City Council Announcements
November 9, 2010
E. Information Needed by Council Staff
1. Attached is the tentative schedule of 2011 Council Meeting dates.
Does the Council approve the scheduled dates? Cindy Gust-Jenson said instead of July 5th the Council could consider whether they wanted to meet on the 12th and the 19th or the 19th and 26th. She said the Council could check their schedules because some members have travel arrangements they need to make in July. Council Members were in favor of meeting on the 19th and 26th. Councilmember Christensen said the week of August 16th his family was doing a family reunion and he wouldn’t be here that week. She asked if the Council wanted to do August 9th and 23rd. She said August 2nd was “Night Out Against Crime”. Councilmember Love asked if the Council could do Truth in Taxation on August 9th. There was no objections.
2. The Council office has received the Quarterly Housing Report for the Fourth Quarter, FY 2010-2011.
Would the Council like to hold a briefing on the attached report? Ms. Gust- Jenson said the Council had received the Quarterly Housing Report. She said Council needed to let staff know if they have any questions or want a follow-up briefing. She said they had also received the Housing Policy from the Administration and that would be forwarded to the Council.
3. CenturyLink Qwest Cable Franchise Agreement
There has been a recent change of ownership with one of the City’s cable franchise agreement holders – Qwest Communications International. In April, CenturyLink reached an agreement to purchase Qwest Communications International, Inc. Under federal law, the franchise authority (Salt Lake City Corporation) must approve the transfer of control of a cable television franchise. Qwest applied to the City for this approval on July 29th. This application process allows Salt Lake City, as the holder of the franchise agreement, to review the legal, technical, and financial qualifications of the new owner.
At first staff believed this would need to be formally considered. However given there are no substantive affects to the franchise, and few allowed agreement or federal objections, the Administration recommends that no formal action needs to be taken on this matter. Upon completion of the 120 days, the application approval will happen automatically.
The City Council has the following options to consider:
• Take formal action (resolution) on the application within 120 days of receipt of the required information.
• Agree to extend the review period if more time is needed.
• Allow the 120 day consideration period to lapse thereby deeming the cable operator’s transfer request to be approved. (Administration recommendation.) Council Members were in favor of allowing the time period to lapse.
Background Information
On April 21, 2010 CenturyLink, Inc, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana reached an agreement to purchase Qwest Communications International, Inc. Salt Lake City Corporation holds a cable franchise agreement with Qwest Broadband Services Inc, a subsidiary of Qwest Communications International, Inc.
The Federal Communication Commission requires that a Form 394 Application be filed with the holder of the cable franchise agreement. Approval of this application can occur by either a formal resolution or by simply letting the 120 days from the date of application to lapse. Either of these options will result in the application’s transfer of control of the franchise to the new acquiring entity. According to the CenturyLink Qwest letter dated July 26, 2010, the franchise will continue to be held by Qwest Broadband Services, Inc, but will be wholly owned by CenturyLink.
ADDITIONAL
City Council Announcements
November 9, 2010
F. Information Needed by Council Staff
1. It’s typical to have Len Simon, the City’s D.C. lobbyist, come toward the end of the year to discuss legislative issues with the Council and Administration.
He will be in SLC on Monday and Tuesday, November 15 and 16. He is already scheduled on the Council’s work session on the 16th, and to join you for dinner that night.
In addition, Len wanted to make time available to you for small group meetings – if you are interested. Here is a list of times and we can set up those meetings:
• Monday, November 15, 4:00 p.m. or later
• Tuesday, November 16, 11:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, November 16, noon
Would any Council Members be interested in meeting with Mr. Simon during the times listed? Ms. Gust-Jenson said they could coordinate with the Administration but if any Councilmember wanted to meet let her know and Cindy Harris would contact that member. She said it sounded like the briefing and dinner would be adequate.
2.
Council Members, the
Board of Equalization for Lighting District L03 still needs a Council Member to
attend the hearing on Thursday, November 18 from 6 pm to 7 pm. Is there a
Council Member available? Council Members Simonsen and Christensen are
already participating.
In past years, the City Council would adopt an ordinance each year to approve the annual assessment on the properties incorporated within Lighting Districts L01, L02 and L03. This action renews the annual assessment levied upon each parcel of property described in the assessment list for the purpose of operation, maintenance, and electrical energy costs of street lights within the Districts. However, due to a recent change to Utah State Code, Assessment Area Act, Title 11 Chapter 42, the City is now required to hold a Board of Equalization and Review
Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday, October 19 for Lighting District L03 (involves Council Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7). The resolution set the Board of Equalization hearing dates as noted below. As you may recall, the Board of Equalization consists of the following City officials: a member of the City Council, a representative of the Office the City Engineer or Project Engineer, and a representative of the City Treasurer’s Office.
The Board of Equalization and Review hearings will be held in the first floor conference room at 349 South 200 East. The hours are staggered to provide more opportunity for the public to attend at least one of the hearings.
The Administration has blocked out a one (1) hour time frame for three consecutive days in November (as outlined below). Councilmember Garrott said he would attend.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
SØREN SIMONSEN |
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. |
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Wednesday,
November 17, 2010 CARLTON CHRISTENSEN |
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
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Thursday,
November 18, 2010 |
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
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