The audio-visual system in council chambers at Bainbridge Island City Hall will soon get a major upgrade.
The city council unanimously approved a proposal Tuesday to pay Advanced Broadcast Solutions of SeaTac a total of $245,606 to purchase four high-definition video cameras, video broadcast equipment, microphones and other gear.
City officials said the purchase, which was approved on a 5-0 vote with two council members absent, will improve the quality of broadcasts on local cable, as well as for those who watch archived meeting broadcasts on the city’s website and those who attend council meetings and watch the in-chamber simulcast.
Money for the improvements will come from the Public, Educational and Government Equipment Fund.
Funding is available for the purchase, said city spokeswoman Kellie Stickney.
The equipment fund contained $291,067 as of June 30, she said. Revenues for the fund come from a $1 per month charge that is added to cable subscribers’ bills.
Additional staffing will not be needed, Stickney said.
Stickney said the upgrade has been a high priority on the council’s 2015 work plan.
The city has received many complaints from residents about the poor sound quality of meeting recordings.
Stickney recalled the feedback from a recent community meeting on the island’s water resources. It was a topic that interested many, but the quality of the recording was lacking.
“The audio was so poor that people couldn’t watch it,” she said.
Upgrading the audio-visual equipment is also a way to enhance public engagement with the city, especially for people with busy work schedules, commuters and others who can’t make it to meetings at city hall.
“These are improvements that really need to be made so the public can better engage with the city council,” she said.
As part of the contract, Advanced Broadcast Solutions will install four Panasonic robotic cameras, set up a control room just off the council chambers, improve lighting in the room, and install a new projector and screen.
The council previously considered upgrading its broadcast equipment last fall, but the council blanched at a nearly $1 million proposal for new gear from CBG Communications and sent the proposal back for “right-sizing” via more community input with local broadcasting experts.
