Leaders at the Orange County Transportation Authority voted Monday to implement a video live streaming system “immediately” following a month of discussion on whether or not to allow the public to watch them from home.
The motion to pursue a video streaming option, either mid-to-high range, passed 11-2 with County Supervisor Donald Wagner and OCTA’s public board member Michael Hennessey voting against implementing technology at the current building to provide the public with video of board meetings.
Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee abstained, and board members Stephanie Klopfenstein and Supervisor Katrina Foley were not present at the meeting.
“If our meetings were videotaped, and live streamed and archived, we’d have a more transparent board to the public. And we would have more transparency to the taxpayer,” said Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, who spoke in favor of implementing the highest quality video streaming option at their current headquarters.
“And by the way, I don’t believe that we should delay this until we decide what we’re going to do with our permanent home,” he said. “I think we can implement it now, and we should.”
Last week, the agency’s executive committee recommended that the board of directors shelve discussions about video live streaming options until they decide on where or if they will relocate, and stated that they could utilize a low-quality, cheaper option at their current headquarters.
This relocation could be as far as three to five years away, according to a staff report.
OCTA staff said they are currently testing low-cost video streaming options that could be implemented quickly, according to Chief Financial Officer Andrew Oftelie who presented the item.
“Staff has looked at numerous options for video streaming over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when large gatherings were difficult or not allowed. Just in the last several weeks as Board members have asked questions about video streaming meetings, OCTA staff began testing lower-cost options including single cameras and video-conferencing technologies. Both presented challenges for easily identifying who was speaking,” wrote OCTA Senior Communications Specialist Eric Carpenter in an email to Voice of OC.
Previously, staff presented three options ranging in price from $1,150 to over $600,000.
[Read: Orange County’s Transit Agency Considers Allowing Residents to Watch Them From Home]
Stephens is joined by board members Valerie Amezcua, Ashleigh Aitken, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Farrah Khan, Jon Dumitru, Jamey Federico, Fred Jung and two public commenters in support of adding video live streaming technology to the agency’s current facilities.
“Almost all public agencies ensure their meetings engage in best practices for transparency by livestreaming public meetings and providing video archives for those who can’t attend,” said Toni Nelson, founder and president of Capo Cares, during public comment. “In stark contrast, OCTA is stuck in the twentieth century.”
“The working public has to take time off to attend your meetings and pay for parking… public comments are placed at the very end of your lengthy agendas. This not only reduces public participation, but conveys the message that the public does not come first with this agency,” she said.
Laurie Girand, an advisor with Capo Cares, also commented in favor of video live streaming.
“You, and the public, deserve the facts,” Girand said. “When you are executing your fiduciary responsibility, the public should be able to see it. If you were required by law to start livestreaming these meetings, you could implement it in less than two weeks.”
“Better to start it now before investigative television reporters end up doing it for you.”
A third public commenter, who asked the Voice of OC not to be named, was concerned over the cost associated with video live streaming given that the audio live streams don’t currently receive many viewers.
“I believe in transparency, and that it is imperative in our government,” they said. “I’m concerned that there are only 156 views, 50% public and then 50% employees, and I think the least cost one would be more beneficial.”
County Supervisor Sarmiento addressed these concerns, stating “The reason that there are so few people listening and watching is because we’re not as accessible to the extent that this is a meeting of an agency that has such scale and such scope and reach to people, that we should be as accessible as possible.”
Sarmiento emphasized that he is in support of a mid-range video streaming option.
Federico and Jung spoke in support of a lower cost option.
“I really think this comes down to a fiscal issue,” said Federico, who serves as the Mayor of Dana Point. “…I support going to video, but I’m not necessarily going to support a very expensive, high-quality video because I don’t think the quality is as important as the content.”
Federico mentioned that they utilize lower quality technology and YouTube, and that he has not heard complaints from residents stating that they cannot understand the council due to the video quality.
“There’s a clear irony I find that one of the most efficient agencies in the county, if not the state, has one of the least efficient technologies in terms of broadcast. We use really old tech, but I do agree with director Sarmiento and Federico,” said Jung, who serves as the City of Fullerton’s Mayor Pro Tem.
“I’m supportive of this because in the city of Santa Ana, we have such a large ridership. They cannot take time off work and attend these meetings. They cannot afford the childcare…,” said Amezcua, who also serves as the Mayor of Santa Ana.
“It is very important that we not assume that people do not care and that’s why they’re not here.”
“It can be hard to decipher who is speaking, which director is speaking on which issue,” Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said of the agency’s audio livestream. “And I’m also concerned that what we are doing is leaving out those that are hearing impaired or perhaps not native English speakers, which is the majority of the people that I represent in my municipality…We are leaving out those that have issues not just amongst transportation and distance, but those that have childcare issues.”
Other board members questioned public relations spending and the prioritization of profit at the agency.
“I think the amount of absolutely absurd money we spend towards public relations on projects is atrocious… but yet, we won’t put a simple camera in here to show the work we’re doing in here,” said Dumitru, who also serves as a council member in the City of Orange. “I think this agency has talked about moving for years. So at some point we just need to buckle down.”
“We’re not here to build profitability. We’re here to provide a service, and that includes our board meetings and the accessibility that we provide through our board meetings,” said Khan, who serves as the Mayor of Irvine.
Supervisor Donald Wagner and Michael Hennessey voted against implementing high-quality video streaming at current headquarters.
Wagner argued that it’s not logical to implement high-quality video with the low viewership of meetings.
“We are a county of 3.2 million people. We have double digit viewers of the available technology,” Wagner added, referring to the agency’s current approach of only offering audio of meetings. “We are talking about spending hundreds of thousands, maybe more, for double digit viewers.”
According to OCTA staff, the lowest cost option that could be implemented costs as little as $1,150.
Wagner added that the public has plenty of access to the agency through its website, its audio livestream and by speaking with board members at their respective city council or other agency meetings.
“Let’s build it into the purchase of the new building or the build out of the new space… Let’s put it in a way that is economically feasible,” Wagner said. “…We shouldn’t jury rig something right now, add an expense, when there is absolutely nothing, nothing out in the public saying we are not transparent, saying we are making mistakes, saying that we are in some ways wasting taxpayer dollars.”
Hennessey, who is a public member, echoed Wagner’s sentiments.
“I think the idea was that we’re on the cusp of making a major decision regarding what we’re going to do with our physical facilities, whether we’re moving or staying…And I thought the appropriate thing to do was to do our homework, be prepared and fold that into whatever construction efforts we are going to be taking.”
In a statement released after the meeting, Supervisor Foley offered a different viewpoint than Wagner and Hennessey, bolstering the action of her colleagues in favor of immediate transparency over the agency’s official deliberations.
“Orange County residents deserve transparency from their local governments and agencies – OCTA is no exception,” said Foley. “Video live-streaming at our Board meetings will increase transparency and access to OCTA for those who can’t attend meetings in person. Previously, I directed OCTA staff to immediately begin the process of procuring live streaming services for our meetings. I thank my fellow board members for voting to keep OCTA on the right path.”
How soon will OCTA decide on the location of their headquarters?
OCTA staff will be providing “an update” to the Ad Hoc Real Estate Committee next week, according to Oftelie.
The committee will hear more about associated costs with three properties that they are considering – their current location in Orange, the build-to-suit option in Anaheim and an office building a few blocks away – according to Carpenter.
“Because they are discussing real-estate negotiations, the meeting is not open to the public. The ad hoc committee does not consist of a majority of members of any board or committee,” Carpenter said. “Any recommendations made to staff would then go to the full OCTA Board for consideration in closed session.”
Relocation will be discussed by the board during closed session at the April 22 meeting.
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org
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