In one of Orange County’s smallest cities, a La Palma City Council member called upon her colleagues to look into implementing live video streaming for all City Council meetings.
But the rest of La Palma City Council is not interested in live streaming council meetings for the foreseeable future.
“I propose we now look into [adding] audio and visual,” said Councilwoman Janet Keo during the Dec. 10 council meeting, suggesting to city staff that La Palma ought to consider making public meetings more accessible to older residents and those with disabilities.
Based on the most recent Census data, one in five residents, or about 20%, living in La Palma are at retirement age.
She added that following the November election – which saw newly elected Councilman Vikesh Patel now working alongside his brother and council colleague, Nitesh – should be more reason to upgrade streaming options for residents.
But other La Palma city leaders aren’t on board with the idea.
“I don’t see the need for it,” newly appointed Mayor Mark Waldman said in an interview last Tuesday.
La Palma is one of two Orange County cities that does not livestream council meetings.
The Orange County Transport Authority began streaming last Monday after a Voice of OC investigation – in collaboration with Chapman University students – published in February highlighted that the agency was one the few in the county that only streams audio.
[Read: OC’s Transportation Agency Begins Video Streaming Public Meetings]
“We are pretty transparent,” Waldman told Voice of OC after last Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
He added that very few people listen to La Palma council meetings due to being a small city, but that he’d “be all for it” if residents really wanted it, but “he doesn’t see the point.”
The city’s population is a little over 15,000 people.
Councilwoman Debbie Baker and Councilman Nitesh Patel did not respond to questions when approached by a Voice of OC reporter last Tuesday.
In the past, Nitesh Patel shared a similar view as Waldman – that despite other cities moving to live streaming, he argued that “enough information is out there” to reach elderly residents in La Palma.
But some residents have argued for years that the audio quality for city council meetings is poor.
[Read: La Palma to Research Methods of Improving Audio Broadcasts of Council Meetings]
Echoing his council colleague, Councilman Vikesh Patel – brother of Nitesh – said in an interview last Tuesday that the city will “try to be as transparent as possible,” but did not say if he would consider live streaming in future city council meetings.
What’s Holding City Officials From Live Streaming Public Meetings?
Some La Palma city leaders, including Mayor Waldman and Councilman Nitesh Patel, have argued the city does not have the funding to implement live streaming services.
Nearby cities – like Stanton and Los Alamitos – have figured out how to live stream public meetings.
The City of La Palma’s general fund budget is roughly $14 million.
In comparison, Los Alamitos has a city budget of just over $23 million, and Stanton’s general fund budget is about $30 million. Both of these cities live stream city council meetings.
In a Nov. 5 regular council meeting, La Palma city leaders approved roughly $80,000 in IT upgrades for city staff.
Those upgrades included $40,000 for Microsoft Office and updating the city’s phone system at City Hall, along with a one-time $40,000 fee to install these services.
None of these funds were considered for audio or video upgrades despite not live streaming city council meetings.
“It’s different stuff,” Waldman said, adding that the city does not have the budget for upgrading audio and visual streaming despite voting in favor of funding IT upgrades in the city.
In a Wednesday text message, Councilwoman Keo – who has brought up upgrading streaming services before – said she does not understand why La Palma City Council is opposed to live video streaming.
She said she plans to work with city staff on a proposal “for greater transparency and accountability.”
“Some of the city presentations would be helpful and informative if people can actually see it versus hearing about it.”
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.
