A contract with a law firm to help the city prepare a new cable television franchise ordinance was on the agenda at the city commission’s meeting Wednesday.
The Baller Herbst Law Group of Minneapolis, Minn., will be helping the city prepare a new ordinance because of changes in state and federal law. The city’s franchise ordinance with CableOne expires on June 9, and the ordinance currently is out of date because of the deregulation of the cable industry.
The city has limited authority to regulate cable TV providers and no authority to regulate programming and prices, according to City Manager Matt Zimmerman. Recent laws have allowed cable companies to provide video services and cable companies can provide phone services.
As a result, the city needs to prepare a new video service provider ordinance to comply with federal and state law.
The law firm will help the city with the ordinance, and are known for their knowledge of this area of law. The contract, with a maximum of $8,400, was approved by commissioners.
Zimmerman said the commission would possibly hold a public hearing in the future regarding the ordinance.
Commissioners also approved a bid for $60,691 to Longbine Auto Plaza for the purchase of three Chevy Impalas for the Emporia Police Department. The bid was one of three under consideration; there were also bids from John North Ford and Ed Bozarth Chevrolet.
Mayor Jeff Longbine abstained from the vote because of a conflict of interest.
A proposal from Gerald Schumann Electric for electrical repairs at the Lee Beran Recreation Center at a cost not to exceed $50,000 also was approved by commissioners. The repairs are necessary in the section of the building that includes the pool, locker rooms and racquetball court. Because of erosion of the current underground electrical wiring, the repairs will rewire the building through the ceiling.
The recreation commission has agreed to provide $12,500 for the repairs, to be paid off over two years.
Commissioners also approved an ordinance establishing public hearing rules for petitions to the traffic safety committee.
Zimmerman said the city has received more petitions to the committee and more protests from the public concerning signage and traffic changes. A guideline for public hearings would give the city a chance to notify the public of petitions under review and would provide a chance for people to voice their opinions.
Under the new ordinance, the committee will forward applications to the city commission, which will decide which of those have merit. The committee will then hold a public hearing. For routine applications, the committee will take final action after the hearing. For non-routine applications such as changing speed limits, the committee would make recommendations to the city commission, which would then make the final decision.
An amended incentive compliance agreement with REG Emporia LLC to extend the plant’s completion date by two years because of the economic slowdown was left on the table to give company officials time for a final review of the agreement.
In other business, commissioners
F Appointed Bill Hanlon to the Natural Resources Advisory Board.
F Authorized the mayor to sign a proclamation honoring 100 years of Boy Scouting.
F Authorized the mayor to sign a proclamation to honor Emporia State University’s Founder’s Day on Feb. 16.
F Authorized the mayor to sign a proclamation declaring Feb. 22 to Feb. 26 as National TRIO Week.
spectator (anonymous) says...
$8,400 to a law firm? Why is there even a city attorney?
February 3, 2010 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Must be some of Zimms friend
February 3, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Who built the rec center? That building has been nothing but trouble for years!
February 3, 2010 at 6:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Didn't Zimm come here from Minnesota or some such place?
February 3, 2010 at 7:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
biscuit,
It seems like someone was, but it wasn't him.
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/20...
aside:
From the looks of the news lately, the CA office has their hands full with prosecuting sexual abuse crimes alone, much less a couple of murders and such. They probably don't have time for a city cable ordinance or as much knowledge about this area of law and it would likely be very costly to pay them for the research time. A private firm might be cheaper and faster.
February 3, 2010 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Ah! It was the police chief:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/20...
February 3, 2010 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Would have figured him from San Francisco considering his stance illegal immigration.
February 3, 2010 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alsrac (anonymous) says...
"Commissioners also approved a bid for $60,691 to Longbine Auto Plaza for the purchase of three Chevy Impalas"
At least this time they bought the cars from the Mayor himself...
February 3, 2010 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
The first thing Zimm did when he hit town was to buy a car from the Mayor and the second thing was to join the good ole boys club----Rotary. When I found out he was a Rotary member from his last town, that closed the deal.
February 3, 2010 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
If the city has so little authority to regulate cable providers why do we even need a franchise agreement. If the city has no control over them what does the franchise provide for? Other business the city has limited control over don't require a franchise to operate.
Since the city can't force the cable company to provide better service than it does....why not do away with the franchise all together?. Maybe a little competition could accomplish what the city can't.
Also since the current franchise is about to expire has there been any thought given to the franchise going to another company that might raise channels and lower prices rather than always doing it the other way around?
February 4, 2010 at 4:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof , the city has an attorney to advise the commissioners and zimmerman in reference to legal issues. This position is separate from the city or county prosecutors. All are attorneys but different jobs. "City attorney" can be a confusing bit of terminology. I meant the city attorney/advisor.
Now, again, why are we paying a private company to do something the city attorney should be able to take care of?
zimmy is from illinois - you know, the land of numerous crooks including those obama initially appointed to his cabinet. Not to imply zimmy is a crook of course.
February 4, 2010 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
knute (anonymous) says...
Don't worry about the $8,400. The mayor said there's a surplus. And the newly hired city planner backed out. Sort of like the police chief just before Smith. "Yes, I'll take the job. Oops, no I won't!"
February 4, 2010 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uranidiot (anonymous) says...
Would you want to work for this city?
February 4, 2010 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blue_Dog (anonymous) says...
Glad there's a surplus. $8400. for attorney's for any agreement that the firm has already did and sold before. And $7,720. extra for cars over the countys' price. By the way, Bozarth's aren't selling cars at cost. So how much did the mayor pocket? Let's see how long the "surplus" lasts.
February 4, 2010 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
This Russian woman was mugged, She escaped and walked to the home of her parents who subsequently took her to the hospital. Surgery right away and she's fine.
An acquaintance sent the link to some people one of which happens to work for the city. A response came right back that it was a photo and story of the typical city employee. Could also be an Newman Hospital LPN, I suppose.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/...
February 4, 2010 at 6:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )