Video streaming of Markham council, committee meetings to start Jan. 1

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 18, 2016
Amanda Persico

Markham is late to the game when it comes to live video streaming of council and committee meetings.

Markham is one of three municipalities in the region that does not offer video streaming services.

Currently, Markham only live audio streams council and committee meetings, which started in 2002 and introduced a video component last year to capture presentations made during the meetings.

Earlier this week, city staff made a presentation to the general committee about adding a live video stream option, using technology already in place.

According to a staff report, there would be no one-time costs or ongoing operating costs associated with video streaming.

“This is long overdue,” said Regional Councillor Jim Jones. “This is all part of democracy. In Ottawa, the press is never there. They watch from their office.”

Richmond Hill and Vaughan video stream council and committee meetings.

Georgina, Newmarket and Aurora broadcast council meetings via a local cable station, and stream meetings on the town’s websites.

Whitchurch-Stouffville live audio streams meetings.

These six municipalities also archive video or audio files that can be retrieved at a later date, whereas Markham does not.

Even the region is considering video streaming, but that could take up to three months to implement. Video streaming at the regional level could cost about $125,000.

East Gwillimbury and King Township do not video stream meetings – nor do they audio stream.

According to city staff, close to 300 listeners tuned in over the course of 24 general committee meetings held last year, compared to 580 who listened in to the city's 22 council meetings.

On average, general committee meetings drew in 12 listeners, development services committee meetings 11 and council meetings 26.

The proposed video feed would have a fixed angle of council members only, with no view of those making a deputation or of senior city staff.

The video stream would be for meetings held in council chambers.

But many committee meetings are not held in council chambers, but rather in other meeting rooms currently without video capabilities.

“There are interesting discussions happening here in committee,” said deputy mayor and Regional Councillor Jack Heath.

“If (an item) passed unanimously, the discussion might not come up at council. It might be hands up, hands down.”

The committee approved moving both general committee and development services committee meetings to council chambers.

Some councillors were concerned about grandstanding, while others were concerned with privacy issues and being captured on camera.

“Not wanting your photo taken should not be an issue,” said Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong.

“Politicians are always out there in the front. You’re being interviewed by the media."

Not to mention there was concern over how long the current meetings run.

“Everyone knows sitting is the new smoking,” said Councillor Valerie Burke, who wants to introduce stretching breaks for longer meetings.

She questioned whether other councillors would be comfortable doing stretches while on camera.

Staff are working on making name plates and microphone lights more visible so viewers know who is speaking.

By 2021, municipalities will be mandated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to add closed captioning to all videos and live streams.

Video streaming of Markham’s meetings are to start no later than January.