Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
El Mirage council approves livestreaming of council meetings, work sessions, parks and planning and zoning meetings
Summary
After extended discussion about technology and archival requirements, the El Mirage council voted to livestream council meetings, council work sessions, the Parks and Recreation Committee and Planning & Zoning meetings; the motion passed 6-1 with Council Member Dorsey opposed.
The El Mirage Common Council on March 4 approved a motion to livestream city council meetings, council work sessions, Parks and Recreation Committee meetings and Planning & Zoning meetings for public viewing.
Council Members Eldridge and Gentry argued for broader access and said some residents cannot attend in person because of work, disability, or caregiving duties. "Complete transparency. That's what we owe the residents of El Mirage," Council Member Eldridge said, adding that transcripts and audio alone "do not tell the complete story" because body language and presentations are missing in audio files.
Council debate focused on logistics and recordkeeping. City IT staff (Tom) explained the city currently uses Microsoft Teams and a Granicus system; Teams provides video/audio but recordings are not posted for users who did not join the live session, while Granicus is the city's video-streaming platform in the council chambers and relies on permanently mounted cameras that are not portable. Tom said portable setups exist for off-site meetings but require additional setup and staff resources.
Several council members asked for a plan and budget estimates. The city manager and IT staff agreed to prepare options and cost estimates for the April budget session that would cover in-chambers livestreaming and portable solutions for off-site venues; city staff said they could provide scenarios and estimates rather than final hard costs immediately.
Council Member Dorsey moved to table the item pending additional details; that tabling motion failed. Vice Mayor Parsons then moved to livestream council meetings, work sessions, Parks and Recreation Committee meetings and Planning & Zoning meetings; Council Member Norton seconded. The council approved the motion on a recorded vote with Council Member Dorsey the lone dissent; the transcript records the final vote as one nay and the remainder ayes.
Council members asked staff to return with a plan that addresses camera systems, off-site recording, archival and posting procedures and estimated costs so the program can be budgeted and implemented in a way that preserves official records.
The council also referenced its adopted city handbook (page 16), which the proponents said already states that "all public meetings shall be recorded or photographed by means of audio, video, or photographic equipment" provided equipment placement does not interfere with meetings.
