Post by tonya on May 17, 2006 19:54:31 GMT -5
Now this could be very interesting........ 
May 17, 2006
Cable station ready to air city meetings
DAYTONA BEACH -- Move over "American Idol."
This time next year, the nationwide talent show could face some ratings competition from a local hot-button reality show: Daytona Beach City Commission meetings.
Postponed
Two controversial topics originally expected to be discussed at tonight's Daytona Beach City Commission meeting have been postponed:
· A recommendation from the city's vision executive committee to reject the land-use document will be addressed during a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 5 at City Hall.
· A request from Volusia County to build a residential treatment facility in a warehouse behind the Health Department on Holsonback Drive has been put off until June 21 at the county's request.
On Wednesday nights, city residents can flip to Bright House Channel 99 and watch real-life political sparks fly, thanks to a 15-year franchise agreement city officials recently hammered out with the cable giant.
"This is an opportunity for more people to be involved," Deputy City Manager Paul McKitrick said. "Even if (residents) stay at home, they can at least understand how government works."
It's taken about seven years for the city and cable company to come up with an agreement to air City Commission meetings. Bright House will pay the city $300,000 over the next two years to cover new equipment and installation of cameras in City Hall chambers and will collect the funds on cable customers' bills at a rate of seven cents per month.
The City Commission will be asked to approve the agreement tonight.
Daytona Beach, which previously aired video Webcasts, will share Channel 99 with other Volusia County governments, including Port Orange, which became the first Volusia city to broadcast its government meetings last spring. Under the deal, Daytona Beach residents will see Daytona Beach programs while Port Orange residents will see Port Orange programs.
Volusia County has been negotiating with Bright House to show its meetings on Channel 99 as well, but council members have asked for a separate station, arguing that their constituents are countywide and should see county programs without being interrupted by city government meetings.
The county has considered sharing Channel 2 with the School Board, which shows 90 hours of weekly programming countywide. Flagler County and Palm Coast also televise their meetings on a separate channel.
Daytona Beach's deal with Bright House is similar to that negotiated with Port Orange. However, unlike Port Orange, Daytona Beach officials don't plan to host shows or record events -- at least not yet, McKitrick said.
The city will start with airing commission meetings and scrolling information in the next year, then could move on to broadcast other meetings, such as the Planning Board, he said.
City Commissioner Shiela McKay, one of the strongest proponents of the channel, praised the deal, saying it will bring busy people, who can't always make meetings, closer to their government.
"Now people can keep their finger on the pulse of what's going on with their government," she said.
Credit to the News Journal, who kinda sorta gave me permission to distribute this article.
Tonya
May 17, 2006
Cable station ready to air city meetings
DAYTONA BEACH -- Move over "American Idol."
This time next year, the nationwide talent show could face some ratings competition from a local hot-button reality show: Daytona Beach City Commission meetings.
Postponed
Two controversial topics originally expected to be discussed at tonight's Daytona Beach City Commission meeting have been postponed:
· A recommendation from the city's vision executive committee to reject the land-use document will be addressed during a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 5 at City Hall.
· A request from Volusia County to build a residential treatment facility in a warehouse behind the Health Department on Holsonback Drive has been put off until June 21 at the county's request.
On Wednesday nights, city residents can flip to Bright House Channel 99 and watch real-life political sparks fly, thanks to a 15-year franchise agreement city officials recently hammered out with the cable giant.
"This is an opportunity for more people to be involved," Deputy City Manager Paul McKitrick said. "Even if (residents) stay at home, they can at least understand how government works."
It's taken about seven years for the city and cable company to come up with an agreement to air City Commission meetings. Bright House will pay the city $300,000 over the next two years to cover new equipment and installation of cameras in City Hall chambers and will collect the funds on cable customers' bills at a rate of seven cents per month.
The City Commission will be asked to approve the agreement tonight.
Daytona Beach, which previously aired video Webcasts, will share Channel 99 with other Volusia County governments, including Port Orange, which became the first Volusia city to broadcast its government meetings last spring. Under the deal, Daytona Beach residents will see Daytona Beach programs while Port Orange residents will see Port Orange programs.
Volusia County has been negotiating with Bright House to show its meetings on Channel 99 as well, but council members have asked for a separate station, arguing that their constituents are countywide and should see county programs without being interrupted by city government meetings.
The county has considered sharing Channel 2 with the School Board, which shows 90 hours of weekly programming countywide. Flagler County and Palm Coast also televise their meetings on a separate channel.
Daytona Beach's deal with Bright House is similar to that negotiated with Port Orange. However, unlike Port Orange, Daytona Beach officials don't plan to host shows or record events -- at least not yet, McKitrick said.
The city will start with airing commission meetings and scrolling information in the next year, then could move on to broadcast other meetings, such as the Planning Board, he said.
City Commissioner Shiela McKay, one of the strongest proponents of the channel, praised the deal, saying it will bring busy people, who can't always make meetings, closer to their government.
"Now people can keep their finger on the pulse of what's going on with their government," she said.
Credit to the News Journal, who kinda sorta gave me permission to distribute this article.
Tonya
