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El Mirage council directs staff to research live captioning, translation and improved streaming for council meetings
Summary
Council members asked staff to research captioning and translation services (including AI vendors), camera upgrades and streaming options following concerns about accessibility and video clarity. Staff will return with demos and a proposed work session.
Council members on Wednesday directed city staff to research options to improve audio-visual accessibility in council chambers, including live captioning, translation services, improved camera controls, and streaming platforms.
City staff presented four options: (1) modify the existing system to add captions on current screens; (2) install additional fixed caption screens; (3) subscribe to a cloud captioning/translation service such as Wordly AI that can deliver captions and translations to viewers’ smartphones; and (4) other vendor packages (for example, full-service camera switching providers). The staff estimate for a Wordly‑type subscription was described as “just under $8,000 per year,” while a vendor quote to modify the in‑room AV system with integrated captions was described as about $40,000.
Council discussion emphasized accessibility and transparency. Several council members, including Scottie Gentry and Monica Dorsey, said the current online experience is difficult for residents and for council members with hearing impairments. Gentry asked staff to look at systems used by nearby cities (Apache Junction, Avondale, Goodyear) and suggested the council consider camera systems that provide clearer, zoomed coverage for viewers. Mayor Alexis Hermosillo cautioned against expensive production systems intended to create a “performance” environment rather than simply improve clarity and accessibility.
Staff said the city has begun using Granicus Livecast for streaming, noted a roughly 40‑second delay in that service, and explained that running both Microsoft Teams (for participation) and Granicus (for streaming) is cumbersome. Staff recommended a follow‑up work session to review demos and vendor proposals; council agreed to a focused work session for product demonstrations and additional research before any procurement decision.
Councilmembers also suggested outreach to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for technical guidance and to ensure ADA compliance.
