City, Cable Firm Discuss Settlement

The city and Avenue TV Cable are discussing a settlement in their dispute over coverage of cable focus groups, attorneys said Thursday.

The City Council will consider the matter in closed session Monday.

“The [U.S. District Court] judge asked us to sit down and see if we can resolve it, and that is what we are doing,” said Stephen George, owner and general manager for Avenue TV Cable. “That is what I have wanted all along.”

Ventura City Atty. Robert Boehm and Avenue TV Cable lawyer Geoffrey Thomas confirmed that talks are underway.

U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Morrow last week issued a temporary restraining order against Ventura after city officials banned Avenue TV Cable from videotaping the city’s cable focus groups. The city responded by canceling the sessions, which had been formed by the city to allow residents to discuss what they would like from cable companies.

At a hearing Tuesday, Morrow tentatively ruled that Avenue TV Cable has no right to videotape the workshops, but postponed a final decision until both sides could file further arguments. She also recommended that both sides attempt to reach an agreement outside the courtroom.

On Thursday, Morrow approved a request by attorneys to delay filing further arguments for one week because both parties may be on the verge of reaching an agreement that would end the lawsuit.

Neither side would comment on specifics of the proposed solution.

Mayor Jim Friedman said he would ask the City Council on Monday to consider opening the cable franchise negotiations to the public, as well as to video cameras. The negotiations were previously held in closed session.

“I think it would be a very interesting and eye-opening experience for the public,” he said.