Politics & Government

Finances Delay Decision on Televising City Council Meetings

No decision has been made and more research relating to costs will be made.

 

The Board of Directors of the Public Access Corporation, comprised of the members of City Council, continued their discussion as to whether the city will go forth with plans to televise the biweekly South Gate City Council meetings. 

“More study and information from Time Warner is needed on the cost,” said Nellie Cobos. South Gate’s Public Information Officer.

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The cost of televising all City Council meetings in one year was estimated to fall at around $20,000. However the cost could increase depending on whether a production team is outsourced or hired fulltime.

Under the current agreement, between Time Warner and South Gate, both parties are required to provide a certain amount of free public access television until 2014. 

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In 2009, Time Warner was permitted to stop its community programming services due to a new state law that no longer required it, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, the law did require all parties to honor their agreements until they were set to expire.

Time Warner is not obligated to televise City Council meetings for free under the

George Troxcil, president of the board and South Gate’s city manager, warned that this could be an expensive service for the city once the agreement with Time Warner expires and is required to pay fully for the costs.

“Even if [Time Warner] waives the fees there could the expectation of the public that we continue this,” said Troxcil, “It could become quite expensive and difficult to fund.”

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