ORD-2003-112 First Reading - Ordinance Granting Franchise to Time Warner Entertainment/Advance-Newhouse Partnership, to Own, Operate and Maintain Cable System in Unincorporated Orange County

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appoint one of the County Commissioners to be a part of the team. He would also be willing to bring to the group the Division President Tom Adams. Chair Brown said that this has come up each of the last seven years and she asked why Time Warner does not want to have a cable contract with Orange County. Brad Phillips said that they do want a contract. He said that since 1997 when he came on board, they worked with the Triangle J group. They do want the franchise renewed in Orange County. He thinks it is very close to being resolved. Chair Brown asked him to point out which issues they are not interested in adopting as part of the contract. Brad Phillips pointed out the letter, which lists the issues. He said that they have agreed to have three PEG channels with trigger language for a fourth, provisioning to certain County buildings, and serve two facilities that are not being served now as origination points for County Commissioner meetings. Chair Brown asked why their meetings are not being shown in Carrboro. Brad Phillips said that each municipality controls the content of the public access channels. Chair Brown said that the Town of Carrboro said that it had to do with the contract with Time Warner. She would like clarification. Commissioner Carey said that he would advise the Board not to delay and not to do any more negotiations with Time Warner and to approve this ordinance. Michael Patrick, Chair of the Cable Advisory Committee, said that the negotiations have not moved along very well and it has not progressed from the Board of County Commissioners' point of the public citizens' best interest. He thinks the County should tell Time Warner how important this agreement is and what parts of this agreement are important. He does not think it would be useful to go back in negotiations. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the Manager's recommendation to adopt the ordinance /agreement on second reading as proposed by the negotiating team and the Cable Advisory Committee and establish a special technical consulting committee to review and provide recommendations to the Board on a video production plan to equip both meetings rooms — Hillsborough and Chapel Hill — for live public telecasts. Chair Brown pointed out that part of the recommendation is to establish a committee that would look into other technologies. She strongly supports this committee. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Brown thanked Mr. Phillips for coming. This was the first time anyone from Time Warner has attended. b. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant The Board considered a public hearing for written and oral comments on the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and approving the Sheriff's recommendation to designate the Community Watch Advisory Board to advise the Sheriff on the use of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant funds; and accepting the Local Law Enforcement Grant of $9,953. Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass said that this grant is awarded by the Justice Department every year to entities based on Part 1 crimes. This year Orange County was not eligible to receive funds. Because Orange County is considered to be a disparity entity, they allowed Orange County to negotiate with Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Carrboro and Chapel Hill agreed to allow Orange County to have $9,953. There was no one to speak to this item. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANMIOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve the Sheriff's recommendation to designate the Community Watch Advisory Board to advise the Sheriff on the use of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant funds, and accept the Local Law Enforcement Grant of $9,953. VOTE: UNANIMOUS