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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />right now it is just not being used, it just make common sense. He encouraged the <br />Council to vote in favor. <br /> <br />Mr. George E. Lane, CEO, Citizens for the Accountability of Government, spoke in favor <br />of this bill. Mr. Lane advised that he has waited a long time for this moment almost four <br />(4) years. He stated that he is very elated this afternoon at the committee meeting that <br />this project is coming to fruition. He thanked the members of the Council that stood by <br />him to bring this project forth. He stated that the prior administration in the Mayor’s <br />office said no to public access. Mr. Lane thanked City Clerk John Voorde and his staff <br />along with Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand for all their help. Mr. Lane <br />stated that his health has not been the best the last few months and hasn’t been able to <br />keep up with the progress of this bill. He stated that public access is something that is <br />very close to his heart and worked so hard to get it back. <br /> <br />The following individual spoke in opposition: <br /> <br />Mr. Sylvester Williams, 702 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the <br />Council for their consideration of making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day a city holiday. <br />He stated that he is in favor of everything that has been said here tonight about public <br />access, except for the fact that he has also submitted a proposal and a plan to operate <br />public access. He stated that he did not get a call, a letter, or any notification to reduce <br />their top line which was $300,000.00 to run public access which included internship. Mr. <br />Williams stated that he is asking for inclusion for his radio broadcast on WUBS. He <br />stated that he would like to be a viable partner with WNIT and WUBS radio station. He <br />stated that they already have streaming which people who can turn on their internet and <br />see valuable programming. He stated that they have the capability and the camera know- <br />how to make sure that the quality is not substandard to what WNIT is producing now. He <br />stated that he is rising to include African Americans in this public access. He thanked the <br />Council for this opportunity to speak and looks forward to working with WNIT and <br />putting his programs back in motion as well. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked for clarification on what Mr. Williams is asking. He <br />asked if Mr. Williams wants to be included in this or to get funding separately. <br /> <br />Angel Hernandez stated that the proposal that they put on the table was considerably less <br />than what Mr. Williams had hoped for and the reason being that they wanted to make this <br />as cost effective as possible to city and therefore basically have a bear bottom budget that <br />we can put this forth sharing revenues with any other entity would break that budget. He <br />stated that what he can assure Mr. Williams is that definitely there will be black minority <br />involvement in all of their programs and in many of the programs and this is open to the <br />whole community. In that sense there is definitely an agreement on their part and would <br />love to see Mr. Williams’ programs come on the air. Mr. Hernandez stated however, that <br />would not be up to him, what they are talking about it a community advisory board that <br />would look at the programs and decide which ones are able to meet community <br />standards. Mr. Hernandez stated that they plan to hire a Program Manager to manage the <br />program schedule. That person will be doing all of the logging and making sure that the <br />programs get scheduled and produced properly. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked why Mr. Williams did not get a letter stating that he <br />did not get the bid a few years back. <br /> <br />Kathy Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney stated that it was her understanding the RFP <br />was placed by Board of Public Works. <br /> <br />Mr. Gilot stated that he does not remember off the top of his head from two or three years <br />ago. Mr. Gilot stated that he will look up the file and get the Council an answer. Usually <br />the Clerk of the Board of Public Works would send letters to successful proposer and to <br />everyone who submitted non-winning proposals. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 24 <br /> <br />