Agenda - Council - 04/09/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Riley agreed that would defeat the purpose of allowing remote attendance. He stated that while every effort should be made to attend every meeting, there is a limit within the policy to limit the use of the policy. He stated that technology and the current trends dictate that this could be an option. Community Development Director Gladhill stated that the meeting itself would still occur in Ramsey and one person could attend remotely from another location. He noted that members of the public could still attend at City Hall if desired. Councilmember Kuzma asked if all four cities would have to participate or whether each city could choose whether they want to participate. City Administrator Ulrich stated that the choice is for each member city to make, QCTV is simply looking for direction on whether each city would like the appropriate equipment to be installed. Councilmember Riley asked and received confirmation that this policy would also apply to Boards and Commissions. Councilmember Heinrich asked if the cost could be justified for such a small percentage of uses. Mayor LeTourneau stated that his expectation is that the cost that would be incurred would allow the City to continue in this opportunity for perpetuity. City Administrator Ulrich estimated that the equipment would perhaps have a five-year lifespan. Mayor LeTourneau stated that it is his understanding that on an annual basis, QCTV allocates funds for each member city for these types of equipment upgrades. City Administrator Ulrich confirmed that to be correct. Mayor LeTourneau stated that the replenishment of that funding source occurs with some frequency. He stated that the City should make sure that they choose the right upgrades to utilize the funds. He asked if there are projected timelines for the use of the fund currently. City Administrator Ulrich stated that recently the funds were used for upgrading the cameras and equipment for high definition. He noted that the fund has received about $20,000 per year for equipment replacement, although there is not an official allotment set for each year. He stated that the fund has also been used for other communication upgrades including upgrades to the screens and projectors in the conference room and monitors in the hallway. Councilmember Shryock asked if the person wanting to participate remotely would need to use video technology. Councilmember Riley confirmed that State law requires that video be used. City Council Work Session / March 26, 2019 Page 2 of 9