The Los Altos City Council has approved a total of $86,000 for a consultant to work with the city as it negotiates with TCI for renewal of the city's cable television franchise.
"It's a lot of money," said Layne Long, assistant to the city manager.
"But it's a six-to-eight-month process. And the last agreement was for 15 years. We need to get an agreement that will encompass the technological changes in the next 15 years.
"Most of the money will be used to establish what the cable-TV needs of the community are. That's what drives the end result of the agreement," Long said.
The contract is worth millions of dollars, Long said. The current contract expires Dec. 27, 1999.
Long and the city's cable television franchise renewal task force brought three bids to the council at its March 23 meeting, ranging from $66,000 to the $86,000.
Mayor Lou Becker asked if the "lowest price couldn't do it satisfactorily?" Long said it could but the task force felt the highest bid, from Washington, D.C.-based Miller & Van Eaton, could do it better.
Long also said that TCI might reimburse the city for the full $86,000 because, "Other cities have negotiated for reimbursement," Long said.
The council voted 5-0 to go with the $86,000 bid.
A year ago the council approved $52,000 for the cable TV renewal process. "Now we need an additional $34,000," Long said.
Of the money, $11,000 is budgeted for "workshops." Long said that is for various segments of the community - like educational institutions, the business community, local Channel 26 called Access Los Altos at Foothill College - to spell out their needs.
"I like the focus groups" aspect of the process, said Councilwoman Kris Casto.
"The needs assessment process will begin in April," Long said. "There will be many opportunities for community input," he said.
The city receives money from the cable TV contract. "TCI uses city right-of-ways for its lines. Compensating the city is part of the negotiation," Long said.
The city of Los Altos receives 3 percent of TCI's gross revenues for franchise fees, Long said. Currently that brings about $85,000 per year into city coffers. Of that, 2 percent goes into the city's general fund; 1 percent goes to Access Los Altos.