Mount Pleasant City Commission to discuss 2010 budget, change to Charter Communications lineups

The Mount Pleasant City Commission is hosting a public hearing on the city’s proposed 2010 operating budget and Michigan’s Community Access Preservation Act at its regular meeting tonight.

The Commission meets at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway St.

Several commission work sessions led to the public hearing, which is available for residents to voice opinions and concerns regarding the budget, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger in a memo.

“The hearing is set in the midst of the three month time period the Commission reserves for discussion on the budget proposal so that feedback received can be factored into the debate,” she said.

The Commission will hold a work session regarding the proposed budget following the meeting.

Community Access Preservation Act

According to city documents, Charter Communications plans to move its public access channels lineup as of Dec. 1. At that time, customers will need to have specific cable packages in order to access all public, education and government channels.

Supporting the Community Access Preservation Act is important for the city because PEG channels are essential for communities, Grinzinger said. The city is uncertain if the PEG channels will even be available on all Charter plans.

“The residents of the city of Mount Pleasant have grown to value and expect receiving local information from public access Cable Channel 3, educational access channel 14 and government access channel 26,” Grinzinger said.

Municipal franchise authorities have no control over service decisions made by cable providers under the Michigan Cable Act, Grinzinger said, and communities who want PEG access must join together.

“MAC3 (the Mid Michigan Area Cable Communication Consortium) is also working with several coalitions around the state to oppose this change,” Grinzinger said. “Traverse City has already begun a legal challenge.”

If the resolution is approved, copies will be sent to U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland), U.S. Sens. Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), and members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are sponsoring the legislation.