Roanoke City Council shifts live council meetings from Facebook to YouTube

In a significant move to enhance community engagement, the Roanoke City Council has announced plans to transition all live council and board meetings from Facebook to YouTube. This initiative, introduced by Council Member Nash, aims to make city meetings more accessible to residents, particularly those who do not have Facebook accounts.

Nash highlighted that many older community members rely on traditional media for updates or wait for delayed broadcasts on local channels. By switching to YouTube, which does not require an account for viewing, the council hopes to reach a broader audience. YouTube's advanced features, such as closed captioning and the ability to create organized playlists, were also noted as advantages over Facebook Live.

Mayor Cobb confirmed that the city is already working on this transition, with plans to implement it by August. This change comes as Facebook begins to remove live videos after 30 days, making it crucial for the council to ensure that past meetings remain accessible. The council emphasized the importance of informing the community about this shift, allowing time for residents to adjust to the new platform.

In addition to the YouTube transition, the council discussed the possibility of live streaming meetings on both platforms temporarily to ease the transition for current Facebook viewers. However, it was decided that a full switch to YouTube would be more effective, with announcements made through Facebook to guide the public.

The meeting also touched on other topics, including the postponement of an ordinance amendment related to the building and fire code board of appeals for further review, and the announcement of appointments to various city boards and commissions.

As Roanoke City moves forward with this initiative, the council aims to foster greater transparency and accessibility, ensuring that all residents can stay informed about local governance and community issues.