HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 09 13 Informational Item B
COMMISSION AGENDA
ADD-ON
ITEM B
Consent
Informational X
Public Hearin
Re ular
September 13.1999
Meeting
MGR~EPT.
Authorization
REQUEST: Deputy Mayor Cindy Gennell requesting the City Commission to receive an
update from the Seminole County Information Technologies Department, regarding the
Seminole Government Television (SGTV Channel) and give direction it deems necessary to
the City Manager for recommendations for possible use in the future of the SGTV Channel
by the City of Winter Springs.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the City Commission with the
current status regarding the Seminole Government Television (SGTV Channel) and give
direction it deems necessary to the City Manager to bring back recommendations to the
Commission.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Commission consider the information in Attachment "A", and
direct the City Manager to look into possible future use of SGTV Channel by the City of Winter
Springs.
A TT ACHMENTS:
Attachment "A" - Update on Seminole Government Television
COMMISISON ACTION:
UPDATE ON SGTV (SEMINOLE GOVERNMENT TELEVISION)
Current Status
The Seminole County Infonnation Technologies Department, which is in charge of
the SGTV Channel, forwarded recommendations to the Board of County
Commissioners during their budget planning process. The Board of County
Commissioners set funds aside in a reserve fund and contracted with an outside
consultant to analyze the entire system and recommend a complete development plan
for SGTV. The consultant has been meeting with the County Commissioners and
various departments. He also attended the last meeting of the SGTV Committee and
took input from those appointed representatives. His final report is due on September
30th and will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners soon afterward.
Current Programming
Programming is available to any municipality, the School Board and SCC either by
way of tape fonnat or scrolling infonnation. If we want them to broadcast a prepared
tape all we have to do is deliver it to them. If we have text information it can be
delivered to them on hard copy or emailed in a Microsoft format. Several members
of CALNO are already taking advantage of this process. Casselberry has been
posting job openings. Oviedo has had Recreation Programs advertised with such
success that they had to call the county and ask them to stop because they had such
an overwhelming response. Oviedo also posts notices of their meetings as well as
agendas. The School Board is running infonnation about various school functions
and plans to be doing much more in the near future. Of course, the County is
broadcasting their own meetings live. They are also posting job openings, etc.
Different cities have used SGTV to advertise Special Events.
Live Broadcasting
The consultant has suggested that municipalities approach SGTV as affiliates. That
is that whenever a city wants to broadcast live programming to their citizens, they
just SWITCH OVER for their local broadcasting. SGTV would continue to run in
the rest of the county. When they are finished they just SWITCH BACK again. Any
city interested in broadcasting live would incur certain initial in house expenses for
their own equipment.
Future Considerations
The SGTV Committee has agreed by general consensus on the following common
issues:
1. Seminole Community College and Seminole County School System have a
tremendous potential to provide quality programming to the residents of
Seminole County.
2. Seminole Community College and Seminole County School System lack the
ability to bargain for cable access due to the fact that they do not issue franchises.
3. Seminole Community College and Seminole County School System could easily
utilize one full channel, 24 hours daily.
4. Seminole Community College and Seminole County School System will be
relying heavily on support from the cities and county to help them gain access to
a separate Education Channel.
5. As use increases and technologies advance, SGTV, as it exists today, will not be
sufficient to serve all the needs of all of the cities in the future.
6. When future franchise agreements are negotiated the cities and county should
require 3 separate government/education channels:
1 channel for SGTV
I channel for Education
1 channel for Individual City
Cindy Gennell
SGTV Representative