Passing this along, which may be of interest to our neighborhood members:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Toni Messina, Communications Director – (573) 874-7660 or Bill Watkins, City Manager – (573) 874-6338

‘CityStream’ links citizens and local officials

COLUMBIA, MO (April 30, 2009) – The Columbia City Council steps into cyberspace next week if all goes as planned. Citizens and others with high-speed online access should be able to view the Council meetings live, over the Internet, starting Monday, May 4. This service is in addition to meeting broadcasts over the City Channel.

Dubbed “CityStream,” this new service also will allow users to view archived meeting video within 24 hours after the meeting ends. A viewer can see the whole meeting or click on a link in an online meeting agenda and see only the video associated with a specific item. Supporting documents will be available at the same location.

“Council members have asked for this service for citizens for several years,” Watkins said, “but the cost of buying broadband capacity was excessive, considering the small number of users that could be accommodated at one time.”

Finally, Watkins said, needs converged with available technology. Granicus, the vendor chosen to stream meetings and store archive, brought a product to the table with the right features at the right price. “Granicus has government clients across the country. Although we purchased what I would consider a basic starter package, and not bells and whistles, citizens will get good value.”

Public Communications Director Toni Messina said that start-up costs are less than $15,000, plus a monthly management fee, and are supported by funding recommended by the Public Communications Resources Advisory Committee and approved by the City Council. “We applied for funding through the Committee’s competitive process earlier this year and were very pleased when we got approval.”

CityStream is not only a technological advance but also a tool for wider citizen engagement, according to Messina. “When we applied, we linked CityStream to the community’s vision for a more transparent government process. What we’ll want to know is, are more citizens getting involved by using the Internet? Do they think this service helps them communicate with local officials?”

Messina said that a link on the city’s home page will take users to the viewing site. “Effective May 4, start with www.GoColumbiaMo.com, and then click on “City Council Meetings” in the black bar at the top of the page. Tell us about your experience and how we can serve you better.”

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Jim Downey