I am taking this opportunity to share with you my thoughts on a subject which I placed on the City Council agenda of September 5, 2006. I asked the other members of the City Council to authorize a very simple, and I believe objective survey to receive input regarding viewership of original and taped production of programs on FCTV cable Channel 27.
The purpose of the survey was to see just how often viewers watched FCTV other than City Council, Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation meetings, and the community information bulletin board.
There was nothing nefarious about my request. FCTV Cable Channel 27 costs the citizens of Foster City approximately $200,000 a year. The basic service of City Council, Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Committee meetings and Bulletin Boards make up about $50,000 of the $200,000. I have absolutely no problem with the $50,000 expenditure. I believe the benefit to the community is thoroughly justified even in years of deficit budgeting.
It is the other $150,000 that I have questioned. We can have lots of great programs but if they are not being viewed by a large number of citizens; I ask the question, “Is the cost benefit to a majority of the citizens worth the expenditure of $150,000?”
It’s your TV station and your money. When and if the survey comes out, please take the time to let the City Council know how often you watch Channel 27 for programs other than those mentioned above. No decisions will be made until the budget is reviewed next spring. Whatever decision is made, you can be sure all your City Council members will consider the value of the benefit to all the citizens.
I can be reached via e-mail rwykoff@fostercity.org.
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