Televising of City Council Meetings to be Further Considered

The , sitting as the board of directors of the Public Access Corp., decided to further study the possibility of televising the council's meetings. 

Concerns over the cost of the project were cited as the main reasons for further research and discussion.

“This is a wonderful thing, but I’d like to know how this would affect our general fund,” said Bill De Witt, board member and vice mayor. “We are very tight on money.”

An agreement between Time Warner and the city of South Gate commits both to providing a set amount of free public access television until 2014. 

In 2009, Time Warner was allowed to discontinue community programming services because of a new California law that no longer required it, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, the state legislature did require all parties to live up to their agreements until they expire.

Time Warner is not required specifically to televise City Council meetings under its agreement with the city, but it will consider it, according to Nellie Cobos, South Gate public information officer.

Board members expressed worries that the city would not be able to provide community programming for free after 2014 and the possible impression it might leave with the public.

“We need to consider what will be the fiscal impact after 2014,” said Gil Hurtado, board member and councilmember. “If we make the decision to not televise anymore [after 2014], it will give the perception that [the council is] hiding something.”

The reach of Time Warner’s public access channel in the community was also mentioned as an area needing further study.

“I don’t have cable,” said Mayor Maria Davila, also a board member. “[Also,] a lot of the members of our community do not have Time Warner.”

, president of the board and South Gate’s city manager, concluded the meeting by stating that further work on the issues raised would be done.

“We will do more research based on the comments of the board,” said Troxcil.