Mayer City Council — Transcript
Monday, July 13, 2026
Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement
Storm Pond Bathymetric Study
Votes (3)
Public Hearing for the Franchise Agreement from Comcast
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
The public hearing for Comcast's cable franchise application was opened and closed with no public comments received. City staff outlined the process, noting legal obligations for a level playing field, with the agreement modeled on an existing one with Metronet. The document underwent extensive review by city staff, legal counsel, and Comcast, resulting in updates to reflect current federal law and the removal of antiquated language. A key point of discussion was the proposed change from a 15-year to a 10-year term, requested by Comcast and accepted by the city.
Consider introduction of Ordinance 253 granting a cable franchise to Comcast with one edit from 15 years to 10 years
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:09:59] · Seconded by Council Member [0:10:00]
Following the public hearing, the City Council moved to introduce Ordinance 253, specifically incorporating the agreed-upon edit to change the franchise term from 15 years to 10 years. No further discussion or questions were raised by the Council before the vote.
Consider approval of quote for bathymetric study of storm ponds
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:23:44] · Seconded by Council Member [0:23:45]
The Public Works Committee recommended approval of a quote for a bathymetric study of four out of 45 city storm ponds. The selection prioritized older ponds (circa 2000-2005 construction) to assess sediment accumulation rates and included one pond specifically requested by the Carver County Water Management Organization (WMO) due to its proximity to the Dollar General development. Previous studies on other ponds indicated they were approximately a quarter full of sediment, with intervention typically occurring when ponds reach half capacity. The initial study, with a cost not to exceed $7,000, will determine if an optional, more expensive sediment sampling ($2,500 per pond) is needed for disposal planning.
Notable Quotes (8)
granting a franchise requirement, we have legal obligations under state law that we have to have an level playing field requirement when you have cable franchise agreements.
Although since the Jaguar one was done in 2018, there has been some legal updates dates of things, and the city attorney has reviewed it, Comcast has reviewed it, city staff has reviewed it.
In the ordinance I had accidentally grabbed an earlier version of it for the the introduction, and in there it had a 15-year term for the cable franchise agreement. That should be 10 years, and that was an ask by Comcast to reduce that to 10.
We are looking to do four ponds as part of this out of the 45 we have. Not all 45 would get done, but uh looking at doing the four that we have highlighted here.
This one we're adding in as as a request from well, as a demand from the Carver County Water Management Organization. When we originally originally looking at doing all this with Team Lab when Dollar General had gone in, uh the WMO wanted to see that pond reviewed to make sure it was sufficient for storm water needs existing and going into the future.
I recall, they may have been a little over about a quarter of the way full, and you don't or starting to fill up with sediment. Um usually don't uh do anything to the ponds uh until they're half full.
But typically 20, 25, 30 years depending on how fast that inflow is about the life before you start hitting your limits. So, testing these older ones is a good thing to do.
What usually happens is you you hire someone to come in uh Braun Intertek or one of these laboratories. They come in during the winter and they drill a hole in it and then they just walk on there and scoop the stuff up in two spots. They pull it out and then they just go test it at their uh laboratory.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Ordinance granting a cable franchise to Comcast.
Legal document outlining terms for cable service providers, specifically with Comcast and previously Jaguar/Metronet.
Formal application submitted by Comcast for the cable franchise.
Document included in the packet regarding the bathymetric study, from the Public Works Committee.
Financial proposal for conducting the storm pond bathymetric study.
Historical engineering plans for storm ponds used to determine original depths.