The City of Palm Coast has announced a series of improvements to the audio and visual systems in City Hall that are used to stream and record public meetings. The technology used to stream functions with entities like the City Council and the Planning and Land Development Regulation Board is over a decade old, and is set to be improved upon for future engagements.
“We are committed to making City government more accessible and engaging for our residents,” said acting City Manager Lauren Johnston about the changes. “These upgrades reflect our dedication to using smart technology to connect with the community in meaningful ways.”
A series of specific improvements were laid forth in the City of Palm Coast’s announcement this week. They are as follows.
- Enhanced Virtual and Hybrid Meeting Support – “Upgraded video conferencing tools and integrated platforms will support seamless virtual participation and improved live streaming for residents watching from home.”
- New Assistive Listening Technology: “Installation of a Listen Technologies system with Dante, hearing aid, and smartphone integration to improve accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments.”
- Microphone and Audio Processing Upgrades: “To enhance audio clarity, podium microphones will be replaced, and wireless desktop gooseneck microphones with independent outputs for both in-room and online use will be installed.”
- New HD Cameras: “High-definition PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras will provide improved visual coverage of council meetings from multiple angles.”
- Control Room Enhancements: “Equipment relocation and updates to the system’s control programming will allow for more efficient operation and better integration with presentation systems.”
- Workshop and Local Conferencing Area Improvements: “Additions such as smart soundbars, conferencing cameras, and wireless presentation devices will support small group meetings and internal collaboration.”
- Overflow Room Upgrades: “Improved audio and video feeds from the main chambers will allow residents in overflow areas to follow meetings in real-time.”
The benefits the city government is hoping to achieve by installing these upgrades include better accessibility for residents with visual and auditory disabilities, increased transparency with better access to public meeting materials and contents, and more efficient city workflow thanks to automated systems that were previously operated manually.
Beyond these improvements, the city says it’s also working on addressing concerns about inconsistent Wi-Fi connections at the Palm Coast Community Center. Part of this stems from feedback from residents about issues with the stream audio during April’s annual State of the City event.
They should have been on top of this all along. But I guess it really opened their eyes when the problems effected their voting for the city manager’s position and made them look bad.