Webcast council meetings are coming to North Saanich.
Council opted for a one-year trial of posting its meetings on the internet, with an outset cost of $10,000.
“There was a modest amount of discussion,” said Alice Finall, mayor of North Saanich, of the decision during council’s final meeting of 2010. “Council started discussing this over a year ago … It’s another communication tool that we thought was worthwhile.”
They opted for the company recommended by municipal staff, Granicus Inc. which operates similar systems in Osoyoos, Hope and Pitt Meadows. The cameras will come in January followed by hardware and software installation, then system testing. The system should be in place for public use by April.
Council set aside the anticipated $10,000 cost in next year’s budget.
“When we looked at it a year ago it was very expensive, but this is a more modest cost,” Finall said. “We’re going to try for a year and see how the public receives it.”
Ongoing costs, should the district continue with the webcasts past the one-year trial, are estimated at $10,000 a year.
Finall said that being able to watch a meeting online may make residents more comfortable coming before council, as they learn the process and see it in action.
“Some people are really nervous about coming and speaking to council,” Finall said. “It does help people to see the process.”
The webcasts would be available through the district website at www.northsaanich.ca.
“Based on discussions with other municipalities who have implemented webcasting, it will not be recommended that the district provides live broadcasts of council meetings,” the staff report said.
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