HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-08 Council Packet - Work SessionKENAI CITY COUNCIL
WORK SE SION
AUGUST ~, 2007
5:30 P.M.- 6:45 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBERS
Summary: Council Meeting Broadcasting
The following 'rncludes a summary of the Kenai City Council direeCed project to develop
a delayed cable TV broadcast of City Council meetings, enlisting the aid of Kenai Central High
School. lt also includes a of sununary additianal means and media developed and explored to
complemenT the delayed cable TV broadeast of City Council meetings including a radio
broadcast, ]ive cable TV broadcast, SoniClear Gov online archive, SoniClear Gov (ive webcast,
and live network camera feed.
Councii Approved:
Delayed Cable TV Broadeast: City of Kenai City Council meetings would be broadcasted live
on GCI cable, viewabie oi1 the 1oca1 access channel at a tater time. The filmin~ of the meetings
would be performed by a Kenai Cenfral High School (KCHS) Leadership Class student. A
posiTion would be created and fil'.ed, sim.:lar to the Student R~pres~ntative seaC, ~nfistir~g a single
student each year upon whom the responsibility of recording the CiYy Council meetings would
fa11. Alternates couid be named; and ultimate responsibility for the recording would fall on Mr.
Beeson, Mr. Kiel, or Ms. Bayes.
"Che KCHS Athietic Deparhnent would make a game-film camera available to Yhe Ciry
for the recording of the City Council meetings. A copy of the recording would ulYimately have
to be delivered to GCI in Soldotna in the form oF a VHS videotape. The copying and potential
transferal process of a digital file to a VHS videotape would be performed by the City Clerk.
KCHS could also make its transferal equipmeiit available.
Council has directed Adininistration to bo develop this prqiect, all that remaiils to be
done is substantiate details and develop a written agreement beCween KCHS and the City. The
first Ciry Council ineeting the student would be able to fitm this year would be the SepYember
19"' meetiizg. Potential costs may include a courier service to deliver the VHS tape to GCI and a
small stipend to KCHS. Aceessing this broadcast requires a TV and at least a subscription
costing $19.99/month to GCPs basie cable service.
Molloy Recommended Complementary Options:
SoniCtear Gov Online Archive: City of Kenai public meeting proceedin~s would be ~osted on
the Internet at some point after the proceedings have ciosed. The CiYy's recently acquired
SoniClear Gov program is capable of creating a verbatim, digital recordin~ of City public
meetings. Once posted online this digital recording would be available to be downloaded To an
individual's personal computer hard drive. Once downloaded the file would be played on a
media player. The required media players come standard as a part of the program suite on
personal computers.
The file of the digital recordings is ll Mbs. To make this service feasible the Ciry would
have to upgrade its Internet and website hosting services. The eost incurred by The City to make
these upgrades would be $2855.88. The City's website would have to be modified and upgraded
as well. Doing so would require a one time service. Accessing Chese 61es online requires a
1
personal computer and an Internet service on the part of Che individuaL The cheapest dial-up
connection is $19.99.
SoniClear Gov Live Webeast: City of Kenai public meeting proceedings would be broadcasced
live over the Tnternet as an audio webcast. The City would have to acc~uire the webcasting
portion of the SoniClear Gov program. The City's public meeting proceedings would be
available to be accessed on the City's website as a live streaming audio file. The F1e would be
streamed live using a media player. The required media players come standard as a part of the
program suite on personat computers.
To make this service feasible the City would have to upgrade its Intemet and website
hosTing services. The cost incurred by the Ciry to make these upgrades would be $2855.88 per
year. Additionaily the City would have to make a one time expenditure of $1500.00 to acquire
the webcasting portion of the program. The City's website would have to be niodified and
upgraded as well. Doing so would require a one time service. Accessing these files online
requires a personal computer and a broadband Internet service on the part of Yhe individual. The
cheapest DSL service is $34.00/month and Che cheapest eable Internet service is $39.00/month.
Live Network Camera Feed: Cit~~ of Kenai public meeting proceedings would be accessed
online by tap~ing into the live A/V uetwork feed of the networic camera, a Panasonic BL-Cl 11.
The network camera would be mounted in the Council Chambers. Once turned on, the network
camera relays it's feed directly to the server. The at home user taps into the ~etwork feed online
via a Yl~ird parry website provided by Panasonic. The City could set up a link on its website
directing the viewer to the Panasonic website. The A/V feed would be played on a media player.
The required media players come standard as a part of the program suite on personal computers.
To make this service feasible the City would have to upgrade its Internet and website
hosting serviees. The cost ineurred by fhe City to make these upgrades would be $2~55.88 per
year. Additionally the City would have to make a one time expenditure of $199.99 to aequire the
webcasting portion of the program. The City's website would have fo be modified and upgraded
as well. Doing so would require a oue time service. Accessing these files online requires a
personal computer and a broadband Internet service on fhe part of the individuaL The cheapest
DSL service is $34.00/month and the cheapest cabie Internet service is $39.00/month.
Not Recornmended:
Radio Broadcast: City of Kenai public meetings would be broadcasted on a local radio station
live and(or delayed. Equipment and services would be provided by the radio station. City of
Homer City Council meetings are broadcasted live on KBBI as a public service. Kenai
Peninsula Barough (KPB) Assembly meetings are broadcasted by KDLL at a reported cost of
$13,000.00. The aimual cost to Che City of Kenai to broadcasY only its City Council meetings
would be similar to the reported $13,OOO.flO that KPB pays.
Live Cabte TV Broadeast: City of Kenai public meetin~s would be broadcasted live on GCI
cable, viewable on the local access cha~meL The City of Seward City Council meetings are
broadcasted live by UCI as a public service. A live broadcast of Kenai City Council meeYings is
currently impossible. City Hall lacks connectivity to the Spur Highway cable line that sends the
signal to the broadcast tower outside of Soldotna. To install a line connecting City Hall to the
Spur Highway cable line would cost no less Yhan $50,000.00, but likely more, and create
significant traffic disruptions.
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Leslie Krusen
City of Kenai 1VIedia lssues:
A Council Member Molloy report on media and means through which to disseminate City of
Kenai public meetin~ proceedings
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and recommendations sTated in this report are the authors' and
Council Member Molloy's views, opinions, and recommendations, not the Cicy Administration's
or Council's. ~
Council Member Molloy is the sponsor of this report and is solely responsible for its content.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 ~Impetus and Goals
L2 Means and Media Options
1.3 Criteria
2.0 Radio-Proficiencies
2.1 Radio-Precedent and Implementation
2.2 Radio-Deficiencies
2.3 Radio-Prognosis and Conciusion
3.0 Live C ab1e TV
3.1 Live Cabte TV-Precedent, Implementation, and Proficiencics
3.2 Live Cable TV-Deficiencies
3.3 Live Cable TV-Prognosis and Conclusion
4.0 Delayed Cable TV-Implementation
4.1 Deiayed Cabie TV-Proficiencies
4.2 Delayed Cabie TV-Deficieneies
4.3 Delayed Cable TV-Prognosis and Conclusion
5.0 SoniCl ear Gov Online Archive-ImplemenYaCion
5.1 SoniClear Gov Online Archive-Proficiencies
5.2 SoniClear Gov Online Archive-Proficiencies
5.3 SoniClear Gov Online Archive-Prognosis and Conclusion
6.0 SoniCl ear Gov Live Webcast-Impiementation
6.1 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Proficieneies
6.2 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Deficiencies
63 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Prognosis and Conclusion
7.0 Live N etwork Camera Feed-Implementation
7.1 Live Network Carnera Feed-Proficiencies
7.2 Live Network Camera Feed-Deficiencies
73 Live Netwark CameraFeed-Prognosis and Conclusion
8.0 General Prognosis and Conclusious
lA Introduetion
The purpose of this report is twofoid. One aspect focuses on providing City
Administration and Council with the status of the ongoing, Council directed project enlistin~ the
aid of KCHS to broadcast specifically Kenai City Councii meetings via a delayed cable
broadcast. 'Che other is to provide City Administration and Council with the status of the project
sponsored by ivlr. Molloy to develop means t0rough whieh to further disseminate City o'f Kenai
public meetings and complement the delayed cable TV broadcast: For the project sponsored by
Mr. Molloy the option to disseminate all City of Kenai public meetings is inYentionally
considered in this report and in the summary.
I'he impetus, methodology, fruits of the research, media and implementaCion options, and
Che authors' paz~ticutar as well as general conclusions are included in Yhis report.
11 Impetus and Goal
The impetus for this project is to improve and expand access to City of Kenai public
meeting proceedings. At this tirne meeting agendas and packet documents are made available to
Yhe public the Friday prior Yo public meetings in their en2ireYy online far viewing and
downloading. Additionally hardcopies can be obtained from City Ha1L Selected items are
diseussed briefly in the Peninsula Clarion the week of the meeting. The proceedings are
summuized in the foilowing packets in the form of minutes. Selected meeting proceedings are
discussed briefly foltowing the public meeting in the Peninsula Clarion.
In order to improve and expand access to Ciry public meetin~ proceedings beyond the
above avenues, addiYional means and media should be utilized to disseminate tne proceedings.
In doing so the City wiil have provided a public service that breeds greater knowledge,
appreciation, interesC, and participatiou in City affairs as well as engender transparency,
facilitating a more participatory democracy.
1.2 Means and Media Options
In the authors' search for viable media through which to disseminate public meetings to a
larger and more diverse general public the options devised and encountered ranged from the
traditional to the avant-garde. Tllose consulted ranged from the layman citizen to the well versed
expert. The set of options explored included traditional radio, internet radio, cable TV, the
remoYe access capabilities oPthe SoniClear Gov program, and remotely accessed iletwork
cameras. The employment of one or more of the above options certainly does not necessarily
negate the efficacy or necessity of employing another. Conversely, not employing one or more
of the above opYions does not necessarily negaYe the efficacy or necessity of emp(oying another.
Finally, the previous list is by no means exhaustive in regard to media that should be considered
in the future.
1.3 Criteria
In order to establish the theoretical potential efficacy and viability of each medium the
authors checked each againsY the fotlowing ideal in an effort to ultimately whittle down the
options to the holistically most effective medium/media. The medium should be cost-effective
and reliable; accessed in a straightforward manner; reach a large and diverse dernographic; allow
for flexible post-meeting audio and/or video feed attendance; create an on-demand, publzc-to-
private, verbatim archive; and create a tive, remotely accessible audio and/or video broadcast.
None of the media the researcher's encountered in Yheir efforts in a stand-alone utilization could
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fulfill this ideal; however the employment of multiple media working in concert generates an
environment in which each medium compensates for the deficits of the other, effectively
attaining the ideal.
2.0 Radio Proficiencies
A traditional radio broadcast of the City of Kenai's public meetings would meet certain
aspeets oF the above ouYlined criteria; however it would fail in o2hers. A traditional radio
broadcast would reach what would be the largest and most diverse demographic. If coupled with
a simultaneous InCernet radio broadcast the theoretieal volume and diversity of the demographic
xeached by a broadcast would greaCly expand. Nearly all residents of the City of Kenai have
access to either traditional radio or a computer capabte of accessing the Infernet, and both are
accessed in a straightforward manner.
2.1 Radio-Precedent and Implementation
The City of Homer has set a precedent displaying the viability of sueh a method by
conducting one aspect of its public meeting proceedings dissemination process via a tive
traditional and Infeinet radio broadcast. The tradifional radio broadcast can be accessed by
tuning into Homer's (ocal Public Radio station KBBI and the Internet Radio broadcast can be
accessed via KBBPs website (Calhoun, PI.). The City of Kenai's recently acquired recordin~
equipment and software is capable of creating a publio-to-private, verbatim archive of City of
Kenai public meetings. The mulCi-plafForm broadcast, as weil as fhe cost-free publie service
makes The h•aditic~naUInternet radio brc>adcast a viabie option in Homer; however those
conditions are unavailable to the City of Kenai.
2.2 Radio-Deficiencies
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly set a precedent by putting the service of
broadcasting their Assembly's meetings are broadcast by KDLL at a reported cost of $13,000 per
year. Multiple attempts were made to contact iocal radio sfations regarding interest in radio
broadcast of CiYy of Kenai meetings, but Chere was no response.
Using the Criteria as a yardstick demonstrates that a radio broadcast woulci not provide a
viable media through which to disseminate CiYy of Kenai public meetings. AlThough the onus of
ensuring a reliable production would be on the radio station, the $] 3,000 cost of the services
would render the radio broadcast as no Ionger being a cost effective solution. ~fforts couid be
made to mitigafe the cost, such as delaying Che broadcast. This solution would result in failure to
meet the remotely accessed live broadcast demand.
A standalone traditional radio broadcast wouid reach a large and varied audience, but
because the local radio stations do noT provide an Internet radio option both the size and cliversity
of the deinographic would be greatly diminished. Should a delayed broadcast be produced, it
would not allow for especially flexible post-meeting audio feed attendance do to the fact that the
listener would be constrained by the rigid scheduling demands of a radio station. Although the
Ciry's new recording equipment and software creates a publio-to-private, verbatim archive,
additional means woutd have to be imptemented to provide on-demand accessibility.
2.3 Radio-Prognosis and Conclusions
Given the local eonstraints and environment, as well as the essential nature of radio, a
radio bxoadcast would not provide an effective medium tkuough which to disseminate CiYy of
Kenai public meeting proeeedings
3.0 Live Cable TV
Much like a radio broadcast of City public meetings, a GCI cable TV broadcast would
meet certain aspects of fhe Criteria, yet come up short in others. The vast majority of City of
Kenai residents are capable oFreceiving GCPs cable TV service, creating Che potential - a
poCential that has yet to be entirely realized and will be discussed under 4.2 Delayed Cable TV-
Defieiencies - ihat such a broadcast wouid reach a large and diverse audience (Hart, PI.). ~
3.1 Precedent, Implementation, and Profieiency
The City of Seward has set a precedent dispiaying fhe viability of such a method by
conducting on~ aspect of its public meeting proceedings dissemination process via a live cable
TV broadcast, vicwable on the local access channel. In Seward, GCI provides this production as
a public service, going so far as to donate old cameras to the City of Seward (Lewis, PI.). The
ea~tensive and varied audience reached, as well as the cost-free public service nature of the
production makes a live cable TV broadcast a viable option for Che dissemination of City oF
Seward public meetings proceedings; however, these conditions do not exist in Kenai.
3.2 Live Cable TV-DetSeiencies
In order for GCI to creaCe a Iive cable TV broadcast of any event the site must have
connectivify via fiber-optic or convenCional cable Yo the nearest beoadcast tower. In the City of
Kenai's case Site-17, located easf of Soldotna, is the nearest broadcast Power. Kenai Ciry Hall
lacks the requisite connectivity to broadcast an event on cable TV. The nearesY fiber-optic cable
runs along the Spur Highway. Any project undertaken by GCI to link up CiCy Hail with the
fiber-optic cable would be enormously arduous, create inhibitive disruptions, and grossly
expensive. The project would involve ripping up Yhe asphalt along the roads accessing City Hall
in order to lay the fiber-optic cable underground. GCI's representative was reticent about
providing even a ball-park estimate in regard to the cost of such a capital project, but did
eventually state that between $50,000.00-$100,000.00, if nof higher, wc~uld be a fair estimate
(Hart, PI. j.
Despite the facC ChaY a live cable TV broadcast of COK public meetings would be easily
and reliably accessed by a]arge and diverse audience, the enormous costs of providing cabie
connectivity renders a live broadcast entirely implausible. Given the current technological
environment, ihe particular benent to the generai public does not warrant such a colossai cost
incursion by GCI and the City, rendering any further discussion of a live broadcast on cable TV
moot.
4.0 Delayed Cable TV-Implementation
GCI is willing to provide access to its broadcast media as a pubtic service, thus an
alternative utilization of cable TV earists (Hart, PI.). The lack of connectivity necessitates that
any cable TV broadcast be delayed. The City Council has directed Administration to develop
this program. The cunent proposal eniists a Kenai Central High School(I~CHS) student
enrolled in Mr. Beeson's Leadership class to film City Council meetings. The student would be
available no later than this year's September 19 City Council meeting, and possibly earlier in the
future. The videotape of the Council meeting would be delivered to GCPs office in Soldotna,
possibly by a courier serviee the following morning. The studeut would hold a permanent
position similar in nature to the Student Representative position. Under this proposal Che KCHS
Athletic Department would donaCe a game-film camera to the City to be used for filming City
Council meetings. Two cameras are available. One camexa is a video camera, while the second
is a digital camera, capable of transferring the digital recording Co a VHS tape. The process is a
simple one, involving the camera, a computer, and a VCR, all equipment that KCHS already
possesses (Beeson, PI.). As the City Clerk is ulYimatety responsible £or the newly created pubtic
article the transfer duties would most Iikely fall under the duties of the City Clerk.
4.1 Delayed Cable TV-Proficiencies
The delayed cable TV broadcast would be easily and reliably accessed by a large and
diverse audience. I`he cameras and videotapes have been donated, GCI is willing to broadcast
the City Counci( meetings as a pubtic service, and the labor is volunteered, making this an
eminenCly eost-effective method to disseminate council meetings (Hart, PI.). The single
external potenTial cost incursion would be a small stipend disbursed by the City to KCI-IS.
4.2 De[ayed Cable TV-Deficiencies
Not all residents of the Ciry and especially Yhose who do business or in someway interact
with the City have access to cabte TV. Some of Yhose who do have access to cable lack the
means Co afford the $19.20/month eharged by GCI for iCs basic cable service (Hart, PI.). These
two factors limit the size and diversiYy of the audience reached.
The City Clerk has expressed concerns about the reliability of a high school student. If is
imperative that fhe high school student(s) enlisted be on time and prepared Yo film the meeting
(Freas, PI.). Mr. Beeson supports the drafting of an explicit and rigorous agreement
guaranteeing services through the vacations, naming specific alternaCes should the assigned
student be unable to attend. Mr. Beeson has made it clear that ultimately the responsibility
would fall on himself, Mr. Kiel, and Ms. Bayes and that in a last resort situation any one of them
wouid be willing and able to perform the studenYs' duties (Beeson, PI.).
There is currently some confusion between KCHS and the City in re~ard to the specific
duties of the student, specifically whether or not the studenT would make the copy of the fihn as
welt as whether or not the student would deliver Che videotape to GCI. This eonfusion does not
stem from any disagreement from any party, only a lack of concrete development of the specifics
of the plan. There needs to be a meeting of the minds on this point.
F..xtending the scope of the sfudent's responsibility to pubiic meetin~s in general would
most likely demand an inhfbitive time commiYment, exacerbated by the poten~ially unwieldy
process of hand-delivering a tape to Soldotna. Therefore, delayed cable TV broadcasts should be
limited to oniy City CouncIl regular meetings.
Should a delayed broadcast be produced, it would not allow for especially flexible post-
meeting broadcast attendance due to the fact that the listener would be constrained by the rigid
scheduling demands of a TV station. Finally, a cable TV broadcast would do nothing to create
an on-demand, public-to-private, vcrbatim archive.
4.3 Delayed Cab1eTV-Prognosis and Conclusion
Given the local constraints and the essential nature of cable TV, a delayed cabie TV
broadcast is inhecently tulabie to fulfili all aspects of the criteria. However, the publie benefit w
monetary cost ratio of this particular Couneil directed arrangement eompensates for much of its
inadequacies. Further, the increased interaction between KCHS and the City would foster a
strengthened relationship between the two, breeding greater understanding, iuterest, and
involvement of and in the oYhers' affairs. While the above arrangement would not meet all of
Council Member Molloy's view of the City's public meeting proceedings dissemination needs, it
is Council approved, and iY should prove to be a viable option due to its low cost and holistically
incorporative aspects. Furthermare, if utilized in concert with other media, it would be
especially effective. All that remaius Yo make the delayed cable broadcast a reality is to
substantiate deCails and develo~ a written agreement between KCHS and the Ciry.
5.0 SoniGlear Gov Online Archive-Implementation
The final platform for disseminaTion of City of Kenai public meeYings to be discussed is
the Internet. The InterneY provides the City with yet another set of optic~ns. The City's recently
purchased SoniClear Gov program is eapable of producing a digital recording of public meetin~
proceedings in MP3 format (Moore, PI.). These recordings can be benchmarked by agenda item
for easy listener manipulation. Once the public meeting's proceedings have closed and the
benchmarking has been completcd the file can be uploaded to the Ciry's website, where it wouid
be remotely accessed and availabie for download and playback on a media player (Freas, P~.
An eclectic array of governmenCs has utilized the SoniClear Gov program's digital recording
capabilities to upload their public meeting proceedings to the Internef c~nce the proceedings have
ciosed (SoniClear).
51 SoniClear Gov Online Archive-Pro~ciencies
~very resident of the City of Kenai has the potent~ial for access to the Internet from theic
residence whether it is dial-up, DSL, or cable (GCI, ACS). As a result any public meeting
proceedings disseminated via the Internet have 2he potential to reach the largest and most diverse
audience of any platform. The essential nature of a local access cable TV station or a local radio
broadcast necessarily limits Yhe attendance to a local audience. This excludes interested
individuals who are kept out of the area for either a brief or extended period for reasons
including business, illness, or other ulterior obligations. This far-flung audience is an interested
audience who wou(d be served by the pan-global availability of the Internet. The archive also
allows those whose family or work cc~mmitments prevent them from attending meetings to more
objectively follow City affairs (Scheffert, PI.)
This arrangement requires multiple layers to be operating correc;tly. Despite Chis, Yhe
primary cause of breakdown at any point would be operator error, because each individual layer
is reliable for myriad reasons (Aalstead, PI.). The SoniClear Gov pro~ram itself is user-friendly;
however, should any problematic issues arise the delayed nature of the upload would give fhose
responsible sufflcient time to attend to the problems. Should the City choose fo continue
outsourcing its web hosting services the online location of the file would be maintainecl by a
inultiple-redundancy server with robusY security systems (Moore, PI.). Operator error again
arises as an issue in Che online xetxieval stage in addieion to any particular personal computer
problems. Accessibility would be sfraightforward to the extent that a working knowledge of
Internet and particular computer desktop navigation would be required. The software fo play the
recordings comes sfandard with all computers, either Windows Media Player for computers with
a Microsoft operatin~ system ar Quickplay for computers using a Mac operating system. Othex
standard and non-standard media players work as well (SoniClear}. Out of any of the options
discussed or to be discussed in this report, this anangement would allow for the most flexible
post-meeting audio and/or video feed attendauce; create an on-demand, public-to-private,
verbatim archive. The verbatim digital recardings of public meeting proceedings would be
10
archived online, in addition to any on-site archival efForts, and oilce there Che,files would be
available at any time to be downloaded aud saved onto the accessor's hard drive.
5.2 SoniClear Gov Online Archive-Deficiencies
To create an enviiroiunent in which Yhis arrangement is practicai and use,ful the CiTy
would have to upgrade its Internet service (Halstead, PZ). Currently the ~City is subscribed to an
ACS provided DSL service with a download capacity of 768 kb/s, an upload capacity of 256
kb/s, and lacking full duplex - the ability to upload and download at the same Eime the. This
service cosfs the City $59.50/month. The next service grade offered by ACS is a DSL service
with a download capacity of 768 kb/s, an uptoad capacity of 768 kb/s, and lacking full duplex.
This service would cost the City $102.00/month. The next service grade offered by ACS is a
managed, full-duplex, DSL with a dawnioad eapaciCy of 1 Mb/s and an upload capaeity of 1
Mb/s. This serviee would cost Yhe City $227.50/month and would require the City fo enter into a
five year contract (Carroll, PI.). Gach archived file is 11 MB (SoniClear). If a meeting lasts two
hours the file size would be 22 Mb, so with ihe City's current service the both the local upload
and remote download would take roughly twenty-five minutes respectively, dependent upon the
particular bandwidth encucnbrance. With an upgrade package the time required for the local
upload and remote download wouid drop to approximately ten minutes respectively (Halstead,
PL ).
ACS Internef Service Price Chart
Service ~/Month $/Year Five Year Total
768/256 Kb/sec* $59.50 $719.40 $3600.00 '
768/756 Kb/sec $102.00 $1224.00 $6120.00 ~
1/1 Mb^°' $227.50 $2730.00 $13650.00
* COK currentservice
^managed service
°full duplex
' Five year wutract requiced
11
The City's website hosting service is auother issue. ACS provides the City with 50 MB
of space, a figure that would be insufficient for the potenfial arrangement. The additional storage
demands would require that the City upgrade its website storage capabilities. Stephanie Carroli,
suggested that the City should outsource its website hostiizg service to another entity, such as
GoDaddy (Moore, PI.).
GoDaddy Web Hosting Service Price Chart
Service ~/Month $/Year Five Year Totalx !
Econom Plan^ $2.80 $33.60 $168.00 '
Deluxe P(an° $4.89 $58.68 $289.80 '
PremiumPlan' $10.49 $125.88 $629.40
* Contract3 avnilable up to 3 years oniy, 5 year pro-eated estimafe
^ 5 GB Space, 250 G6 transPer, Pree Software ~
° i00 GP spaee, t,000 C6 hansfee, Free Sottware
' 200 GB Space, 2,000 GB transfer, Free Sofnvare
htips://www.godaddy.com(gdshoplhosting/shared.asp?isc=goox200 t av&app°/ SFhdr-&ci=5652
While every resident of the City of Kenai has the potenCial for access to Intemet, not
every resident possesses the means to obtain the Internet. The cheapest DSL service provided by
ACS is $34.OOhnonth (ACS). The cheapest dial-up service provided by GCI is $19.99/monTh
and the cheapest cable service provided by GCI is $39.99/month (GCI). These personal costs
diminish the size and diversity oP the audience reached.
The Internet sexvice and website hosting upgrades would certainly involve cost-
incursions, lessening the cosY-effecCiveness of this arran~ement, however the benefit to the
general public warrants such an investment. Rinally, the City's SoniClear Gov program is not
currently equipped to produce a live remotely accessed broadcast of public meeting proceedings
(SoniClear).
5.3 SoniC(ear Gov Online Arehive-Prognosis and Conciusion
The SoniClear Gov digitai recording online archive fails to Fulfill certain aspects of the
12
Criteria. Nevertheless, the aspects oF the Criteria it does fulfill are done in such an eminently
seamless way that as a stand alone platfonn for disseminating public meeting proceedings it is a
remarkably viable solution to fulfill one Council Member's view of the City's needs. If used in
concert with other media, such as the delayed cable broadcasC, one would stop the other's
audience leaks. This does not mean fhat the use of one should halt the implementation of the
other, nor should not using one halt the implementation of Yhe other. Further, the InYernet and
website hosting service upgrades necessitated by its implementafion would help pave The way for
other means of dissemiuation, which iPused as a part of a broadcasting array, would effecfively
fuifill the ideal of Yhe Criteria.
6.0 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Implementation ~
As referenced earlier, the City's SoniCtear Gov program lacks the capabilities to
broadcast its digital recordings live over the Internet as a streaming webcast. Fox $1,500.00 the
City could purchase the optional webcast component of the program. Lnder this arrangement
the digital recording of the public meeting proceedin~s would be broadcasted, with a few second
delay, over the InYernef as a live streaming Feed. This feed could be remoYely accessed by
clicking a link on the City's website, initiating the live stream. The feed would be played on the
same media players that playback the archived file. As the event is live, the point at which an
individual began to view the feed would correspond to the real-time events of the meeting. The
link wouid be inactive both before and after the meeting, as there would be no feed (SoniClear).
61 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Proticiencies
Again, because all residents of the CiCy of Kenai have access to Yhe Internet, a live
13
streaming webcast of public meeting proceedings would reach the largest and most diverse
audience out of the three discussed media: radio, cable TV, or Internet. The essenCial nature o~f a
local access cable TV station or a tocal radio broadcast necessarily limits Che attention to a local
audience. "I'his excludes interested individuals who are kept out of the area for either a brief or
e~ended period for reasons including business, illness, or other ulterior obligation. Tliis far flung
audienee can onty be served by Che pan-global availability of the Intexnet. The archive also
allows those whose fatnily or work commitments prevent them from attending meetings to more
objectively follow City affairs (SchefferC, PI.)
This arrangement would require the same Internet and website hosting upgrades and their
respective corresponding cost incursions (Moore, PI.). Relative to a local radio broadcast or a
live cable TV broadcast this arrangement wouid be cost-effective. Should the City go with the
most expensive Internet service and website hosting service as wetl as the online webcast would
cost $4355.88 for The first year, the one-Yime webcasting program purchase included. WithouC
the one time program purchase that figure would fall to $2,855.00/year, $10,6144.12/year less
than the $13,000.00 demanded by local radio stafioils for the same service. In contrast to
obtaining the necessary infrastructure for a live cable TV broadcast, acquiring the required
infi-astructure for a live webcast is actually conceivable.
Similar to the process o£archiving and accessing the online recordings, this arrangement
would require a multi-layered system operaYing correctly. Again, each layer is reliable for
multiple reasons, additionally; because fhe webcasting portion is automated much of the operaCor
error risk is minimized. The access of the webcast is even les's knowtedge intensive than
accessing the online-archived files, requiring only a working knowledge of particular web
browser navigation (SoniClear).
14
6.2 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Deficiencies
The nature of the webcast also preseuYs pxoblematic reliability issues as well. Due to the
fact that it is a live broadcast it is more likely that therc will be more concurrent remote
accessors. If this number exceeds a certain number the bandwidCh draw could become lar~e
enough to diminish the quality of the feed, especialiy at times when a live webcast is most
needed, such as during a meeting in which a controversial item is to be discussed. If the number
of listeners exceeded a large enough number the quality of the f'eed would be so diminished that
the listener would be unable to follow the proceedings (currently the bandwidth encumbranee of
the webcast is unknown, making a designatiou of a more specific number of listeners impossib(e)
(HalsYead, PL Moore, PI.).
Attending a live webcast requires greater bandwidth availability on the part of the
partieular viewer. While an individual could download the archived public meeting proceedings
with a dial-up Internet connection, takin~ considerably longer than the approximated twenty-five
ininute download ETA, Che tistener o~f the Iive webcast would need a"broadband" cannection
(Halstead, PL). All residents of the CiYy either have the potential ~for access to DSL or cable
Internet, but not atl residents have the means. The cheapest DSL service provided by ACS is
$34.00/motlth aud the cheapest cable service is $39.00/monYh. Locally, broadband services are
often not available beyond City Limits, where individuals who do business in the City or who
may otherwise be impacfed by City decisions reside, limiting the audience yet again (ACS,
GCI.). Without the broadband Internet capacity the attendor's feed would be inYerrupted so
frequentiy to bu£fer that the experience would be diminished so far as to defeat the purpose of
Che live webcast (Flalstead, PL, Moore, PL).
15
The tive webcast would do nothing to allow for flexible post-meeting audio and/or video
feed attendance nor would iY create an on-demand, public-to-private, verbatim archive.
6.3 SoniClear Gov Live Webcast-Prognosis and Conclusions
The SoniClear Gov live, streaming webcast fails to fulfill certain aspects of the CriCeria.
Nevertheless, the aspects of the Criteria iC does fulfill are done in such an eminently seamless
way thaY as a stand alone platform for disseminating publie meeting proceedings it is a
remarkably viable solution to fulfi(I one Council Member's view of the City's needs, especially
i£used in concert with other media, such as the delayed cable broadcast, and or the online
archived proceedings. Further, Che Internet and website hosting serviee upgrades necessitated by
its implementation wouid either be paved if already done so, or help pave the way for other
means of dissemination. If used as a part of a broadcasting array woutd effectively fulfili the
ideal of the Criteria.
7.0 Live Network Camera Feed-Implementation
The final means through which To disseminate City public meetings discussed in this
report is a neework camera. A network camera would create a live streaming audio/video
webcast, operating in lieu of the SoniClear Gov webcast. Network cameras are almost entirely
self contained and automated units (Halstead, PL). Panasonie's BL-C 111 is a possible choice.
One cau be obtained for approximately $199.99. The camera is equipped with a lens and
microphone for recording purposes. It has fhe ability to be remotely zoomed and panned. A
network camera has its own web server and IP eliminating the need for an intermediary USB
connection with a computer. Once the camera is turned on before a public meeCing its A/V feed
16
is transmitted directly to the server, stopping when the camera is turned off at the end of Yhe
public meeting. From t(lere Yhe easiest arrangement would be to provide a link allowing a viewer
to Cap into the ne2work feed, made available over the Internet on a third party website. Panasonic
provides its own viewing website, viewnetworkcam.com. The CiCy would set up a link on its
own website that would route a viewer to the City's neYwork camera site. The camera is a
network camcra, meanin~ fhat the user acCually taps into the camera's networlc As a result of
this set-up the maximum number of vie~uers is limited to thirty. The camera's feed is viewable
from within the user's web browser or a media player. The remote viewer would be unable to
adjust the camera's zoom and pan capabiliCies. The Iink would be inactive before and after the
meeCing, because Chere would be no t1/V feed (Panasonic.).
The camera itself would be placed at a vantage point within Council Chamhers, giving it
a view of the entire dais. To keep the operation as simpte as possible it would be wise to turn off
Che camera's zoom and pan capabilities (Halstead, PI.).
7.1 Live Network Camera Feed-Profieiencies
Again, because all residents of the CiCy of Kenai have the potential for access to the
Intemet, a live streaming webcast of public meetiiig proceedings wouid be accessible Yo the
largest and most diverse audience out of the three discussed media: radio, cable TV, or Internet.
The essenrial nature of a local access cable TV staYion or a local radio broadeast necessarily
limiYs the attendance to a local audience. This excludes interested individuals who are kept out
of the area for either a brief or extended period for reasons including business, illness, or other
ulterior obligation; an interesYed audience who would be served by the pan-global availability of
The tnternet.
17
This arrangement would require the same Internet service upgrades as the other Internet
disseminafion opYions, and its respective corresponding cost incursions. If the City chooses to go
with a stand-alone network camera solution it may not need to upgrade its web hosting services,
a matter that needs to be looked into more closely. However, for the purposes of this report, it
will be assumed ChaY the web hosting services need to be upgraded (Haistead, PI.). Relative to a
tocal radio broadcast ox a live cable TV broadcast Yhis arrangemenY would be cost-effective.
Should the City go with the most expensive internet service and website hosting service the
network eamera feed, the one-time network camera purchase included, wouid cost $3,055.87 for
the first year. With out the one time network camera puxchase that figure would fall to
$2,85~.88/year, $1G,6 i~r4. i2/year Iess than the $13,000.0~ doilars dematided by iocal radio
statious for the same service. It1 contrast to obtaining the necessary infrastructure for a Iive eable
TV broadcast, acquiring the required infrastrueture for a live nelwork camera feed is aetually
conceivable.
Similar to the process of archiving and accessing the online recordings, this arrangement
would require a muiti-layered system operatin~ correctly. Again, each layer is reliable for
multiple reasons, additional(y; because the initial transmissiou of the A/V feed is automated
much of the operator error risk is minimized (Moore, PI.). The access of the network camera
feed is even less knowiedge intensive than accessing the online-archived files, requiring only a
working know(edge of particular web browser navigation (Panasonic.).
7.2 Live Network Camera Feed-Deficiencies
The nature of the live AN feed also presents problematic reliability issues as well. Due to the
faet Yhat it is a live broadcast it is mare likely that there will be more concurrent remote
18
accessors. If this number exceeds a certain number the bandwidth draw conld become large
enough to diminish the quality of the feed, especially aC times when a live feed is most needed,
such as during a meeting in which a controversial item is to be discussed. If Che number of
listeners exceeded a large enough number the qualiCy of the feed woulci be so diminished that
that the viewer would be unable to follow the proceediags (currently the bandwidth encumbrance
of the feed is unkno~nnz, making a designation of a more specific number of tisteners impossible)
(HalsTead, PI., Moore PI.). The A/V feed is a much larger transmission than the SoniClear Gov
webcast, signiFicanCly exacerbating the bandwidth issue and possibly limiting the number o£
viewers to below the network capacity (Panasonic.).
ACtending a live A/V feed requires greater bandwidth availability on the part of the
particular viewer than even Yhe SoniClear Gov webcast, While an individual could download Yhe
archived pubiic meeting proceedings with a dial-up Internet connection Yhe viewer of the live
feed woulcl need a broadband connection. All residents o~Pthe City either have the poCential for
access to DSL or cable Internet, but not all residents have the means. The cheapest DSL service
provided by ACS is $34.00/month and the cheapest cable service is $39.00/month. Locally,
broadband services are often not availabte beyond City Limits, wAere individuals who do
business in the City or who may otherwise be impacted by City decisions reside, limiting the
audience yet again (ACS, GCI). Without the broadband Iilternet capacity the attendor's feed
would be intexruptEd so frequenYly to buffer that the expexience would be diminished so far as to
defeat the purpose of the live feed (Halstead PI, Moore Pl.).
The live feed would do nothing to allow for flexible post-meeCing audio ancUox video feed
attendance nor would it create an on-demand, public-to-privafe, verbatim arehive.
19
7.3 Live Network Camera Feed-Prognosis and Conclusions
The SoniClear Gov live, streamiug webcast Fails to Pulfill certain aspects of the Criteria.
Nevertheless, Che aspects of the CriYeria it does fulfill are done in such an eminently seamless
way that as a stand alone platform for disseminating public meeting proceedings it is a
remarkably viable means through which to fulfili one Coucicil Member's view of the City's
needs, especially if used in concert wiCh other media, such as the delayed cable broadcast, and/or
the online archived proceedings. Fuxther, the tilternet and website hosting service upgrades
necessitaCed by its implementation would either be paved if already done so, or heip pave the
way for other means of dissemillation. Should the NC be used as a part of a broadcasting array,
it would effectively fulfili the ideal of the Criteria.
8A General Prognosis and Conelusions
Mo(ly MeCoy, an operator of Anchorage's municipal channel, staYed that Anchorage's
public meetiug dissernination az•rangement was a ten year, piecemeal operation in which radio,
loca] access cable TV, Anchorage's Municipal Channel, and flie Internet were utilized. As a
follow up comment, she stated that if she was starting from scxatch now, in Kenai's situation, she
would focus her efforfs on developing means utilizing the Internet (MeCoy PL) The Internet is
not the way of the future, it is the technology of today. Easily accessible to virtually alt residents
of Kenai, whether from home, the office, the North Slope. London, or even Azerbaijan, it is
ultimately able Yo instantaneously serve as the gateway to an immense rea(m of knowledge. This
has allowed Yhe Internet to diminish the inhibitive aspects of space and time while
simultaneously creating a true people's f'orum. It is Mr. Molloy's view that the City should take
20
an avant-garde, proactive stance and direct resources and energy towards implemeuting means to
exploit the Internet as a rneans of disseminating its public meeting proceedings.
As a result of the City's unique environmenY there are limitations Yc~ the potential efficacy
of employing a single means, or even a single medium. In fact, employment of multiple media
working in concert generates an environment in which each medimn compensates for the deficits
of the other, effectively serving a11 the needs of ~fhe generai publia ln doing so the Ciry will have
provided a public service that breeds greater knowledge, appreciation, interest, and participa2ion
in City affairs as well as engender transparency, faeiiitating a more participatory democracy.
The reseacch has shown YhaY the cost-effectiveness of the Council directed delayed cable
TV broadcast produeed iu eooperation with KCHS, its ease of implementation, and fhe
cooperative benefits reaped absoluYely warrants its implementation. If teamed as a constellation
with the downloadable oilline archive oF the SoniClear Gov digital recc~rdings and either the
SoniClear Gov live webcast or Iive Network Camera A(V, the City of Kenai would provide a
great public serviee in meeCing the general pubtic's infarmation needs.
21
Works Cited
"ACS." ACS. 2007. ACS. 20 Jul. 2007. http://www.gci.com/.
Bartolowits, Richard. Personal Interview. Jun i l. 2007.
Seeson, James. Personal Interview. 7 Jun. 2007.
Beeson, James. Personal Interview. 24 .iu1y. 2007.
Beeson, James. Personal Interview. 25 July. 2007.
Freas, Carol. Personal InCerview. 12 Jul. 2007.
Hart, Mary. Personal Interview. 7 Jun. 2007.
Halstead, Joseph. Personal Interview. 12 .(ui. 2007
Halstead, Joseph. Personal Interview. 19 Jul. 2007.
"GCI." GCI. 2007. GCI. 20 Jul. 2007. http://www.~ci.cozn/.
Lewis, Jean. Personal Interview. 23 May. 2007.
22
Krebschull, Marylin. Personal Inten~iew. 12 Jul. 2007.
McCoy, Molloy. Personal Interview. 5 Jun. 2007.
Moore, Russell. Personal LnYerview. 12 Jul. 2007.
Moore, Russell. Personal Iuterview. 24 Jul. 2007.
"Panasonic." Netwark Camera. 2007. Panasonic. 10 Jul. 2007.
Ii~:Upanasorlie.eo.j~/~pe/products/en/netwf<cam/Iineup)bl-cl 11/index.html.
Porter, Larry. Personal Interview. 19 Jun. 2007.
Porter, Larry. Personal Interview. 10 Jul. 2007.
"SoniClear." SoniClear. 2007. Trio Systems, LLC. 13 Jul. 2007.
htto://www.soniciear.com/home.html.
23
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