Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Meetings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City manager recommends switching livestream to Teams; council debates public-comment accessibility
Summary
City Manager proposed switching the city livestream to Microsoft Teams to cut subscription costs, noting the Teams webinar option can avoid required registration but would eliminate live audio public comment; staff proposed accepting emailed public comment in advance and creating an in-person sign-in system. Manager also warned of upcoming business-license modification hearings and board vacancies.
The city manager recommended the council consider switching the municipal livestream/webinar service to Microsoft Teams to reduce a roughly $3,000 annual Zoom subscription cost. "With that set up to do a live stream webinar on Teams, there is an option that does not require a user to register or share their email address," the manager said, "which is the route that we would prefer. However, that prevents any unmuting and speaking for public comment during that livestream."
To preserve public input, staff proposed accepting emailed public comment submitted in advance (staff suggested 24 hours before the meeting) so comments could be included in the meeting packet and minutes; the manager also recommended implementing an in-person sign-in system to capture accurate speaker information for follow-up. Several council members raised access concerns if live audio comment were removed; suggestions included shortening the advance-submission window to 12 hours and ensuring alternative options for those without reliable internet.
The manager also reported other administrative matters: an update on the MST/OCMI tax (the board decided to proceed with a reduced quarter-percentage assessment), multiple business licenses that have expired and will be subject to modification hearings on November 12 and potential revocation hearings on December agendas if not resolved, and four vacancies on city boards and commissions that staff will propose filling in upcoming meetings.
Council direction: staff will move forward with the recommendation while assessing accessibility impacts and will return with adjustments to the public-comment timing and the sign-in approach after gathering feedback.
