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Tarrant council tables livestreaming and transparency resolutions pending administrator access and role clarifications
Summary
Councilors tabled two resolutions after discussion about administrator access to the official Facebook page and the city contractor We R Smart; council asked for written clarifications from city staff before resuming action.
The Tarrant City Council on Feb. 2 tabled two separate resolutions after members raised administrative and access concerns related to livestreaming and the proposed administration of local financial-transparency rules.
Councilor Bruce Cooper introduced Resolution No. 9383 to authorize official online streaming and recording for council meetings, and Resolution No. 9384 to implement Article IV, Division 2, §§ 2-93 and 2-94 of the City ordinances to improve local financial transparency. During discussion, council members focused on who holds administrator access to the City’s official Facebook page and the role of the city's IT contractor, We R Smart.
Mayor Tracie B. Threadford noted the city has paid the contractor in recent years, saying the city paid "about $1.4 million dollars in the past 3 to 4 years" while discussing whether the contractor could activate a screening room for livestreaming. Councilor Charles Johnson and Councilor McClellan asked for clearer documentation of administrator access and contractor responsibilities; the council agreed to table both resolutions until staff provides written clarifications.
Why it matters: Official streaming and clear internal ownership of online accounts affect public access to meetings. The transparency resolution would formalize administrative responsibilities for local financial disclosures; Council asked for the City Clerk and City Attorney to clarify duties before proceeding.
Council action: The council voted unanimously to table Resolution No. 9383 and Resolution No. 9384 pending administrative clarification. The council asked the City Clerk and City Attorney to prepare written documentation on roles and access rights and set follow-up reporting to a future meeting.
Provenance: Discussion and unanimous tabling for both resolutions are recorded at SEG 003–SEG 005 in the meeting transcript.
Ending: Both resolutions were tabled; staff were directed to return with written clarifications before the council takes further action.
