PORT TOWNSEND — Nothing will change for those attending tonight’s Port Townsend Planning Commission meeting, but those watching at home will get a clearer picture and improved sound after an upgrade Wednesday.
“We are not doing anything differently,” said City Clerk Joanna Sanders after the installation of the new equipment.
“This upgrade lets us continue what we are doing, to allow people access to what goes on with council without having to go to the meetings.”
The planning commission meeting will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in council chambers, 540 Water St. The panel will discuss the Growth Management Act update.
The meeting will stream live on www.cityofpt.us and be available later in the evening for review from any Internet connection.
This is nothing new. The city has broadcast council, planning commission and other committee meetings since the system’s 2009 installation.
Meeting coverage is stored in a searchable format. All the meetings throughout the past six years are accessible online. Searches can be made by topic to get a list of meetings where it was discussed.
Wednesday’s $25,000 upgrade, conducted by Jefferson Audio Video Systems of Louisville, Ky., installed wired microphones to replace the wireless units that don’t connect well due to frequency issues, Sanders said.
Also added is the ability for home viewers to see what is on the screen when a presentation is given to
the council.
“They will be able to see the slides, which will make it easier for them to follow along,” Sanders said.
Additionally, the camera’s ability to automatically show the person who is speaking has been improved.
While sound and video have been upgraded, the content will stay the same, as the city continues to use Granicus, a broadcast software package.
Audio-video meeting systems better connect the citizenry with the nuances of government, according to Jefferson Audio Video Systems service manager Brian Kramer.
“The benefit of using audio-video instead of a stenographer is that you actually get to see and hear people in their own words,” he said.
“You can hear the inflections in their voice. You can see their expressions,” he added.
To view on-demand video and agendas for council, planning commission and council committee and advisory boards dating back to 2009, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-upgrade.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.