Hoping to encourage three companies vying to operate the city’s
public access cable channel to work together, the city council
tabled a decision when the contract came up for a vote this
week.
Hoping to encourage three companies vying to operate the city’s public access cable channel to work together, the city council tabled a decision when the contract came up for a vote this week.
Morgan Hill city staff recommended that the council award the contract to Community Media Access Partnership, a nonprofit media production company based in Gilroy.
The city’s public access channel – channel 19 for Charter subscribers – is currently run by Morgan Hill Access Television, an all-volunteer nonprofit that has operated the channel since 1999.
A committee of four city staffers cited CMAP’s larger studio, skilled paid staff, and high growth potential as their reasons for the recommendation.
The city council was scheduled Wednesday to pick one of three proposals to run the channel, which broadcasts user-created and submitted programs with a local focus. However, after public comments from representatives from all three bidders, plus one unaffiliated resident, the council decided to table the vote.
Some of the public commenters criticized the staff recommendation to award the contract to a company that is not based in Morgan Hill, sending money out of town. Plus, some thought CMAP would be unable to accommodate the demand for channel 19, as their main studio is at Gavilan College and would initially operate a studio in Morgan Hill for only one day per week. CMAP provides public access cable in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Gilroy.
“The staff has lost sight of what the city council, chamber of commerce and the Downtown Association have said for years – let’s keep Morgan Hill money here,” said Walter von Tagen, a Morgan Hill resident who has worked with MHAT and the Sobrato Performing Arts program.
A third company that is affiliated with the Sobrato program, Access Morgan Hill, also submitted a proposal to run the channel.
Jorge Briones addressed the council as a Morgan Hill resident rather than in his position as executive director of the Downtown Association.
“I’ve used MHAT’s services and equipment. If the city moves forward and says we’ll contract with CMAP, those dollars will go to another community,” Briones said.
Channel 19 is funded by a portion of Charter revenues received from subscribers in Morgan Hill. The total funding comes out to about $18,000 per year, and the city does not contribute any additional funds.
Kathy Bisbee, executive director of CMAP, said the organization’s fundraising apparatus will enhance their budget and programming options. She said although the company does not yet have a firm presence in Morgan Hill, they would be sure to do so if they win the contract. “This is going to be an investment,” Bisbee said.
Council members listed a number of concerns with the staff’s recommendation. Councilwoman Marilyn Librers said she is “troubled” by the staff report, as it advocates hiring a Gilroy-based company.
Councilwoman Marby Lee agreed. “We repeatedly tell people to shop locally. This is a perfect opportunity to put our money where our mouth is.”
And whoever provides channel 19 services should be able to guarantee the current level of access and local content for anyone from Morgan Hill who wants to use the programming, Councilman Greg Sellers said.
Mayor Steve Tate suggested that the three nonprofit groups could “collaborate” and combine their strengths to come up with a proposal that preserves the local nature of channel 19, and ensures the current level of access or better.
Representatives from the three entities agreed they could attempt such a detente, and will work on it in the coming weeks.
The council will consider new proposals at a future meeting. Program adminstrator Tony Eulo said it is likely the council will have to extend the current contract with MHAT, which expires in April, due to the delay.
