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ORDINANCE NO. 25-189 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Shahmir AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CODIFIED ORDINANCE CHAPTER 278: COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION. WHEREAS, Council has recommended amending Codified Ordinance Chapter 278; and WHEREAS, Council, coming now to consider said recommendation, approves it in full. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVON LAKE, STATE OF OHIO: Section No. 1: That Codified Ordinance Chapter 278 is hereby amended as follows: CHAPTER 278: COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION § 278.01 ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE. There is hereby established in and for the city a citizens’ advisory commission entitled the Communications and Technology Commission to manage Avon Lake Community Television (ALC-TV), the City of Avon Lake website, the City of Avon Lake’s social media presence and outreach, the digital communications with and among city departments and the community, branding and marketing of the City of Avon Lake and its programs, and to advise and make recommendations to Council on the various areas of technology utilized by the city. § 278.02 MEMBERSHIP; TERM; QUALIFICATIONS; AND COMPOSITION COMPENSATION AND REMOVAL. (a) Membership. The Communications and Technology Commission shall consist of seven members, comprised of the following for terms of three year terms.: (1) Five voting Three members, who are for the previous two years have been registered, qualified electors of the city, shall not be employed by, nor have any financial interest in, the broadcasting, cable communications, or telephone business., (2) Three members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. (3 2) Two members, who for the previous two years have been registered, qualified electors of the city, shall not be employed by, nor have any financial interest in, the ORDINANCE NO. 25-189 Page | 2 broadcasting, cable communications, or telephone business, shall be appointed by Council. (b) (3) In addition to the voting members, there shall be three two ex officio, non-voting advisory members. A. One member shall be from the Communications, Environmental and Recreational Programming Building and Utilities Committee. B. One member shall be a representative from the Avon Lake School System or Board of Education. (3) One member may be a nonresident of the city who possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the duties imposed herein. b) Terms. The five appointed resident members of the Communications and Technology Commission shall each serve three years with staggered terms, a third of which shall be appointed each year. Each member is eligible for reappointment without limitation on the number of consecutive appointments. 1) Vacancies on the Communications and Technology Commission shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner that the position was originally filled. 2) The Chairperson will notify the Clerk of Council when a vacancy exists. 3) Any vacancy shall be filled within 60 days, unless extenuating circumstances require a longer period. (c c) Qualifications. As far as is practicable, appointments to the Communications and Technology Commission shall include individuals having expertise or experience in such areas as: (1) Law, focusing on FCC regulations, copyright and internet regulations; (2) Technology, relating to media communications; (3) Marketing and social media; (4) Education and non-profit; (5) Consumer affairs, relating to cable access and Internet communications; and ORDINANCE NO. 25-189 Page | 3 (6) Historic understanding of Avon Lake and ALC-TV. (d) Any vacancy occurring during the term of any voting member of the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner authorized for an original appointment. (e d) Compensation. The members of the Communications and Technology Commission shall serve without compensation. With prior approval by Council the assigned Department Director, according to the city procurement policies, any expense incurred by the Board Commission, or the members thereof, in the performance of their duties shall be paid from the municipal city treasury. (e) Removal. Any Communications and Technology Commission member who misses three consecutive meetings, or more than 50% of the regular meetings on an annual basis, may be removed from the Commission by a majority vote of the other Commissioners. § 278.03 POWERS AND DUTIES. The Communications and Technology Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (a) To advise Council regarding general policy relating to the operation and uses of the Avon Lake Community Television ALC-TV with a view toward maximizing the diversity of programs and services to subscribers and users, and provide access to government services and communications; (b) To encourage the use of access channels among the widest range of institutions, groups and individuals within the city, including for governmental transparency, community events and programs and education; (c) To encourage cooperation with schools, museums and other institutions located in the city or in neighboring communities with a view toward utilizing the facilities located therein to enrich the quality and diversity of access channel programming for the system; (d) To advise Council of changes in the state-of-the-art technology and the applicability of the same to access channel programming for the system; (e) To review budgets and recommend expenditures, as appropriate; and (f) To submit an annual report to Council, including, but not limited to, a summary of the utilization of access channels, a review of any plans submitted during the year by the Communications and Technology Director for the development of new services and a ORDINANCE NO. 25-189 Page | 4 summary report of Commission deliberations throughout the year in connection with its assigned functions. § 278.04 RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Communications and Technology Commission shall have the authority to submit proposed rules and regulations for the conduct of its business to Council for approval and, upon approval, shall have the right to hold hearings and make recommendations to the Communications and Technology Director and to the educational and governmental communities on the coordination of the education and governmental access channels. All such actions shall be advisory only. § 278.05 MEETINGS AND ORGANIZATIONS. (a) The Communications and Technology Commission shall meet no less than six times every year. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public. Copies of meeting minutes shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Council, members of Council and the Mayor. (b) There shall be a Secretary, or designee, employed by the city who shall publish an agenda and serve notification of meetings, attend meetings of the Communications and Technology Commission, take minutes of the meetings and publish these minutes, and perform such follow-through and research as are required by the Commission. (c) A Chairperson shall be designated elected by a majority vote of the Communications and Technology Commission members to serve until the expiration of that member’s term. At the first meeting following the expiration of a Chairperson’s term, the Commission shall appoint elect a new Chairperson to serve for the entirety of that member’s term. Section No. 2: That it is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the adoption of this Ordinance were taken in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees, which resulted in such formal actions, were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code. Section No. 3: That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the earliest period allowed by law. 1st reading: 11/24/2025 2nd reading: 3rd reading: ORDINANCE NO. 25-189 Page | 5 PASSED: 12/08/2025 ____________________________ Council President POSTED: 12/12/2025 APPROVED: 12/09/2025 ATTEST: _________________________ ____________________________ Clerk of Council Mayor