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Middleton council to test Meeting Owl camera system for public meetings
Summary
Council discussed trialing a Meeting Owl 360-degree camera and microphone system to improve livestream quality and remote participant visibility; staff will gather more details and report back in February.
The Middleton City Council discussed a plan to trial a Meeting Owl 360-degree camera and microphone system in council chambers to improve remote viewers’ ability to see and hear meetings.
Council President Kiser introduced the item as a possible replacement for the current back-of-room camera and cited a demonstration and information Miss Hobbs provided about the device’s split-screen capability for remote attendees. “The meeting owl sits out in front, has speakers all the way around it, has a 360 degree camera, and so as I am speaking now, I would be on someone's screen at home,” Kiser said, describing how the system highlights active speakers and displays posted documents to remote viewers.
Nut graf: Council members said the system could reduce the audio lag and limited visibility remote attendees experience with the council’s current YouTube livestream. They asked staff to gather more technical and security information, monitor school-district trials, and return with specifics early next year.
Council members raised questions about capacity, connectivity and security. Councilman Chris Johnson asked whether sound quality in the demonstration matched the city’s needs; staff said audio delivered to remote viewers is substantially improved over the current YouTube livestream. Council members asked whether the Meeting Owl requires an Ethernet connection or can use wireless, and what protections would be needed for the host computer running the device. Miss Hobbs and other staff said they would research maximum concurrent logins, network protections and warranty/insurance options; the vendor reportedly offers a two-year extended warranty.
Cost and pilot plan: Staff reported a quoted configuration for Middleton’s chamber would cost about $2,099 plus two expansion microphones for wider coverage. Staff noted the city has discretionary funds available for such purchases and that the school district will run trial meetings after the new year; the council agreed to watch the district’s trial and bring a more detailed proposal back in February or March.
Next steps: Councilmembers suggested options to ceiling-mount the unit, test placement so it is not visually obtrusive, and run a 30-day trial before purchase. No purchase decision was made at the meeting; staff will return with a formal recommendation and technical details.
