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The City Commission workshop Tuesday evening will be the first live broadcast on cable.
By KATHY SAUNDERS
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 4, 2001
TREASURE ISLAND -- Starting Tuesday, Treasure Island residents should see more than the City Hall ceiling on Time Warner's Channel 15.
Workers installed cameras and focused them on the auditorium ceiling Thursday while volunteers learned to operate the new cable equipment.
"We have an active signal from City Hall," said City Manager Chuck Coward, pointing to the test pattern Friday.
Volunteers from the Treasure Island Voter's Watch citizens group say they will produce the first live broadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesday during the commission workshop. Treasure Island residents with Time Warner cable can tune in on public access Channel 15.
"If they have a satellite dish, it will not show up," said Jim Dobyns, president of the government watchdog group that has lobbied for cablecasting for the past two years. He and other members of the group will operate the cameras and sound equipment for the broadcasts.
"This will get people more involved in government," Dobyns said. "We hope that if people see something that they feel strongly about then they'll hop in their cars and head on down to City Hall and talk to the commission while the meeting is happening.
"A minimum package with Time Warner with Channels 2 through 21 cost $11.34 a month," he added.
The backdrop for the first televised commission meeting will be a newly renovated auditorium. Painters and carpet layers were putting the final touches on the decor Friday. The $100,000 renovation included new paint, new ceilings and new flooring in portions of the auditorium. City offices also are getting new paint, carpet and some new work counters.
Viewers will see a new khaki-colored auditorium with blue carpet under the stage area.
"The carpet will bring out my eyes," Commissioner Barbara Blush said Friday after taking a peek at the renovations.
The backdrop will include a new large-scale city seal featuring a pirate. It also hides a pull-down viewing screen for the audience.
"I just think it's going to a give a whole lot of people an opportunity to give us some intelligent input," Blush said of the cablecasting.
The city spent about $12,000 on the television equipment and a new sound system for the auditorium. The system includes two cameras, one in front of the commissioners and another to their right. The cameras also can focus in on the city manager and city attorney as well as the public podium.
Tuesday's workshop will be taped and replayed at a later date that has yet to be set.
Residents who tune in Tuesday evening will get a preview of the city's plan to beautify the downtown business district and redesign Central/107th Avenue.
Commissioners will be discussing bids for a $596,000 contract for those downtown plans.
Viewers also can watch the city manager's update on the plans for Sunset Vista Trailhead Park, at the entrance to Sunset Beach. The city bought the beachfront property in December and recently demolished the former bait shop and residence on the site. Commissioners plan to develop a passive park and a sunset viewing platform made of sand.
Coward said he also will discuss plans Tuesday for the March 13 installation of Commissioners Stephanie Lavino and Mary Maloof, who were automatically returned to office last week when no one filed to oppose their candidacy. The commissioners from District 1 and District 3, respectively, will be sworn in for another two-year term. Coward said he hopes to combine the swearing-in ceremony with a ribbon cutting at the newly decorated City Hall and a public open house.
The outside of City Hall should be repainted by the March meeting, Coward said. The building will be painted beige with sage green trim.