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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 85-18 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO BEAUMONT CABLEVISION, INC . , PREDECESSOR OF LIBERTY T.V. CABLE, INC . ON NOVEMBER 25, 1975, BY INCREASING THE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE THEREUNDER; BY EXTENDING THE TERM THEREOF; AND BY REMOVING CITY REGULATORY CONTROL OF RATES. WHEREAS, by ordinance adopted on third and final reading on November 25, 1975, said ordinance becoming effective April 1 , 1976, the City of Beaumont ( the "City" ) granted Beaumont Cablevision, Inc. , the predecessor of Liberty T.V. Cable, Inc. ( the "Company" ) , the franchise ( the "franchise" ) to conduct within the City a cable television business and to use the streets, alleys and public ways of the City for the purpose of conducting such business; and, WHEREAS, the franchise is for a term of fifteen ( 15) years commencing on April 1 , 1976; and, WHEREAS, as compensation for the use of the streets, alleys and public ways of the City, the franchise required the Company to pay the City each year an annual payment equal to three percent ( 3% ) of gross annual basis subscribed revenues received for cable television operations in the City for the preceding calendar year; and, WHEREAS, City and Company desire to amend the franchise by extending the term thereof, by increasing the annual payment made by Company to City as compensation for the use of streets, alleys and public ways of the City , and by removing City regulatory control of rates; �_ ,?s-ice 45- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: Section 1 . That Section II(4 ) be, and the same is hereby , repealed and removed from the franchise. Section 2 . That Section III(l ) be, and the same is hereby , amended to read as follows: "Upon the filing with the City by Company of the acceptance required hereunder, the franchise, as amended by this ordinance, shall be in full force and effect for a term and period of twenty-five ( 25) years from and after April 1 , 1984, unless sooner terminated as provided herein. " Section 3 . That Section IX( 1 ) of the franchise be, and the same is hereby , amended to read as follows: "Section IX( 1 ) . The Company shall pay to the City on or before March 31 of each year, a five percent ( 50 ) franchise fee based on the gross receipts of the Company from all sources from its operations within the corporate limits of the City for the preceding calendar year. No other fee, charge or consideration, shall be imposed. Sales taxes or other taxes levied directly on subscription basis and collected by the Company shall be deducted from the gross receipts before computation of sums due the City is made. The Company shall provide an annual summary report showing the gross receipts of the Company from all sources from its operations within the corporate limits of the City during the preceding calendar year. The franchise fee paid to the city may be shown as a separate, additional item on customer statements. " Section 4 . That Section IX( 2 ) be, and the same is hereby , amended to read as follows: - 2 - O -5- "Section IX( 2 ) . City expressly reserves the right, and Company hereby agrees that should a franchise fee in excess of five percent ( 5%) be permitted, authorized or allowed, by any federal law or regulation, City may automatically impose such franchise fee in lieu of the five percent ( 5% ) franchise fee herein established. " Section 5 . That the first sentence of Section III(9 ) be, and the same is hereby , amended to read as follows: "Section IX(9 ) . ( First sentence) Thirteen ( 13) months prior to the expiration of the term of this franchise, the City Council shall appoint a five ( 5 ) member cable television evaluation committee whose membership shall consist of members of the community and from the City administrative staff. " Section 6 . That Section VII( 2 ) be, and the same is hereby, amended to read as follows: "Section VII( 2 ) . Company shall establish its rates and charges for the provision of cable service, or any other communications service provided over the cable system. " Section 7 . That Section VII( 5 ) be, and the same is hereby , amended to read as follows: "Section VII(5 ) . The City shall have no authority to regulate the rates and charges for the provision of cable service or any other communications service provided over the cable system. A full schedule of current rates and charges shall be filed with the City Clerk of City." Section 8 . That all provisions of the franchise adopted on third and final reading on November 25, 1975, except those sections amended herein which are hereby adopted as amended, shall remain in full 3 - L4 l� force and effect and shall not be affected by passage of this ordinance. Section 9 . Company shall, within thirty ( 30) days from the date of the final passage of this ordinance by the City Council of the City of Beaumont, file with the City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, a written statement signed in its name and behalf in the following form. "To the Honorable Mayor and the City Council of the City of Beaumont: Liberty T.V. Cable, Inc. , for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby accepts the attached ordinance finally passed by the City Council of the City of Beaumont, the day of , 1984, and agrees to be bound by all of its terms and provisions. LIBERTY CABLE T.V. , INC . By Dated this the day of 19 Section 10 . The full text of this ordinance shall, after final passage by the City Council of the City of Beaumont, be published once each week for four (4 ) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Beaumont, and the expense of such publication shall be borne by Company. Upon said publication being completed and the acceptance of this ordinance by Company is herein provided, this ordinance shall take effect sixty-one (61) days after its adoption on third and final reading by the City Council of the City of Beaumont. 4 - �S l� PASSED First Reading this the day of , 1995 . PASSED Second Reading this the �� day of 19 . PASSED Third and Final Reading this the day of 19�. PASSED APPROVED this the ,ja day of , 19 C- Mayor - 5 -