Despite repeated calls to implement live video streams for increased transparency, La Palma’s City Council members this week balked again at offering residents video services to watch public meetings from home.
A motion to direct city staff into providing video services for public meetings – brought forth by Councilwoman Janet Keo – failed for not receiving a second vote from La Palma city leaders.
This week’s action effectively shuts down prospects for adding live video streaming at public meetings for one the smallest cities in Orange County.
“Our constituents deserve to be able to capture this meeting from home and not have to hike here,” Councilwoman Keo said during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Keo highlighted the city’s high number of retirees – making up over 20% of La Palma’s roughly 15,000 residents – which translates to at least 3,000 people. She also said it’s better to give more options for people with disabilities.
On the city’s website, live audio from city council meetings is posted during public meetings.
For some on La Palma City Council, this is enough.
Later in the meeting, Keo questioned her council colleagues on being dismissive and not wanting to look into live video streaming.
“So they don’t want accountability or transparency. What is wrong with video streaming?” Keo said.
It’s happening in a city where City Council members historically have largely run unopposed to hold office.
This past election cycle saw three sitting members of La Palma City Council run unopposed: Mark Waldman, Vikesh Patel, and Debbie Baker.
In the past, Mayor Waldman told Voice of OC that “not many people listen to the audio” anyways, and making infrastructure upgrades would be costly for the city.
[Read: No Plans in Sight for Video Streaming in La Palma]
La Palma officials have long argued that the city’s budget can’t afford to front the costs in order to provide live streams for city council meetings.
But other OC cities, Like Stanton and Los Alamitos, with similar budget sizes have figured out how to offer residents live streaming services.
La Palma’s general fund budget is roughly $14 million – Stanton’s budget sits over $23 million while Los Alamitos is dealing with a $30 million budget.
Last month, La Palma City Council voted in favor of IT upgrades for City Hall, costing the city $80,000 to implement.
Councilman Nitesh Patel and Councilwoman Debbie Baker did not respond to questions regarding adding live video feed.
La Palma city leaders last touched on live video streaming options nearly two years ago – in which Councilwoman Keo pushed for city staff to look into adding video options for council meetings to increase transparency.
At that time, Councilmen Patel and Waldman shot down adding live video feed due to the upfront costs to provide access for residents at home.
“I also understand we have elderly residents, but I think there is enough information out there that gets out to them,” Councilman Patel said at February 2023 council meeting, later conceding that improving audio quality wasn’t as costly as adding live video streaming.
Last year, a Voice of OC and Chapman University student investigation showed that La Palma was one of the last public OC agencies to not offer live video feed during public meetings.
[Read: Making it Easy to Watch Local Government From Home]
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.