Santa Clarita City Council members are evaluating Tuesday the contract for the area’s public access television channels with SCVTV.

The recommendation calls for council to OK a one-year public television management services contract for the ongoing management and programming of Time Warner (channel 20) and AT&T (channel 99) not to exceed $190,000.

While the city only received one offer when it requested the bid, the initial proposal is a result of a negotiation between the station, which Leon Worden has managed since 2009, and the city.

“Basically, we went out with an RFP, we got one proposal back,” said Gail Morgan, city spokeswoman. “We worked with the contractor and negotiated it down to an amount that we could see bringing to council.”

In 2009, following more than a year of work, and nearly one dozen meetings with interested stakeholders, the City Council took formal action to approve the Santa Clarita Public Television Authority (SCPTA), according to the city’s agenda.

SCVTV operates the city’s PEG channels under contract with the SCPTA, whose members as of Sep. 7, include the city, the Santa Clarita Community College District, the William S. Hart Union High School District, the Castaic Union School District, the Newhall School District, the Saugus Union School District and the Sulphur Springs Union School District.

Under the proposed agreement, SCVTV would be required to manage the city’s public television studio a minimum of 35 hours per week inclusive of playback, programming, and production studio operations.

Further, SCVTV will be responsible for creating and airing original programming throughout the year which benefits the community, including:  Arts and Culture Series – Production of at least five (5) 24-minute shows which focus on the arts within Santa Clarita (production cost of $28,350, being purchased with PEG funds);  Concert Series Program – Production of at least eight (8) two-hour shows that focus on musical performances in the Newhall Arts District (production cost of $40,490, being purchased with PEG funds);  Local History Program – Production of at least four (4) 24-minute shows focusing on the historical aspects of Santa Clarita (production cost of $18,200, being purchased with PEG funds);  SCV in the Movies – Production of at least six (6) two-hour in-depth shows featuring and discussing films with a Santa Clarita connection (production cost of $12,960, being purchased with PEG funds).

The lone bidder initially requested approximately $299,000-$363,000, and the figure present to council was a result of negotiations between both parties, according to city officials.