENDA REPORT FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 20, 2001 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Approval: Henry T. Garcia, City Manager i/�Trc> From: Kathy A. Kivley, Assistant to the City Manager A Subject: MOU for Community Cable Television Program in Date: March 13, 2001 BACKGROUND On May 11, 1999 City Council Workshop, you adopted goals for fiscal year 2000 / 2001. One of the goals included developing community cable television programming for the City of Colton. Recently at one of the City Council meetings, Mayor Pro Tem Donald Sanders reiterated the need to expand the use of Channel 3. During the summer of 2000, staff from the City Manager's Office met regarding several alternatives with representatives from KCBS Channel 3 at the City of San Bernardino and separately with representatives of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The two entities presented options and discussed potential alternatives for expanding the use of Channel 3 in the City of Colton. In the spring of 2000, staff met with our cable franchise and explored the option regarding developing a "Discover Colton" Series. This discussion included developing a thirty -minute (30) format and production plan. Using this schedule, staff developed a budget. However, when representatives from CSUSB approached City staff about potential joint participation in a new program currently under development by the University, staff believes this program potentially meets the greater needs and at no cost (except for equipment upgrades) to the City. In July 2000, CSUSB announced a funding award of $5.0 million in federal seed money by the U.S. Navy. The University is launching in conjunction with the Navy, the National Center for Excellence in Distance Learning. The job of the University is to create a state-of-the-art learning center that reaches any part of the world via the World Wide Web, wireless networks and digital television broadcasts by satellite. This center moves CSUSB into a leadership role as one of the few universities in the nation working with the Navy to provide distance education. The funding helps Cal State extend its service region within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The initial funding gives the University the ability to create a studio and development facility, satellite system and technology lab to develop video and software solutions for military and civilian personnel. The news release dated August 10, 2000, contains a statement from CSUSB President Albert K. Karnig as follows:"This center is not only a great technology leap forward for Cal State, our students, faculty and staff, but also for the future of the communities we serve, the state and nation." This award is the initiative that created the idea of developing local television programming for the Inland Empire. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS Within the County of San Bernardino, there are potentially 750,000 viewers. The current programming on the various national or Los Angeles based networks only relates to the Inland Empire when the news is negative. Now, with the exception public broadcasting stations currently operating within this region, cities broadcast independently to a relatively focused market on a somewhat limited basis. Each city is responsible for its own programming and television operations within their respective city limits. The goal of this operation is network programming. Programs would include regional news, governmental, educational, cultural, historical and transportation issues and distance learning opportunities. This type of television network programming has the ability to potentially address diverse and community -related needs. Item #9