Council still says no to televised meetings
For whatever reason, this didn't appear online. This story ran today:
Effort to bring back televised meetings fails in West Covina
By Jennifer McLain
Staff Writer
WEST COVINA -- City Council members upheld their decision Tuesday to cut televised meetings as a means to save money.
Despite testimony from nearly 20 residents, including one who said the decision is a form of dictatorship, council members said that this was one of many cuts that had to be made to reduce a $7.9 million deficit.
"We are only doing this temporarily until we are in better times," said Mayor Sherri Lane. "But there have been no new taxes, we are preserving public safety and there have been no cuts to senior citizen services."
Residents presented the council a petition with nearly 1,000 signatures, collected since the broadcasts were pulled from TV and online in July. According to a staff report, cutting the broadcasts saves $180,000 annually.
On Tuesday, Councilman Roger Hernandez asked the council to consider reinstituting the broadcast of meetings.
"This merits a second look by the city council," Hernandez said Tuesday. "We can't break down the cornerstone of government."
He said there are other positions and places in the city's budget that can afford to be cut, such as the public information officer position held by Sue Williams, a legislative consultant contract and a newsletter.
Hernandez estimates that cutting those would result in a nearly $162,000 in savings.
But the other four council members disagreed, and said that budget cuts have impacted all departments, including fire and police, in the city.
"I understand that the broadcasts are important, but there are a lot of other things that are important, and we still have a $2 million deficit," said Councilwoman Shelley Sanderson.
Most of the residents that spoke Tuesday asked the council to reconsider reinstating the broadcasts, and some residents suggested the council find alternative funding sources, such as through grants.
"The live broadcast of the City Council meetings is not a luxury. It is a necessity," said West Covina resident Fred Sykes, one of nearly a dozen who collected signatures protesting the council's decision.
But others said that this temporary cut is one that they understand in this tight economy.
"I think this is one area where I can afford to lose," said West Covina resident Peter Davis.
West Covina has televised the meetings for nearly 20 years, and the addition of airing the meetings online has encouraged open government, residents said.
The decision to cut the broadcasts, some said, was a a step backward.
"To me it is a dictatorship, censorship and it's not right," said Azusa resident Mike Lee.
While council members said that they understood the frustration of residents, sacrifices need to be made during times of budget cuts.
"I didn't want to see us close City Hall on Fridays, but we had to," Councilman Mike Touhey said Monday. "You can't please everyone."
[TAG1]jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com
Then it's true: The Revolution Will NOT be televised.
If it saves $180,000 a year, does that mean the two guys who ran it make up to $90,000 a year? Where do I sign up, man? Has anyone seen a breakdown of where that $180,000 goes. That would be interesting to see.
West Covina Watcher also has some of the info but gives out always misinformation. Mt. Sac chargers the city according to the staff report Appox. $60,000.00 a year plus annual cost of living adjustments for there services to broadcast the meeting only they do not film the meeting or produce it. So that leaves $120,000.00 a year for the 2 Prod Asst. that are city employees one at 42,900.00 Salary plus benefits of $17,754.00 thats health, dental, optical and retirement. The second Prod Asst. $42,268.00 Salary plus benefits of $18,193.00 thats health, dental, optical and retirement. That totals the $180,000.00 Appox. for the cable broadcast. West Covina Watcher I thought you state in your bio that you work for a college what is your salary and benefit the taxpayer pays for you. When government tells you there cost in this case they were telling you both salary and benefits. You took that total and acted like they each make $90,000.00 a year! Come on West Covina Watcher the facts just the facts!
I must say that if you are an "Average Joe" than average must mean really stupid! Obviously English was not your strongest subject. One fact you left out in your posting is the $150,000 that the City gets from Charter Cable. Perhaps math was not your best subject as well.
The City of West Covina should consider "streaming" its meetings on the internet rather than paying the hefty cost of video recording via cable. It has been said that only a small percentage of residents subscribe to cable so streaming would make more fiscal sense. In today's technical environment, most households have access to the internet. Streaming would be more cost effective and the council would reach more of it's constituency because the audio could be accessed via the internet either live or anytime following a meeting. Come on West Covina Officials, bring your city into the 21st Century like the surrounding city's of La Puente and Baldwin Park!
WC Resident if you went to the council meetings and / or got a staff report the $150,000. you refered to (PEG Funds) can only be used for capital upgrades to the system, not ongoing personnel or maintenance costs. That was confirmed last night. So your figure is correct in what the city receives, but the funds have a restricted use. The personnel cost are paid for from the city's general fund. Do you know how to read a budget, the city's budget is available at city hall. You should try reading it!
Once again WC Resident your incorrect! To video stream the meeting you must first tape it that cost was $120,000.00 for the prod. assts. according to the staff report from last nights meeting. Baldwin Park and La Puente don't stream there council meetings they have audio only. Once again your better in english but incorrect on your facts!
Average Joe: FYI, audio only is considered a form a "streaming". You are right, the City's of La Puente and BP don't have "video", however, those city's do make their audio available to the general public at a nominal cost. It is my understanding that this method requires no additional staff to be present, other than the already present City Clerk. Audio streaming would, at minimum, provide the residents of WC the ability to audibly hear the proceedings. Whoever said that "audio streaming" costs $120,000 is way off base. I encourage you (Average Joe) to contact the City's of La Puente and Baldwin Park so that you too can have the accurate facts.
WC Resident #2 the $120,000.00 refered to is for video taping it needed prod. assts. to film. I do agree that audio casting is alot cheaper, however it does require staff time (not alot of staff time)but it is much cheaper.
Average Joe: I never said I worked for a college. I have no idea where you got that. I don't mind the breakdown you just provided because I've never seen it, which leads me to believe Average Joe isn't so Average. I'm also not handing out misinformation, my entire post was basically a question ASKING for some answers. I think Average Joe has a wittle bit of a pwoblem with me... LOL! Hey, Average Joe, how much would it cost the city to have some volunteers in the booth, or maybe some interns? Instead of pissing and moaning at everyone's WRONG opinions/facts, maybe you can use that brain power to find more innovative ways to make the residents happy. I complain a lot myself, but I try to throw some new ideas out there.
This is what happens when people who have not been involved in the city for very long, they don't always know all the history. The city has in the past used Mt. Sac Student volunteers and part timers and they had problems with them not showing up. That's why a few years ago they went to full time staff to make sure they had reliable workers. If you recall, we use to have a news broadcast on Thursday, WCCTV, I think the first Newscaster was Jim Patton, Andy did sports and Flo did senior issues, that was probably 15 years ago. That was done live from the Mt. Sac Studio.
The only new idea since then was Mr. John Solis's idea to look at some grant funding, that sounds like a good idea to me.
However West Covina Watcher, your other comments about what the commish(Christina Espanza)emailed you about on what Councilmember Sanderson was wearing makes you sound a little creepy. You sound like a pervert.
Ok, so volunteers/students/part-timers aren't as reliable as full time paid employees...makes sense.
So instead of going back to volunteers/etc, on a temp basis, we will just pull the plug instead?...makes no sense at all. Even if the broadcast is occasionally held up due to late volunteers...that is far better than simply keeping the citizens in the dark.
Amazing that in a time when more and more cities are expanding access to their proceedings, the West Covina Council decides to take a giant step backwards. Oh well, I wouldn't expect anything less from this group.
Hey West Covina Watcher sounds like a great idea having volunteers do the broadcast.So why don't you volunteer and I will help you.
It looks like "West Covina Watcher" has gone over the edge with his West Covina hobby I am concerned for the safety of our councilmembers . It is time the Tribune remove links to his blog.
The Commish did call me a "perv" and a few other not-so-nice names I didn't share with my readers. I just think Mrs. Sanderson is a cutie. What's wrong with that? Gee, Average Joe, you sure know a lot about the history of the city. Are you Forrest Tennant? And thanks for reading! As for volunteering myself, it's a miracle I can work my DVD player. Electronics and the Watcher do not mix well.
I hear West Covina Watcher is a registered sex offender!
Has anyone looked into this?
LOL!!! That's it! You caught me!
Hi Average Joe. Thanks for the shout out, but for future reference, there's no "N" in my last name. Have a nice day.