Spokane Municipal Code

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Chapter 10.27A Cable Communications Code

Article IV. Cable Advisory Board

Section 10.27A.905 Regional Cable Advisory Board

1. In lieu of a board under SMC 10.27A.900, the City of Spokane, City of Spokane Valley and Spokane County may establish a regional cable advisory board as specified in SMC 10.27A.040(E), to be effective upon joint approval by ordinance or resolution by the legislative bodies of the three jurisdictions of a measure the same or equivalent to this section.

1. 1. The regional cable advisory board shall consist of eleven members, of whom:

1. 1. 1. six members may be appointed by the City of Spokane,

1. 1. 2. three by the City of Spokane Valley, and

1. 1. 3. two by Spokane County.

1. 2. Members shall be appointed by the mayors of participating cities and confirmed by majority vote of their city councils, and by the Spokane County board of commissioners for county appointees.

1. 3. Upon the discretion of the appointing jurisdiction, board members may be under the age of eighteen.

1. 4. Members shall be appointed for staggered three-year terms or a shorter term in the discretion of the appointing authority. For example, a youth member may be appointed for a one year term.

2. As of the effective date of this section, there is already a current City-County cable advisory board for the City of Spokane and Spokane County of eleven members.

1. 1. The three positions transferred to Spokane Valley by this action shall continue for their existing terms and be those positions with the shortest remaining unexpired terms, selected in reverse order of member seniority, or as designated by the appointing authority in the event of equal status.

1. 2. Any members replaced by Spokane Valley appointments may also continue to serve as ex officio board members until expiration of their terms or may continue in service as a voting member if approved to do so by Spokane Valley.

3. Regional cable advisory board members shall serve without compensation or per diem. They shall be broadly representative of the appointing jurisdiction’s population, with diverse backgrounds and a reasonable knowledge of cable communications.

1. 1. The regional cable advisory board shall appoint from its members a chairperson and a vice chair to serve in absence of the chair.

1. 2. No regional cable advisory board member shall be affiliated with a local cable franchisee in any way.

4. Reasonable expenses of the regional cable advisory board, including any necessary support staff, shall be provided by the participating jurisdictions through an approved annual budget, but each participating jurisdiction retains full authority over its staff and expenditures except also as may be otherwise addressed by a separately approved interlocal agreement.

5. The regional cable advisory board has discretion to act and support the participating local governments in the following areas:

1. 1. Consider unresolved complaints and disagreements between franchisees and subscribers or users of the cable system and issue rulings thereon.

1. 2. Advise on the regulation of rates in accordance with the provisions of any other applicable ordinance requirements or laws.

1. 3. Advise regarding general policy relating to the cable services provided subscribers and the operation and use of access and leased access channels (if any), with a view to maximizing the diversity and usefulness of programs and services to subscribers.

1. 4. Assist in consideration of applications for new, transfer and renewal franchises.

1. 5. Perform such other advisory functions as the executive or legislative branches of participating jurisdictions may from time to time request, but any functions requested by one jurisdiction which concern areas of another jurisdiction(s) shall require the concurrence of the other jurisdiction(s).

6. Any of the participating jurisdictions may withdraw from the regional cable advisory board by resolution of its legislative body, to take effect upon sixty days written notice.

1. 1. The withdrawing jurisdiction shall give notice to the non-withdrawing jurisdictions as follows:

1. 1. 1. the chair of the board of county commissioners,

1. 1. 2. the city manager of the City of Spokane Valley, and

1. 1. 3. the mayor of the City of Spokane as the case may be.

1. 2. A withdrawing jurisdiction may revoke its notice of withdrawal in the same manner up to thirty days prior to the expiration of the sixty-day period.

1. 3. Upon the effective date of withdrawal, the terms of board members of the withdrawing jurisdiction expire and their positions no longer exist.

Date Passed: Monday, July 9, 2007

Effective Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007

ORD C34060 Section 1