Loading...
1988-628 ( {\' ~ .. C;> e,. EXHIBIT CC ORDINANCE NO. 88-628 An Ordinance Amending CATV Relief Ordinance, Ordinance No.85-551 , Providing Modifications in Contemplation of a Transfer of Ownership of the City's Cable Communications Franchise and Permitting continuance of Relief to the Transferee of the Franchise in Accordance with this Ordinance. The City Council of the City of follows: ordains as Hookins section 1. Short Title. This Ordinance shall be known as the "CATV Relief Ordinance Amendment." section 2. Background and Purpose. Rogers Communications, Inc. ("Rogers") has agreed to sell all interests and holding in its U.S. cable systems to KBL Cable, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Proposed Transfereetl). The transfer from Rogers to the Proposed Transferee shall be effectuated through the transfer of the controlling stock interest in RCA CablesystemsHolding co., the parent corporation of the Grantee. The City previously granted relief to the Grantee under the Franchise by Ordinance known as the CATV Relief Ordinance.. Rogers has requested relief from the Franchise to be extended after the Closing, irrespective of the requirement in the CATV Relief Ordinance that the CATV Relief Ordinance terminates upon transfer of ownership and control of Grantee of the Franchise to a new owner. The Southwest Suburban Cable Commission ("SWSCC") has reviewed the request of Rogers and recommended extending certain portions of the CATV Relief Ordinance to a proposed new owner. This recommendation is based upon compliance with certain conditions by the Grantee and acceptance of requirements including this Ordinance, by the Proposed Transferee of the Franchise. A Stipulation of Settlement with Rogers and Grantee, Exhibit A ("stipulationtl) and a Resolution of Approval of Settlement, Exhibit B ("Resolution"), are attached. The Stipulation and Resolution provide a description of requirements and conditions and are made part of this Ordinance by reference. This Ordinance will be effective only if the stipulation and Resolution are satisfied and Proposed Transferee agrees to be 1 -( c;a.. c. . bound.bythetermsofthisOrdinanceas.part.of its acceptance of the transfer of the ownership of Grantee. Section 3. That section 4 of the Relief Ordinance is hereby amended to read as follows: SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. The definitions in the Franchise also apply to this ordinance. -Lll [(2)] "Franchise"means the Cable Communications Ordinance as now or hereafter amended. 12.l [(3)] "Local Programming Obligations" means, for the purpose of this ordinance, Grantee's obligations under the Franchise and the Offering for cablecast access, community access and local origination programming. 1.ll. [(4)] "Performance Agreement" means a contractual agreement between Grantee, City and SWSCC providing a means for monitoring Grantee's financial condition, assuring an adequate level of local programming, and providing for certain other matters related to Grantee's requested reliefT.l..L. as amended. Section 4. That Section 5 of the CATV Relief Ordinance is amended to read as follows: SECTION 5. RELIEF GRANTED. While this Ordinance is in effect the obligations of Grantee are modified to the extent provided in this section. Subdivision 1. FranchiseFees- Percentage. until the effective date of this Ordinance Number . the annual franchise fee shall be 3% of qross revenues. Commencing with [Grantee's fiscal year 1985] the effective date of this Ordinance Number the annual 2 'j' ~ franchise. fee is [reduced from] "5% of Gross Revenues [to 3%]. Such annual fees shall be paid to city in equal quarterly payments on or before the first day of each of the months of November, February, May and August next following the end of Grantee's fiscal year. [If this ordinance terminates during any of Grantee's fiscal years, the franchise fee shall be restored to the rate of 5% of Gross Revenues at the end of the calendar month in which termination occurs. The restored rate of 5% and the reduced rate of 3% shall be applied respectively to the Gross Revenues collected only in the months during which each rate was in effect. The fees accruing at the restored rate shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Franchise. The fees accruing at the reduced rate shall be paid in equal quarterly installments in accordance with the terms of this ordinance.] e:. [Subd. 2. Past Due Franchise Fees. The 1984 franchise fee in the amount of $57,253 payable on or before November 1, 1984 shall be deemed fully discharged and paid if, but only if, Grantee pays the sum of $34,352 to the City, in four equal payments on or before June 1, June 15, August 15 and October 15, 1985.] Subd. [3.] ~ Letters of Credit. The City Council may by resolution reduce the required amount of the Letter of Credit below $50,000 if in its sole discretion it determines that a lesser amount is reasonable and adequate to protect the public. It may thereafter, by resolution, require the amount of the Letter of Credit to be increased or fully restored to the amount of $50,000. Grantee shall comply with this requirement within sixty days after written notice has been given by the city. Subd. [4.] .1 Performance Bond. The Grantee may dispense with the $300,000 performance bond required by the Franchise. The city council may thereafter by resolution require that such bond, or a similar bond ina lesser. amount, be provided by Grantee. Grantee shall comply with this requirement within sixty days after written notice has been given by the City. subd. [5.] 4 Local Programming Obligations. Grantee shall expend at least 1% of its annual 3 x ~ Gross Revenues each fiscal year in fulfilling its Local Programming Obligations under the Franchise for public, governmental, and educational access, but it shall not be obligated to expend more than that amount for such access. That amount shall not include any costs of operation. caoital for access equipment replacement previouslY aqreed tobv the parties ,in Exhibit 2 to the Contract'for Local Proqramminq Facilities. which is Exhibit A to the Performance Aqreement. which shows theeauipment to be maintained, and replaced., or,administration'not directly related to the provision of local programming. This expenditure shall be in complete satisfaction of Grantee's total Local Programming Obligations during the period of this ordinance. section 5. That section 6 of the Relief Ordinance is hereby amended to read as follows: SECTION 6. AUTOMATIC TERMINATION OF RELIEF ORDINANCE PROVISIONS. Cat The provisions of this ordinance, and the relief herein granted, shall cease to be effective, automatically, upon the occurrence of the earliest of any of the following events: [Subdivision 1. Failure of the Grantee to complete refinancing its Existing Indebtedness by December 31, 1987 in accordance with Article II, section 4 of the Franchise.] [Subd. 2. The end of the next month after Grantee has collected cumulative Gross Revenues in the amount of one hundred million dollars as measured from September 1, 1984. The determination of cumulative Gross Revenues shall be based upon audited financial statements for periods for which they are available and upon Grantee's operating reports for period for which audited statements are not then available. Granteeshall provide City with its financial statements and financial operating reports promptly after they are prepared. ] [Subd. 3.] Subdivision 1. March 1, 1992. [Subd. 4. Payment, discharge, or satisfaction of the Existing Indebtedness, except through refinancing as provided in Article II, Section 40f the Franchise.] ;" 4 .. ~ [Subd. 5 . Payment, discharge ,or satisfaction of the indebtedness arising from the refinancing provided in Article II, section 4 of the Franchise.] [Subd. 6.] SUbdivision 2. Failure of the Grantee to restore or replace the full required amount of the Letter of Credit as provided in Article VIII, section 4, paragraph H of the Franchise. [Subd. 7. Failure of the Grantee to pay the fees as required in section 5, Subd. 2 of this ordinance. ] [Subd. 8.] Subdivision 3. Failure of the Grantee to restore, replace or< increase either a Letter of Credit or bond within sixty 'days of written notice by the City, as provided in section 5, Subdivisions [3 and 4] 2 and 3 of this ordinance. [Subd. 9.] Subdivision 4. A holding or determination by any court or agency that any term, condition or provision of this Relief Ordinance is invalid or unenforceable, as a result of any action taken by Grantee or anyone acting on Grantee's behalf seeking such determination. [Subd. 10. Sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the System to a person or entity other than a parent, SUbsidiary, related corporation, affiliated corporation, partner or joint venturer of Grantee or any parent of Grantee. ] [Subd. 11.] Subdivision 5. Termination of the Franchise. Section 6. That section 70f the Relief Ordinance is amended to read as follows: SECTION 7. OTHER TERMINATIONS. This ordinance may also be terminated for cause, under the same procedures for termination as are contained in the Franchise, for the following reasons: Subdivision 1.. All grounds for termination provided in the Franchise, includinq the Relief Ordinance as amended, except to the extent that 5 ...: Grantee's perfornance'obligationsare'modified in this Ordinance. . ,,-"'-,. ,I ; I [Subd. 2. The purchase by Grantee, its general partner, or any parent, subsidiary, affiliate or other related corporation of Grantee or its general partner, of a cable communications system or any part thereof or interest therein, located within the seven-county metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota statutes, section 473.121, Subd. 2. For this purpose the definition of a cable communications system shall be as that term is currently defined by the Board. Such a purchase shall not be grounds for termination of this ordinance, however, if the Grantee demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the City that the purchase (1) will not impair-the operating cash flow or financial position of Grantee and (2) will involve independent financing of the purchase without resort to the assets of the System.] a.,,-' [Subd. 3.] Subdivision 2. Failure of the Grantee to comply with any of the provisions of the Performance Agreement. section 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon passage and adoption by City and upon satisfaction of all of the following conditions: (1) Publication of this Ordinance; (2) Passage and adoption by each of the Member Cities of the SWSCC of an Ordinance similar to this Ordinance within 45 days of the adoption of this Ordinance; (3) Conformance by Grantee with all the terms and conditions of the Resolution, Exhibit B and of the Stipulation, Exhibit A, and of the Amendment to the Performance Agreement, Exhibit DO to the stipulation, Exhibit A; ..... . (4) Acceptance by Grantee in conformance with section 8 of this Ordinance; (5) Closing of the transfer of ownership from Rogers to Proposed Transferee within one (1) year from the date hereof and notice thereof to the Member cities of swscc. 6 ,..:t . c.~_--' c. ~r If' (6) Execution and delivery by proposed Transferee of a guarantee agreement as required by Paragraph 5 of the stipulation. section 8. Acceptance of the Relief Ordinance as amended; Providing of Guarantees. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Ordinance shall be effective in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Franchise including delivery to the City of the acceptance, opinion of legal counsel, guarantees and other documents as required by said Article XIV. Hopkins Passed by the City council of the City of Minnesota this day of , , 1988. /i"7(jtcl j ";./ /!LY'c City Mayor Action on above ordinance: Date of first reading: November 15, 1988 Date of second reading: December 13, 1988 Motion for Adoption: Seconded by: Voted in favor: Voted against: Abstained: Absent: Counci1member Anderson Counci1mernber Redepenning Unanimous None None None Ordinance adopted. Date of publication: SW2/0RD2 11/7/88 7