Currently all regular Council meetings and Commission meetings are broadcast via cable television (QCTV) except for the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA).  To further the City's communication goal of open communication, staff is recommending the Council consider cablecasting the EPB and EDA meetings via QCTV as well.

Items of a confidential nature (such as real estate negotiations) would still be held in closed sessions.  Meetings would be live-streamed as well as achieved on the QCTV web site.  Since many projects involve review by several of different commissions, this would give the Council and other Commission members an opportunity to review discussions on tape.  The location of the meetings would be moved to the Council chambers in order to facilitate the cablecast. This would have the added advantage of freeing-up meeting space to other user groups (since we do not normally rent out Council chambers space).

In addition, staff has been asked to research the attendance of Council and Commission members from a remote location.  The City Attorney's memo on this issue is attached for discussion.  At this point in time, the law allows attendance via "interactive television" with full voting rights under the conditions outlined by the City Attorney.  In the future, this does appear to allow members more flexible meeting options, however the City may be limited by the available technology.    Staff is seeking discussion and direction regarding additional policy in regard to this issue.
 

EPB and EDA meetings could begin cable televised meetings as soon as March 2018.  Meeting locations would need to be moved to the Council chambers.

Not applicable.  Televising the EPB and EDA regular meetings would have no additional cost to the City and would be absorbed by the existing QCTV budget.

City Administrator

Consensus direction regarding cablecast of EPB and EDA meetings, and policy direction regarding remote attendance at public meetings.