Board moves forward with televising its meetings

By: Janine Shimomura

Posted: 3/4/10

In an effort to bring transparency to the Board of Trustees proceedings, a proposal for a one-year pilot including the televising and webcasting of meetings was passed in a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, on Wednesday.

The proposal outlines a plan to use the video recording equipment that is provided free of charge to the college by the Pasadena Community Access Corporation (PCAC). The PCAC would also provide the production truck and staffing for an additional $15,400 per year, which amounts to $700 for each of the 22 board meetings.

The board looks to begin the broadcasts in July. Neither the televised nor webcast version will be streamed live, though the web version will allow interested parties to access the meeting 24 hours a day.

The one-year pilot is intended to gauge interest for the broadcasts, and may be renewed or considered null at the end of one year.

The proposal was brought before the board by Robert Miller, the interim dean of education services.

Miller himself is dedicated to the idea of civil engagement within the community, encouraging constituents of the trustees to be socially responsible. He strongly believes that transparency in government is the best way to communicate with the constituency.

"This is really an opportunity for the community to watch their government in action," Miller said.

Another option included in the proposal called for PCC broadcasting students to work along with the PCAC staff with a projected savings of $50 to $100 per meeting. The students would serve as unpaid interns and earn credit instead, with the potential to be hired by PCAC at a later date. Those students would not serve as a replacement for the PCAC crew but rather to aid the crew.

The presentation also included the options for potential live webcasting using two servers, which would encode and broadcast live video using the current PCC network. The webcast would be distributed through the existing PCC website.

The additional cost for webcasting would be $6,500 with a contingency fund for lighting and facilities that would be an additional $2,500. The total projected cost for the proposal would be $24,400 annually.

The complications of the cable broadcasting would be the inability to broadcast live, instead airing at least 12 hours after the board meeting would take place. The cable broadcast would be on PCC's own Charter Cable Channel 96 serving the Pasadena and Altadena area.

When the issue was previously discussed at the Feb. 16 meeting, Trustee Jeanette Mann had concerns over whether or not the other areas of the college's districts would be able to view the meetings.

"I'm hesitant to move forward with this if it is not representative of all districts," Mann said.

The revised proposal addresses that concern, but the college would have limited ability to control when the board meetings would air on channels in other regions of the district. Furthermore, the areas of La Canada, San Marino, and Rosemead are still undergoing negotiations for broadcast.

Another concern that the board had regarded was student success, whether it would aid or hinder it by taking away funds that could be used for other resources. Many trustees voiced support for the intern program contained within the proposal, allowing students to train hands-on in the field.

The report was first requested by Trustee William Thomson and approved by the board at the Oct. 21 meeting. It was then researched and compiled by Miller. The topic did not return to the agenda until the Feb. 16 meeting but it was not listed as an action item, limiting it to discussion only-to the frustration of Thomson.

"Why can't we say discussion then possible action? That gives us the freedom to do something," Thomson said. "Let's not have that occur again please."