Title
Appropriation of Capital Funding for Channel 12 Upgrades (NB)
Explanation
Continuing and improving the operations of Cable Channel 12 are goals of both the City and the County. Doing so will require expenditure of funds for capital improvements, replacements, and enhancements. The identified needs and projected costs are as follows:
1. Replacement of obsolete equipment in the City Auditorium Control room ($20,000)
2. Replacement of analog broadcast equipment with digital ($120,000)
3. Equipment for broadcast production studio ($20,000)
4. Repair and maintenance of existing equipment ($10,000)
Therefore, the total appropriation required is $170,000.
Fiscal Note
The City has received its first-year of capital funding from Cox Cable in the amount of $318,500. It is anticipated that Alachua County will partially reimburse the City in an amount of $46,981 for Items #2 and #4. Such reimbursements from the County will be similarly restricted for capital and will be accounted for the same as the Cox Cable capital funding. City staff is requesting the full amount be appropriated from the restricted City funds so that the funding is available and the purchase process can proceed efficiently. These expenditures were contemplated in the underlying basis for the capital contribution negotiated with Cox.
Recommendation
The City Commission establish a total budgetary revenue of $318,500 to be restricted for capital funding for PEG channel upgrades and appropriate $170,000 of this amount for currently identified capital needs.