GILROY
– The city in Silicon Valley’s southernmost corner has gone high
tech, at least in terms of how it broadcasts its high-profile
meetings.
GILROY – The city in Silicon Valley’s southernmost corner has gone high tech, at least in terms of how it broadcasts its high-profile meetings.
The City of Gilroy launched its first-ever Web cast last week, making the Sept. 15 City Council session viewable worldwide. Although the Web cast had a technical glitch in its first run – the audio level was too low – a candidates forum last Wednesday aired error free.
“We’ve been kind of in a Beta testing phase for several weeks,” said Joe Kline, the city’s public information officer. “We’re excited about it, and as time goes on the ease of use and the broadcast quality will only improve.”
Before Web casts, only Charter Cable customers could watch the meetings – on channel 17 – without being at the session itself. Kline said City Council meetings, Planning Commission meetings, candidates forums and other high-profile events will be aired.
Gilroy has had the Web cast equipment available for some time, but tech upgrades to City Council chambers took priority, Kline said. Those improvements include a ceiling mounted digital projector that is connected to the room’s public speaker lectern. The equipment lets presenters show documents and make PowerPoint presentations on the chambers’ large screen.
The city paid $30,000 for its Web cast equipment and will pay $5,000 for maintenance and tech support yearly.
Although demand for live Web casts is relatively unknown, the service makes it possible to keep archives of meetings on the city’s Web site. Users can download a Web-casted meeting and watch it in entirety just like they can on channel 17 replays or videotape now. However, the digital medium brings the added benefit of being able to jump from one section of the Web cast to another.
“You can access what you want by a click and scroll of the mouse,” Kline said.
The City’s Web site is www.ci.gilroy.ca.us.
