Kings council to stream live over YouTube, Facebook, Twitter
Installation of new camera system delayed due to ‘supply chain issues’
The potential distraction of real-time comments from viewers during meetings won't be a factor when the County of Kings begins streaming live video.
At the April 5 session, council approved video streaming of municipal council, COTW and planning advisory committee meetings on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter — with the comment features disabled.
Councillors voted unanimously at the January session to purchase a multi-camera system for the council chambers. Deputy Mayor Emily Lutz requested a review of video platform options and further discussion among councillors on the subject.
IT manager Chad West presented the staff evaluation of various platforms at a recent COTW session.
Staff recommended using Facebook, YouTube and Twitter as the video platforms. The municipality already has accounts that wouldn't cost anything to use, and videos from these platforms could later be embedded on the municipality's website.
West said other internet usage would have to be considered, but it would take approximately 30 MBPS of bandwidth to stream video to all three platforms simultaneously.
“That's still well within the realm of something that we could accomplish from here without any real issue,” West said.
ABOUT THE COMMENTS
Coun. June Granger asked if there is a “profanity filter” built into the subject platforms. West said there is to a certain extent, but if someone used profanity on the microphone, it would go out over the live stream.
There is occasionally midmeeting back-and-forth between councillors and members of the public that can be observed in the comments section when other municipalities stream meeting video over social media.
West said comments from the public on the municipality's social media platforms has generally been positive in the past, so staff recommended allowing comments on the live videos. This would increase the level of engagement, as social media algorithms would push the content to more people if there are comments.
West said the comments could be disabled, but this wouldn't prevent people from posting their own link to the video and commenting.
Lutz said she is “not totally thrilled” with the idea of having the comment sections open, and councillors would be well-served to think about how they engage with residents.
“I'm not sure that responding to the algorithm is a good enough reason for allowing comments in terms that it boosts our visibility in online spaces,” Lutz said.
She said they may be “contributing to a society and a structure of social media that is driven by soundbites” instead of thoughtful and engaging discourse.
PRODUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT
Mayor Peter Muttart agrees
with Lutz.
He said he's had the opportunity to see how video streaming services have been working for other municipalities.
Muttart said when you have live comments and reactions as your meeting goes on, “it is permitting a certain segment to push an agenda without accountability for what is being said.”
The mayor said he would welcome people to make their comments in person in the council chambers, for example, so you could have discourse with them.
Coun. Martha Armstrong said she isn't in favour of having comments as they carry on business, as this isn't constructive criticism.
She suspects that it would be someone else's spin on
what they are trying to say.
Armstrong said she would prefer accepting comments face-to-face, or by email so there is time to digest them and respond appropriately.
Coun. Dick Killam said he could see a problem if comments were springing up as council tried to conduct business, as it could be “very distracting.”
Coun. Jim Winsor said comments could also be intimidating — and directed personally.
Winsor said he agrees with the notion that the comments shouldn't be there at all and called for an amendment to the motion.
An amendment to disable the comments features was agreed to, and the motion carried unanimously.