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Council considers low‑cost streaming and a managed‑switch fix after persistent AV problems
Summary
The council discussed options to fix ongoing audio problems in council chambers and to expand streaming beyond Facebook; staff recommended a managed network switch to stabilize audio and a low‑cost restreaming service to publish to multiple platforms while staff evaluates a longer‑term AV overhaul.
Council heard a technical briefing on audio problems in council chambers and options for expanding streaming to platforms beyond Facebook.
Council member Peterson summarized vendor quotes the city received for multiple solutions: splitting the HDMI signal to feed a laptop for restreaming, replacing the existing recording box to support dual streaming, and replacing the network switch with a managed switch that supports Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize audio packets. A technician present noted a managed switch with DSCP/QoS would stabilize the microphone audio stream; Josie and the AV vendor identified a model that meets the specifications at about $400 for the device but the vendor quote for labor and device came higher in the packet.
The council discussed a restreaming service (third‑party cloud restream provider) that would accept a single input and rebroadcast to Facebook, YouTube and other services for a monthly fee (staff cited tiers from roughly $30 to several hundred dollars per month). Council members noted that a monthly restream subscription could pay for itself compared with some higher vendor quotes and would not lock the city into a single proprietary endpoint.
Council directed staff to pursue a two‑track approach: (1) correct the chamber audio stability with a managed network switch (and coordinate with the city’s IT/provider for firewall and network provisioning) and (2) trial a restreaming service to publish simultaneously to Facebook and YouTube, with staff returning to council with costs and installation details. Peterson also recommended obtaining competitive bids if the council later decides to pursue a full AV overhaul.
Ending
Staff will obtain firm quotes for a managed switch and contractor provisioning with the city’s IT vendor, trial a restreaming service for multi‑platform streaming, and return to council with cost estimates and a recommended path forward in roughly two weeks.
