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Belleair Beach seeks TV and audio consultant
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 |
BELLEAIR BEACH – The City Council on May 5 authorized hiring of a consultant to determine what the city needs to install a sound system in the new City Hall and to continue broadcasting cable TV programs.
Joe Burke, chairman of the BBTV committee, said estimates of as much as $100,000 have been suggested to buy equipment and train city volunteers in its use. He said committee members have surveyed systems in other small cities that would hopefully cost much less.
Burke said no current members of his committee or the city staff have the expertise to determine what equipment is needed. He explained that to make elected officials heard more clearly in the new meeting room, the TV broadcasting system needs to be upgraded.
Council meetings are broadcast on Bright House Networks Channel 615. The recorded meetings are also available on the city Web site.
Burke urged the council to continue its support for the “BBTV” broadcasts even though his committee has lost members willing to volunteer to help in the programs. He suggested that city staffers could be trained to help the volunteers by manning cameras during meetings and operating the recording computer.
Mayor Lynn Rives said he thought only City Manager Nancy McCollum, City Clerk Patti Gentry or Community Services Director Pete Cavalli would be available to do that. And, he said, they are busy with city business during the meetings.
Burke said the TV broadcasts are important because they allow city residents to be less dependent upon local news media. He said it supports “transparency” in government actions and provides a means of alerting residents to city activities and meetings.
Rives said use of city employees would be discussed by the council in the near future. But it wouldn’t be ordered now by the council.
The council did vote unanimously to authorize the advisory committee to hire a consultant to recommend what the city needs to do. The committee may spend up to $3,000 for a consultant.
Bridge work planned
In other action, Cavalli presented the plans for reconstruction of a bridge spanning the canal on Harrison Avenue. The $400,000 project is scheduled for next year. Harrison Avenue provides the only access to homes on the small island it serves.
Cavalli said the project, which could take about four months to complete, will have little effect on access to the homes. He said the plans call for half of the bridge to be kept open during construction. Once half is complete, it would be opened for traffic while the other half is completed, he explained.
Rives asked why sidewalks were being included in the plan since there are no sidewalks extending from the bridge in either direction.
Cavalli said it was mostly for the safety of pedestrians who now must walk on the pavement to cross the bridge.
“We don’t have any sidewalks in the city,” Rives countered. “I don’t see why we need them when it means building a wider bridge.”
He suggested the sidewalks also will increase the cost of building the new bridge.
The mayor said he wanted residents of the area polled before plans go any further.
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Article published on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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