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STAFF AGENDA REPORT
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
ISSUES:
FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
CONSIDER WHETHER COST ESTIMATES SHOULD
OBTAINED TO CABLE TELEVISE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
APRIL 4, 1994
BE
Councilmember Schenck has asked to discuss the possibility of
televising regular City Council meetings on the Local Government
Access Cable Channel. He would like to know whether Council
Members believe it would be appropriate to calculate the potential
cost of cable casting meetings to determine whether it is an action
that the City could afford.
The City Council has historically sought to keep the public informed
about local matters. The Prior Lake American, Wavelength and
due process notifications are examples of efforts to keep the public
informed.
Some cities have begun to use Cable Television to bring the local
government message to the public. When tried, this tool works
quite well in reaching those who subscribe to cable television.
Unfortunately the cost of cable televising can be prohibitive. If the
public is to be expected to watch meetings often lasting two or
more hours, the quality of the broadcast must be acceptable both in
video and audio terms. A quality production can require significant
investments both in equipment and in cable operators. The
equipment once purchased needs to be maintained.
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4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDATION:
FAGNgC.WRT
A number of alternatives are possible:
Reinstate no cost publication of the minutes in the
newspaper at an approximate annual cost of $9,000.00 per
year. The city now sells annual subscriptions to the
minutes.
Do nothing
Request that the staff obtain a cost estimate for providing
cable television of the City Council to evaluate as part of
the 1995 budgeting process.
The Council should direct staff on which of the options set forth
above it prefers to pursue.
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