Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing Amendment No. 2 to the Interlocal Agreement for Consulting Services for a Cable Franchise Renewal
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the resolution authorizing an amendment extending the term and increasing the compensation of an interlocal agreement between the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater and Thurston County for consulting services for the Comcast Cable Franchise and authorizing the City Manager to sign the agreement.
Report
Issue:
Whether to extend the term and increase the compensation of an interlocal agreement to jointly negotiate with Comcast Cable Communications Management for the renewal of each jurisdiction’s cable franchise and to share collective costs.
Staff Contact:
Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications Director, Executive, 360.753.8361.
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
On April 12, 2018, the Cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, and Thurston County entered into an interlocal Agreement for joint negotiation with Comcast Cable Communications for the renewal of each jurisdictions cable franchise, and to share collective costs. The term of the Agreement was to continue until December 31, 2019, and compensation was not to exceed $107,370. On January 20, 2020, the jurisdictions amended the interlocal to extend the term until May 31, 2020, and to increase the compensation to not exceed $132.370. However, a draft franchise with Comcast is still undergoing negotiation and the professional service costs for the project exceed the compensation budgeted for the completion of the cable franchise renewal.
Section 15.2 of the interlocal Agreement allows for the jurisdictions to amend the agreement, and the jurisdictions wish to extend the term to December 31, 2020, and the total compensation to $157,730.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The community has a high interest in high-quality, accessible and affordable cable services.
Options:
1. Approve resolution authorizing the amendment to the interlocal agreement for cable franchise consulting services: The amendment will allow the jurisdictions to continue in a joint approach that provides negotiating strength in numbers and cost sharing, and the joint franchise provides local consistency in cable franchise customer service and right-of-way activities.
2. Do not approve the resolution authorizing the interlocal agreement: Olympia would move forward with negotiating a franchise directly with Comcast and would bear all renewal cost on its own. The City would negotiate on behalf of a lesser number of subscribers and a smaller cable revenue base than if part of a multi-jurisdiction effort.
Financial Impact:
Olympia will bear 24.14% of the additional $25,360 in compensation, for a total of $6,122 to be paid from Olympia cable franchise fees (PEG Fund).
Attachments:
Resolution
Amended Interlocal Agreement