Jefferson City Council to discuss JCTV metrics

An operator at JCTV runs the board during production at the facility on the campus of Lincoln University. (News Tribune file photo)
An operator at JCTV runs the board during production at the facility on the campus of Lincoln University. (News Tribune file photo)

Jefferson City staff will begin working with JCTV to come up with a list of metrics to help measure the success of the station.

At the Council Committee on Administration meeting Wednesday, the committee directed city attorney Drew Hilpert to work with JCTV station manager Gloria Enloe on a list of metrics to be discussed at the next committee meeting. The City Council then would look at amending the contract with Lincoln University to include the requirement for an annual report from JCTV and specify certain metrics or goals to be achieved.

The idea of metrics has been discussed at the JCTV Steering Committee for the past two months, but the committee was uncomfortable with the metrics being discussed at that point.

"The (JCTV Steering Committee) felt the metrics weren't appropriate for this type of contract," Hilpert said.

But at Wednesday's meeting, Enloe said the committee could provide some data in an annual report to the council.

"We certainly don't have a problem gathering some information and presenting it to the city," Enloe said. "This is a partnership."

Ann Harris, a member of the JCTV Steering Committee, said they could provide the number of students and volunteers involved with programs, and they could set a fundraising goal and let the city know how close they came to achieving it each year. Harris said the committee's concerns with metrics being included in the contract was whether there would be some type of consequence if a goal is not met, such as being found in breach of the contract.

Hilpert said he didn't see the metrics as being on "pass/fail" system, but believes the council wants service contracts to include a way to measure the success of an organization to show the public what they are receiving for their money. Metrics have been added to the city's contract with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We started these metrics to communicate the good that these organizations are doing," said 2nd Ward Councilman J. Rick Mihalevich. "It's not a gotcha thing."

Mihalevich said the contract itself would not need to be amended with the specific metrics, just that an annual report would be required, as well as mutually agreed on metrics.

Third Ward Councilman Ken Hussey said the term "mutually agreed" caused him concern as there may be a time in the future when a disagreement arises and the city should be able to direct JCTV on what metrics need to be included.

"Ultimately, these are our dollars," Hussey said.

Mihalevich said the city's fallback in case of a disagreement simply would be to not renew the contract with Lincoln University for JCTV.

The administration committee directed staff to work with the steering committee on a list of metrics to be discussed next month where a more formal plan for a contract amendment would be decided on. Any amendment to JCTV's contract would have to be agreed on by both the council and the Lincoln University president.