HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 03-25 City Council Workshop Packet
AGENDA
MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL
MANAGER WORKSHOP
5:00 P.M. Monday, March 25, 2013
Council Chambers, City Hall
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Cable Commission Discussion (Additional Information Provided at Meeting)
E. NEW BUSINESS
None
F. ADJOURNMENT
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Work Session Agenda Item D1
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: James W. Antonen, City Manager
DATE: January 30, 2013
SUBJECT: Cable Commission Discussion
INTRODUCTION
Time has been set aside for discussion of the Ramsey/Washington Cable Commission. The
Council and Staff have some concerns on the operation and content of the Public Access
Channel 15. Apparently over the years several complaints have been received by the
Commission on the content of several public access shows, namely the Bob Zick “Inside
Insights” program.
While I will not repeat these complaints which have been lodged with the commission both in
verbal and written form, it appears that little has been resolved. The main focus is the RWCC
applying fair and impartial community standards to its programming. The other question the
Council may review is the simple questions are we receiving value for our cable franchise fee
funds both PEG and the 5% Franchise fee. If the answer to either of these two questions is no
or unknown we then should further study the matter.
On a personal note I have grave reservations on the content of some of these shows. It appears
that Inside Insights is the main violator. I have personally observed over the past four years,
instances of hate speech. One example was the acquisition that Mayor Rossbach was
somehow responsible for the death of citizen and that this citizen was somehow a homosexual
pedophile. Recently the hosts of this program have accused another Council member of being a
drunk and asking the public to boycott his business. This ridicule and juvenile behavior extends
to other Council members, which has resulted in the public defacing of Council members
pictures and/or placing them on liquor bottles.
While as a public servants we are somehow expected to have a thick skin. I believe there are
limits to suffer at the hands of fools and I do not believe that we are getting our money’s worth
from our cable franchise fees.
RECOMMENDATION
There are several options you may wish to consider. The first is to do nothing. The second is to
ask for a formal review of this situation by the RWCC in regards to what are appropriate
community standards. The third option is to consider other sources and uses for Maplewood’s
PEG and franchise fees.
Attachment:
1. Written Complaint to RWCC
Workshop Packet Page Number 1 of 3
Programming Complaint
SUBURBAN COMMUNITY CHANNELS
Name of Complainant
Kim Facile
Date
December 4, 2012
Address/ City/Telephone number/ Email Address
2418 Matterhorn Dr, Maplewood, MN
651.501.0121
Kimfacile@comcast.net
Primary Compliant Type
SCC Public Access Program Complaint
Program Complaint Description
Compliant from Kim received via email
“I received a call from Maplewood's City Manager, Jim Antonen, with a complaint that he received from
several people about one of Bob Zick's recent shows. I have not personally seen it yet, but wanted to ask you
for a copy of it and to alert you that there is a possible violation of programming policies, as I previously
understood them. Apparently, in the show he stated the following:
1. He singled out Marv Koppen, one of Maplewood's City Council members, calling him "public enemy
number one" and a "drunk", apparently because of his red face
2. He is calling on people to boycott Marv's business
It is unclear as to the reason for the above statements. Based on how it was reported to me, they are borderline
libel and at minimum are highly offensive, insulting and degrading to Marv. It did not appear to be related to
anything Marv has done in his capacity as a councilmember.
I ask that you accept this as a written complaint and inform Bob that he may be subject to future action if he
continues to make these types of statements.”
Work Session Agenda Item D1
Attachment 1
Workshop Packet Page Number 2 of 3
Resolution Description
I logged this formal complaint from Kim Facile and investigated the program from 11.28.12 (cablecast program
date per Kim). I viewed the program submitted from the live cablecast, which may or may not be the exact
content presented live on the channel the night of 11.28.12.
On 12.11.12, I spoke with the responsible party, Bob Zick, to inform him of the complaint and the nature of the
complaint. I also discussed with him the responsibilities and obligations of a program submitter. At that time,
we discussed the options regarding the program that he may or may not choose to: pull the program, edit the
program, or they may choose to do nothing about the program. I also told Bob that any or all individuals
mentioned in the program could take legal action based upon the speech contained in the program. I also told
him that as program signer, he is solely responsible for any and all speech contained in the program. Bob
explained to me that he would review the program produced on that date and consider the discussion and
options outlined above and take any appropriate action.
The action described above and taken by staff is standard action taken in response to a formal written program
complaint from viewers of programming presented on SCC public access channels 14 or 15.
I viewed the program and found no speech presented that I can take action on, i.e. commercial message or
content. Therefore, the action described above is all the action I will be taking regarding the complaint,
program, and program producer.
I provided communications regarding this complaint, investigation, and resolution to complainant
Kim Facile and Maplewood City Manager Jim Antonen (12.19.12)
Resolved: X Date of Resolution: _12.12.12
Work Session Agenda Item D1
Attachment 1
Workshop Packet Page Number 3 of 3