Pine City council votes to begin live streaming EDA, HA and planning meetings

The Pine City Council voted on April 6 to begin live streaming monthly Economic Development Authority (EDA), Housing Authority (HA) and planning meetings "as soon as possible," aiming to expand public access to advisory‑body proceedings.

A motion to begin live streaming those monthly meetings was made by Dan and seconded by Kyle and passed on a voice vote. Council members and staff discussed practical details such as evening meeting times to increase public participation, equipment and internet needs in some meeting locations, and scheduling conflicts driven by existing bylaws for some boards.

Council members noted that streaming could increase participation and provide an archive for residents who cannot attend in person; several members urged staff to phase the work, beginning with advisory boards that meet monthly and then assessing department meetings and technical upgrades as needed.

Implementation steps described at the meeting included confirming local authority to direct public meetings, ensuring reliable audio/video equipment, enabling closed‑captioning where possible, and setting a promotional schedule so residents know when and where to watch. Council asked staff to proceed and return with timelines and cost estimates if additional equipment is required.

The vote places Pine City among small municipalities using streamed meetings to boost transparency and public engagement, while council members emphasized that some meeting times might still need to shift to encourage in‑person participation.