2015.04.21 Work Session Packet
Posted: April 17, 2015
CRYSTAL CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION AGENDA
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Immediately Following the Regular City Council Meeting
Conference Room A
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City
Charter, the work session of the Crystal City Council was held at ______ p.m. on Tuesday, April
21, 2015 in Conference Room A located at 4141 Douglas Drive, Crystal, Minnesota.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Adams ____ Norris
____ Dahl ____ Revering
____ Deshler ____ Gilchrist
____ Kolb
____ Libby
____ Parsons
____ Peak
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda item(s):
1. CenturyLink Franchise Application
2. Constituent issues update
3. New business*
4. Announcements
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at (763)
531-1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Memorandum
DATE: April 16, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Anne Norris, City Manager
SUBJECT: NWSCCC – Application from CenturyLink for Cable Franchise
Crystal is a member of the Northwest Suburban Cable Communications Commission
(the NWSCCC), a joint powers organization. The NWSCCC has the authority to award
cable cable franchises within its services area. By law, it cannot grant an exclusive
franchise and may not unreasonably refuse to award competitive franchises.
In considering whether to award franchises, the NWSCCC must assure that cable
service is provided equally throughout the service area.
Currently, Comcast has the only cable franchise in the NWSCCC service area. This
franchise agreement was just approved in 2014 and extends for 10 years. The current
franchise may be transferred to new ownership if the Comcast/Time Warner merger
proceeds.
Century Link has made application for a cable franchise in the NWSCCC service area.
The NWSCCC held a public hearing on the proposed franchise application on April 16
and the record remains open through 4:30 p.m. on April 24.
After the public hearing record is complete, the NWSCCC staff and Executive
Committee will evaluation the application submitted by CenturyLink to determine if it is
complete. At its May 21 meeting, the NWSCCC will consider whether to file the
application (acknowledge the application is complete) and direct the Negotiating
Committee to begin negotiations with CenturyLink.
The issues of concern are whether the new franchise should be required to a build out
the system similar to the requirements of the current franchise and whether any capital
contribution towards PEG (public access, education and government) programming is
required of the new franchise, as the current franchise did in the recent franchise
renewal process.
Councilmember Deshler and I represent Crystal on the NWSCCC and are interested in
the Council’s input on this matter.