1982 03 04 Staff Report. CITY OF EL SEGUNDO
INTER- DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
Dot. March 4, 1982
To: Arthur E. Jones, City Manager
From. Kevin B. Northcraft, Assistant to the City Manager
Subject: Request for Council Action - Combined Video Studio for City and El Segundo Unified
School District
Background
In May, 1979, the City began a community calendar of events on a new local
government channel via the cable system. Technical assistance and equipment was
supplied by Theta Cable. A procedural system was designed that called for the
Chamber of Commerce to accept requests for message displays, and the City to
approve the appropriateness and cause the message to be displayed. For the first year,
only these rotating messages were displayed on the local government channel.
In June, 1980, a meeting was held of representatives of the City Council and City
staff, the Chamber of Commerce, the El Segundo Unified School District, and Theta
Cable Company. At that meeting, it was the City's view that a combined City /School
use of the local government channel and available video equipment would best serve
the community. However, due to recent reductions in funding and work force, the
School District was not in a position to consider such a joint venture.
However, in the Fall of 1980, interest was developed by the School Board, and the High
School Principal attempted to work out details of such a joint venture. Staff attended
a School Board meeting to discuss possible areas of joint cooperation, and
representatives of the City and the School District toured the facilities at Beverly
Hills High School to ascertain what types of facilities and programming might be
possible. Meetings have continued since that time and have resulted in recent actions.
Recent Activities
Through these meetings, a plan slowly developed for a studio to be constructed in a
large room at the High School Media Center. The studio would include a taping room,
a control and editing room, and a separate storage room for equipment. Hughes
Aircraft donated the design work for the remodeling, and Theta Cable, Northrop, and a
local media services technician donated technical assistance and advice in developing
the plans.
With these plans, the School District was able to locate $7,000 in capital funds to
remodel the section of the Media Center and are in the process of completing that
construction. The new studio will have external access for City use in the evenings,
and can also be used during the day by school students and teachers. The only
contribution made by the City to date for the studio has been the purchase of the
sound deadening and backdrop drapes at a cost of just under $1,500.
i
Arthur E. Jones, City Manager
March 4,1982
Page Two
When completed, the video studio facility will be coordinated through Al Carson, the
Auto Mechanic Teacher, who has been authorized to devote one -fifth of his time to
videotaping. Mr. Carson is developing a reservation system for equipment so that both
the School District and City will be able to utilize the studio and the equipment stored
there.
Proposed Plan
Following the concept originally initiated in June of 1980, it is proposed that the
City's video equipment be transferred to the school's new studio upon its completion.
This will centralize the equipment of both jurisdictions in one area, where all
equipment may be adequately stored. The equipment proposed to be transfered would
be the City's two three - quarter inch video recorders, and the video camera. Also, the
editing equipment being purchased would be housed in a permanent location in the new
studio. With Council approval, this transfer would be accomplished this Spring and
Sum mer.
It is also proposed that, with Theta Cable's help a "head -in" or output to the cable
system would be instal d at the schocil studio. This would allow display of messages
during the school day by the School District over an educational channel. The future
plans are to complete purchases necessary for studio productions in the upcoming
fiscal year (82-83). In order for our knowledge to keep pace with the new equipment,
in- service training of School and City personnel also is planned.
The advantages of this continuing cooperative effort would include the following: 1)
Education of our City's high school students in the operation of video equipment which
surely will become increasingly common in our future, 2) the improved availability of
an important hv3tructzonal aid to teach students, 3) the availability of a significant
instructional aid to train teachers and City employees, 4) increased local government
channel program ming as a result of a) better utilization by staff, b) greater number of
trained employees, and c) better equipment and facilities, and 5) better information
dissemination to the community of school programs and improved educational,
informational, and entertainment program ming.
In addition, it is possible that this cooperative arrange m ent will result so m eday in an
opportunity for citizens to be trained in the use of video equipment. Further, it is
anticipated that, as more local governments get involved in the use of video, the
sharing of informational tapes will result The proposed studio will allow us to develop
our own programs for exchange with other jurisdictions. It is even possible that should
the jurisdictions desire, local public access to the cable syste in could be made
avai able through the studio.
• Arthur E. Jones, City Manager
March 4, ]982
Page Three
While it could be viewed that development of equipment and programming for the local
government channel has been slaw, staff is convinced that such measured progress has
been the optimal path to follow. For one, something in the neighborhood of 80 percent
of local government programming nationally has been a failure and has been curtailed
or eliminated after a big buildup. Also, slaw movement has ensured that wise
purchases are made and allowed the development of our own knowledge on the uses of
video to be consistent with the equipment and facilities availahls. Finally, we have
been able better bo m onit,or audience reaction to our progra m m ing by m owing at a
measured pace.
If Council continues to concur with the concept of a joint local government facility
and operation to be shared by the School District and City along the lines noted above,
it is necessary that an appropriate agreement be consummated between the City and
School District to clarify ownership and liabilities.
Recom mendation
It is reco m m ended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign and the City
Clerk to attest to the attached agreement establishing joint use of video equipment
and facilities.
-Kevin B. Northcraft/%
Assistant to the City Manager
Approved V Disapproved
RBN: ms
Attach m ent
Arthur E. Jones, City Mana