City Council Meeting Date: June 1, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Public Hearing to consider Cable Franchise Applications.
Body
Action Requested:
Staff recommends the Council pass a motion to close the public hearing.
*This would occur at the conclusion of the public hearing procedures as outlined in the memo below.
Summary Report:
Attached is a report from Attorney Brian Grogan, Moss & Barnett, including review of the application from CMN-RUS, Inc., d/b/a MetroNet (“CMN”) requesting a cable franchise from the City of Northfield to provide cable services in the City. Attorney Grogan will be available at the meeting for questions.
The following is the procedure of the public hearing per the City Council’s adopted Rules of Business:
Public Hearing Procedure:
A Public Hearing is used by the City Council to solicit the public's comments on various projects or City operation procedures.
A. The Chair (Mayor Pownell) will open the hearing by identifying the subject.
B. Staff Presentation - staff (City Administrator Martig and Brian Grogan, Attorney at Law with Moss and Barnett representing the City related to Cable Franchise issues) will give a presentation on the subject.
C. Applicant's Presentation- not applicable in this case.
D. Public Input - The public will have the opportunity to speak for or against the issue. The public may ask questions, make comments, voice support, agree or disagree with the issue.
1. The Chair will recognize a speaker at the podium and comments/conversation will be between the Chair and speaker; and between the Chair and Council Members.
2. At the podium the speaker must give their name, address, and if representing a business, must give the name of the business or corporation. If an Attorney or consultant is representing a client, the client must be identified for the record.
3. Speakers will be allowed to speak a maximum of two (2) minutes per item (not including interpreter’s time).
4. Speakers who have material to be handed out to the City Council Members will pass the material to the City Administrator. The City Administrator will then pass the information to the appropriate people. A minimum of twelve (12) copies are needed.
E. Questions or Clarifications from City Council - After the public input of the public hearing is completed, the City Council may request questions or clarifications prior to closing the public hearing. This section will be used when there are questions related to the topic on which the public hearing is being held. Questions should be succinct and avoid being rhetorical or leading in nature. Subsequent actions of the City Council provide for opportunities for further questions or clarifications from the City Council.
F. Any material to be entered into the record shall be noted. Any written communication presented to the City Council during a City Council meeting shall be read into the record or summarized for the record or simply delivered to the City Council, as the City Council may determine. They shall then be recorded in the minutes by title and filed with the minutes in the office of the City Clerk.
G. Motion to Close Hearing- The Chair will state if there is an extension of time for public input into the hearing. If not, the City Council will make a motion, second, and vote on closing the public hearing.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
See attached information.
Tentative Timelines:
See attached information.
Also, Metronet is intending to attend the July 13th to present on their construction related processes including communications to the public.