The City Council on Feb. 23 voted unanimously to approve a contract with the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation. That’s the board behind SBTV-3, the local cable channel. The contract was to produce public, educational, and government communications (such as video of council meetings). The Cable Board has already approved the contract. Funding has been approved in the 2025-2026 budget, according to the staff report.
This was a Consent Calendar item, so there was no discussion among the council members.
Background
The city asked the Cable Foundation to sign a contract last year. (See “City asks cable foundation board to sign contract” at sunnews.org.)
The city has provided public access cable TV through SBTV-3 and the Cable Foundation for more than 40 years, according to the staff report by Recreation Manager Tim Kelsey.
“Previously the City contracted directly with Station Manager Robin Fort-Lincke, to provide management services for SBTV-3,” Kelsey wrote. (As previously reported, Fort-Lincke resigned in 2022.)
“The Foundation has traditionally operated as an advisory board providing insight into programming and various other items such as equipment related to public access television,” Kelsey wrote.
“Following the unexpected passing of Robin Fort-Lincke, the City partnered with the Foundation to provide services for the past few years,” Kelsey wrote. Fort-Lincke died in 2023.
Last year, Peter Anninos, chair of the Cable Foundation, called for the city to hire a new, part-time station manager and to update the equipment. (See “Cable Foundation chair: SBTV3 station equipment ‘generations behind’” and “SBTV3 seeks more funding” at sunnews.org.)
“The City would like to formalize the relationship with the Foundation by entering into a Professional Services Agreement that clearly defines the services provided by the Foundation,” Kelsey wrote.
Seal Beach will pay the foundation a maximum of $90,000. The money was approved as part of the current budget, according to Kelsey’s report. “Additionally, the Council has approved Capital Improvement Projects for up to $160,000 that upgrade the control room and equipment used in the Council Chambers. Capital Improvement Projects will be managed and awarded by the City directly, and staff will coordinate all work with the Foundation,” Kelsey wrote.
