11/24/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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M - M Administrator Chandler pointed out that the figures mentioned are average and would vary depending on the length of any meeting. Chairman Eggert was concerned about the cost. Her discussions -. with members of the community indicated there is not a great deal of interest in viewing these meetings on television. Commissioner Adams doubted that the cost could be justified and suggested staff should research the possibility of audio broadcasts as an alternative. Commissioner Bird was more inclined to favor printing the agenda in the newspaper and foregoing television coverage until staff could discuss it with the high school. Commissioner Macht thought that the cost should be secondary to the Board's obligation to conduct business in the sunshine and to use whatever means are available to inform those who wish to be informed. He reported that he received a significant amount of feedback from citizens in favor of televising Board meetings. He added that the cost projections provided by staff were based on live broadcasts and that a great deal of money could be saved by simply videotaping the proceedings and showing the videotape on the government access channel, which does not charge for these broadcasts. - Chairman Eggert agreed that staff should research the possibility of working with the high school. Commissioner Tippin felt that there is a lack of interest in televised Board meetings, and that we have gotten along fine without televising the meetings. He agreed that recording the meetings on a camcorder for posterity would be very useful and also recommended that this be further -discussed with the School Board. Commissioner Macht explained that he was only referring to public hearings, rather than televising all the Board meetings in their entirety. Commissioner Adams suggested videotapes be made and copied for interested parties. Further discussion ensued, and Chairman Eggert requested staff to look into the possibility of audio broadcasts. Commissioner Macht was in favor of the agenda being advertised in the Sebastian Sun as well as the Press Journal newspapers. Bill Koolage, 11 Vista Gardens Drive, was in favor of televising the meetings. He pointed out that he had difficulty hearing the proceedings in person, and he thought that broadcasting the meetings on television in the evening would bring the meetings to people and educate them as to what goes on at the Board meetings. He encouraged County staff to work with the high school to do this at a reasonable cost. 31 BOOK �� r'•��r �a�? � NOV a �4 X992