COUNCIL LOOKS AT BUDGET, CABLE TV

Cable television and the Cape Girardeau annual operating budget for fiscal year 1994-95 are among several items listed on tonight's city council agenda.

TCI Cablevision's decision to move C-Span to the local cable access channel 5 drew a reaction from Michael Maguire, Chairman of the Cape Television Citizens Committee, at the May 16 city council meeting.

Maguire suggested that the council place the issue on its next agenda for discussion in order to allow other citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions. It was the consensus of the city council that Maguire's request should be honored.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer sent a letter to the mayor and city council members explaining that the city still had control of the local cable access channel.

"I emphasized that the city would have preference as to adding or taking off programming on Channel 5, the public access channel, and that in no way would C-Span take priority on that channel," wrote Fischer, who attached two letters written by Roger Harms, general manager of TCI Cablevision.

"I also asked Mr. Harms to give me an estimate as to how much time on a percentage basis the local access channel was being used at the present time. In his letter of April 13, he indicated that only about 10 hours per week, or 7 percent of the time, is now being used," wrote Fischer. "It would appear that there would be ample time for sharing this channel."

Added Fischer, "I do not have any problem with Mr. Harms' request to share the public access channel as long as it is very clear that the city has the discretion as to how that channel will be used. In addition, it appears that the customers in this area who have basic service will be gaining a channel through the combining of these two channels."

In Harms' letter to Fischer, which was dated May 23, he wrote, "TCI Cablevision of Missouri, Inc., is fully aware that the Public Access Channel is controlled by the city and is a public channel to be used by the public. TCI is hoping the city will allow TCI to use the channel when it is not in use by the city or the general public for airing C-Span programming.

"By allowing TCI to do so will result in TCI not having to drop a cable channel that our subscribers have grown accustomed to watching. TCI would then add FX to channel 26 and move the Family Channel to 13, C-Span would be moved to Channel 5 and time shared with the Public Access Channel."

Added Harms, "TCI has notified its customers of the above plan and a June 1 launch date of the FX channel is expected."

In yet another cable television matter, the extension of the cable franchise will expire June 7. Negotiations on a new franchise agreement and regulatory ordinance are continuing with representatives of TCI.

Harms has requested a 45-day extension of the franchise. The city council previously granted a series of six-month extensions to allow negotiations to continue. But TCI is now asking for just a 45-day extension.

"Officials tell us that they feel that we are nearing a completion of the negotiation process and that we will not require another six months in which to complete the process," said City Attorney Warren Wells.

Regarding the budget for fiscal year 1994-95, the city will consider amendments concerning employee health insurance, a proposed raise in solid waste rates and mid-year water consumption fees.

An amendment the city staff will be recommending is to reduce the proposed budgeted amounts allowed for employee health insurance by any reduction that can be worked out over the next few weeks as a result of changes to the health insurance.

Another amendment the staff will be recommending is adjusting solid waste revenue to reflect a $12.13 monthly residential rate. The increase would be $1.59 more than the current rate of $10.54. If an increase is not adopted, the city would have to allocate funds from some other area and that would result in a deficit. Another proposal at an informal meeting was to put to a vote a one-eighth sales tax to defray the increased costs of solid waste pickup.

The budget submitted contained the $12.00 monthly rate proposed last January. Since then, however, additional costs have been incurred for county landfill taxes and personnel expense.

Other provisions of the budget ordinance are to increase the transfer station tipping fee to $34.50 per ton, residential solid waste collection fee to $12.13 per month, commercial solid waste collection fees by 15 percent and at mid-year water consumption fees by five percent.

In addition, as part of the city council meeting, the council will take a bus tour today at 4 p.m. to view sites listed on the agenda. The tour will begin at 4 p.m. and will depart from the back door of city hall.