HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncilmember Item - Councilmembers Semeta and Brenden - DisfiPPR_6 vE-D 7- v
City of Huntington Beach
File #: 18-489 MEETING DATE: 11/5/2018
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Lyn Semeta, Council Member
Patrick Brenden, Council Member
Subject:
Submitted by Councilmembers Semeta and Brenden: Discussion of Potential Withdrawal
from PCTA - Transition and Exit Plan
Statement of Issue:
In 1990, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was created between the cities of Huntington Beach,
Fountain Valley, Stanton, and Westminster, and Public Cable Television Authority (PCTA) for the
purpose of providing local government programming to residents. Each member City appoints two
Council Members to the PCTA Board; each Board Member holds one vote. While the City only holds
two votes (equal to the other cities), the City of Huntington Beach ratepayers comprise 67% of PCTA
funding.
On April 16, 2018, Council Members Lyn Semeta and Patrick Brenden introduced an item directing
staff to come back to the City Council with an analysis of alternative Public, Educational, and
Governmental (PEG) Access/Outreach methods. Staff presented City Council with information
related to the best practices of local government programming on July 16, 2018. This overview
included the history of PCTA, an overview of their governance structure and finances, and a look at
what the current trends are in TV - specifically PEG channels.
Since July, staff has delved deeper into the existing operations of PCTA, visited cities throughout the
County, and attended the National Association of Telecommunications Officials conference to learn
best practices and understand emerging trends in the cable marketplace.
What was gleaned from this deep -dive is clear - the operations of the JPA are out of date and have
not kept pace with trends in the marketplace. More and more people are "cutting the cord" or have
never subscribed to cable TV in the first place.
Additionally, as the City is 67% of PCTA, the City could, in fact, run these operations in-house using a
combination of PEG and Franchise Fees, and run it more efficiently than PCTA at a savings to the
City. In order to keep the City current with technological advances and continue to keep residents
abreast of City meetings, events, and community programming, it would be prudent to explore the
withdrawal of the City from PCTA.
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 10/31/2018
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File #: 18-489
MEETING DATE: 11/5/2018
Recommended Action:
Direct the City Manager to return to City Council with a plan to withdraw from PCTA and transition to
a municipal run cable channel.
City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2
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Printed on 10/31/2018
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CITY OF t BEACH
City Council• • •
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
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From: Lyn Semeta, Council Member
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Patrick Brenden, Council Member
Date: October 29, 2018
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE NOVEMBER 5, 2018,
CITY COUNCIL MEETING — DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL
WITHDRAWAL FROM PCTA — TRANSITION AND EXIT PLAN
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
In 1990, a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was created between the cities of Huntington Beach,
Fountain Valley, Stanton, and Westminster, and Public Cable Television Authority (PCTA) for
the purpose of providing local government programming to residents. Each member City
appoints two Council Members to the PCTA Board; each Board Member holds one vote. While
the City only holds two votes (equal to the other cities), the City of Huntington Beach ratepayers
comprise 67% of PCTA funding.
On April 16, 2018, Council Members Lyn Semeta and Patrick Brenden introduced an item
directing staff to come back to the City Council with an analysis of alternative Public,
Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access/Outreach methods. Staff presented City
Council with information related to the best practices of local government programming on July
16, 2018. This overview included the history of PCTA, an overview of their governance
structure and finances, and a look at what the current trends are in TV - specifically PEG
channels.
Since July, staff has delved deeper into the existing operations of PCTA, visited cities
throughout the County, and attended the National Association of Telecommunications Officials
conference to learn best practices and understand emerging trends in the cable marketplace.
What was gleaned from this deep -dive is clear - the operations of the JPA are out of date and
have not kept pace with trends in the marketplace. More and more people are "cutting the cord"
or have never subscribed to cable TV in the first place.
Additionally, as the City is 67% of PCTA, the City could, in fact, run these operations in-house
using a combination of PEG and Franchise Fees, and run it more efficiently than PCTA at a
savings to the City. In order to keep the City current with technological advances and continue
to keep residents abreast of City meetings, events, and community programming, it would be
prudent to explore the withdrawal of the City from PCTA.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct the City Manager to return to City Council with a plan to withdraw from PCTA and
transition to a municipal run cable channel.
Cc: Fred Wilson, City Manager
Lori Ann Farrell, Assistant City Manager
Robin Estanislau, City Clerk
Michael Gates, City Attorney