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Committee members prioritize council-chamber audio upgrades but defer spending decision to council
Summary
Several members said the council chambers' sound system needs improvement for in-person and online viewers; the budget committee captured the request among suggested priorities but left funding decisions to the council.
Multiple budget committee members and participants urged a priority on improving the council chambersaudio-visual and sound system during the budget discussion, but the committee did not appropriate funds specifically for the upgrades and instead recorded the item as a priority for council consideration.
Why it matters: committee members described the roomacoustics as poor and said audience members and remote viewers have difficulty hearing meetings. One member said specifically: "My main priority would be doing something about the sound system. I... would like to see a priority having sat in the audience many years in the past and not being able to hear very well." The item was listed among the budget-committeesuggestions that the committee asked staff to bring to council for action.
Staff and some committee members said the urban renewal budget could legally fund improvements to City Hall where allowed by the renewal plan; Tyler noted the project is eligible under the urban renewal objectives but that the project concept needs additional design work before a concrete budget request is presented.
Next steps: staff will clarify costs and legal funding options (general fund vs. urban renewal eligibility) and bring a proposal to the council or to the urban renewal board as appropriate.
