HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 04-09 Cable TV agreement pending THE REVIEW Cable TV
agreement,
pending
A joint powers agreement to form a
cable communications commission
composed of area cities is currently
pending before the Maplewood and North
St.Paul city councils.
Both cities within the past week
discussed the proposed agreement, but
both cities tabled the proposal for future 11
consideration.
The idea behind area cities forming a
commission to study and form a cable
service territory cooperatively is to have
a bargaining unit with a population of
100,000 or more persons.
The cable communications commission
would have the authority to research and
recommend the granting of a franchise to
a cable company for the provision of cable
television services in the communities.
The cities invited at this time to enter
the agreement include the cities of White
Bear Lake,Maplewood,North St.Paul,
Oakdale,Lake Elmo,Gem Lake,Little
Canada, Willernie, Birchwood, North
Oaks, Landfall, Vadnais Heights,
Mahtomedi and White Bear Township.
The North St.Paul city council,which
has already formed a citizens advisory
committee to study local cable TV needs,
April 7 tabled the proposal because
Maplewood did not act on the proposal
April 3.
North St.Paul City Manager Bob Gatti
noted that without Maplewood's approval,
North St. Paul would be left "with a
gaping hole on three sides"of the city in
terms of aligned cable service.
He noted the city does favor the
agreement,and would like to be aligned
with Maplewood as well as other cities in
the 622 school district.
Upon Gatti's advice, the city council
tabled further consideration of the
proposal until area city managers and
administrators meet again to further
discuss the proposed agreement.
AT THE APRIL 3 Maplewood city
council meeting, the council delayed
action on the agreement until Roseville
could be contacted to see if that city would
be interested in joining in the agreement.
The council expressed concern about
Roseville being in the same service
territory since some Maplewood students
attend school in the Roseville 623 school
district.
Maplewood Mayor John Greavu said,
"I think Maplewood should go in with a
minimum of cities that are in the two
school districts(622 and 623)."
Maplewood council members con-
curred that city manager Barry Evans
should contact Roseville and the com-
munities listed in the joint powers
agreement to see if Roseville could be
worked into the agreement,
The city of Roseville has currently
submitted a cable service territory
proposal to the Minnesota Cable Com-
munications Board. This territory en-
compasses the northwestern Ramsey
County suburbs.