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NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY OF
February 23, 2016
Agenda Item No. 16
ABSTRACT:
At its February 9, 2016 meeting, the City Council directed staff to return with information
related to the potential broadcasting of Planning Commission meetings on the City of
Newport Beach’s government channel, NBTV. Staff has received a proposed cost for
providing that service from the City’s NBTV contractor, Newport Beach & Company, and
is seeking the Council’s direction as to whether the City should televise the
commission’s meetings and if so, when that service should commence.
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction to staff as to whether Planning Commission meetings should be
televised on NBTV and available for viewing through the City’s website.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Budget Includes Sufficient Funding
The service could be incorporated into the existing NBTV professional services
agreement or negotiated into a future agreement. The current adopted budget includes
sufficient funding for providing the service. It would be expensed to the Public
Information Division’s professional service account in the City Manager’s Office,
01020201 811008.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:Dave Kiff, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
dkiff@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY:Tara Finnigan, Assistant to the City Manager
PHONE:949-644-3035
TITLE:Cost Proposal for Televising Planning Commission Meetings
Cost Proposal for Televising Planning Commission Meetings
February 23, 2016
Page 2
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DISCUSSION:
Background
NBTV is available to Newport Beach Time Warner Cable customers on channel 3, Cox
Communications customers on channel 852 and is live streamed through the City
website at www.newportbeachca.gov/nbtv. The City has traditionally used the channel
to broadcast City Council meetings, some original programming and a community
bulletin board. City Council meetings and most programs are saved and available for
replay through the City’s website.
The City operated NBTV with a combination of full-time and part-time staff until, as part
of its cost-saving and staff-size-reduction efforts, it decided to outsource the
management of NBTV programming and operations and entered an agreement with
Newport Beach & Company in March 2014. The agreement will expire on March 31,
2016, but the City has an option to renew it for up to two additional one-year terms.
Planning Commission Meetings
The Planning Commission meets twice per month on the Thursday preceding City
Council meetings. There are some occasions, however, when the commission meets
one time during a month due to a lack of items to be considered. The meetings last, on
average, about 90 minutes but can be shorter or longer in length due to a meeting’s
agenda topics. Planning Commission meetings are not currently broadcast on NBTV or
recorded for replay via the City website.
Proposed Cost to Televise Planning Commission Meetings
Some members of the community have expressed an interest in having the
commission’s meetings aired on NBTV and the Council asked City staff to provide more
information about providing this service.
In response, Newport Beach & Company developed a cost estimate (attached) for
adding this programming to NBTV and staff is seeking the Council’s direction as to
whether it should proceed in arranging for televising future Planning Commission
meetings. It should be noted that Newport Beach & Company provided a conservative
cost estimate based on televising 24, three-hour meetings annually. The estimated cost
is $3,600 per year. If the commission meetings continue to average about 90 minutes
in length, the annual cost would, of course, be lower.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
Cost Proposal for Televising Planning Commission Meetings
February 23, 2016
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result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Cost Proposal to Broadcast Planning Commission Meetings
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Attachment A
Proposal to Broadcast Planning Commission Meetings
For City of Newport Beach
The following is a proposal of costs relating to broadcasting the Newport Beach
Planning Commission meetings (24 meetings annually) on the first and third
Wednesday of each month. The proposal is built around utilizing one person for the
broadcast.
Per show
Hours Hourly Total
Pre-broadcast preparation 1 $25 $25
Estimated broadcast window 3 $25 $75
Post-broadcast completion 1 $25 $25
Total Per Meeting $125
Total Meetings 24
TOTAL ANNUAL COSTS $3,600