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Session 1241, Minutes <br />March 24, 1980 <br />Page 5 <br />activities would be during their first six months here, if they were granted the <br />franchise. <br />Councilman Kelley asked the representatives if they would submit a proposal simi- <br />lar to the ones proposed currently if University City wanted to finance the con- <br />struction itself and end up owning the system. All said they would submit their <br />proposals in much the _same terms; Mr.. Brooks of "Telcon thought the rates for sub- <br />scribers might be lower doing this, although Mr. Wo.-nEL from Gateway disagreed. <br />Councilman Metcalfe said she felt that a mistake had h eco :Wade in eliminating the <br />Warner Cc Sre also moved to amend the resolution whish is to be passed by <br />Council after selection of a franchisee, as follows, after BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: <br />"That said Franchise Ordinance be submitted to the City Council for final action, <br />said action to be conditioned on a decision by the University City Council that <br />this alternative is preferred over city ownership." Councilman Kelley seconded <br />the. motion. Mrs. Metcalfe said the potential figures for either increased city <br />revenue, if rates are kept comparable to other areas, or lower rates for subscrib- <br />ers are the motivation for wanting to investigate this alternative, and it is also <br />necessary to do it now, as it is not feasible to do it later. Councilman Lieber- <br />man spoke against the motion, since he felt it involved a great deal of delay, and <br />thought it would be possible to talk about the city's Lacing ov_ ownership of the <br />system at a future time. Councilman Adams disagre&d, fce�:ng this possibility <br />could be explored without any delay, and said he was in favor if the motion. Coun- <br />cilman Glickert spoke against the motion, feeling government should not interfere <br />with private enterprise.. Councilman Kelley spoke for the motion, feeling that the <br />City should hz.% the benefits of either increased revenues ckr lower subscriber <br />rates, if it is feasible for the City to become the owner-. Mayer Mooney spoke a- <br />gainst the motion, saying that government should not get involved in matters of <br />this nature. Upon roll call, the following vote was taken: AYES: Councilmen <br />Adams, Metcalfe, Kelley and Sabol. NAYS: Councilmen Lieberman and Glickert and <br />.Mayor Mooney. The motion carried by a vote of four to three. <br />There was discussion_ about what might be involved in the writing of the cable tele- <br />vision ordinance, while exploring.the possibility of the city's owning (but not <br />operating) the system. Several councilmen felt there would be delay if this alter- <br />native is explored, but.Councilman Kelley did not think so, stating that the amend- <br />ment just.. passed merely preserves the option to go ahead with a city -owned system, <br />if that is what the Council wishes to do. If.the Council decides it does not want <br />to own the system, there.will be.no delay at all. The only delay would come if tree <br />City decides it does want to own the system. The franchise would then have to be <br />renegotiated, but it would.have been decided that it would bebeneficial to the <br />City and its citizens. <br />Mr. 011endorff said the way he und.erstood.the motion,.City Attorney Kay and he would <br />return with two things for the Council --a report, and a negotiated franchise. <br />Councilman Adams moved that a consultant or expert be retained to help Mr. 011en- <br />dorff and Mr. Kay write the terms of the franchise in the ordinance, to ensure that <br />everything is done correctly and that the ordinance is as tough and tight as possible. <br />Councilman Kelley seconded the motion. <br />In response to a question from Councilman Sabol, Mr. 011endorff said he had had <br />some experience writing a cable television franchise, but in a community smaller <br />