Council approves $1.1 million PEG‑funded upgrade to council broadcast and community‑hall systems

The council approved a contract with Advanced Systems Group LLC to modernize the city’s broadcast control room and integrate audio‑visual systems in community hall and related facilities. The project budget approved at the Jan. 22 meeting authorized an amount not to exceed $1,100,000 plus a 10% contingency; funding will come from dedicated Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) funds.

Speakers, including the city’s local broadcast partner and community volunteers, urged approval, saying current equipment is two decades old and the project is an appropriate PEG‑fund use. Staff said the new control room will be built at the community hall facility, the existing control room at City Hall will remain functional until the new system is ready, and the planned switchover is scheduled to minimize interruption (targeting a transition period in August when council is typically in recess).

Council voted unanimously (Council Member Wong absent) to approve the agreement and associated budget modification.

Why it matters: The upgrade is intended to ensure reliable broadcast of council meetings and public programming and to modernize community‑meeting audiovisual capabilities. Because PEG funds are restricted to channel/broadcast purposes, staff confirmed they cannot be used for unrelated projects such as the EOC or Quinlan Community Center improvements.

What’s next: Staff will execute the contract and schedule installations and the switchover timeline with minimal impact to scheduled meetings.