There is a straightforward way to increase transparency at city hall—stream city committee meetings to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
For the record, not everything can be done in an open meeting, but that’s not to say we can’t improve communication about city initiatives. Transparency isn’t just about the number of agenda items in the open portion of committee meetings. It’s also about making attendance accessible. Right now often the only member of the public present is Collin Gallant.
Every city council meeting is streamed. We are already using the technology. It would be relatively simple to expand its use to other city committees. There are so many interesting information presentations on different city services that answers a lot of my questions. Streaming these meetings live on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter could get the information out in an efficient way.
For the past four years I attended every committee I could:
Public Services (Fire Services, parks and recreation, culture, social services)
Utilities and Infrastructure (electric generation, natural gas production and distribution, water, sewer)
Corporate Services (taxation, finances, city administration)
Strategic Analysis (Planning, corporate efficiency analysis)
Audit Committee (financial review)
Administrative & Legislative Review Committee (bureaucratic process, appointments to community boards)
Municipal Planning Commission (planning and development permits)
It’s been an incredible education. We can make this accessible to so many more residents.
