Editor,
I’m writing to clarify a number of points discussed in your article, “Langley considering uploading council meeting audio online”.
First, I’m glad to see the city is considering an easy and relatively low-cost means of enhancing a longstanding tradition of open and accessible government by making audio files available on its website.
At no time have I suggested that the city produce “transcripts” of council meetings, either online or in any other form. The costs listed for transcription services are really not relevant to my request. I won’t pursue the details here, but any costs in money or staff time related to uploading audio files are quite small.
Similarly not relevant is the idea that making available audio online would somehow adversely impact the public’s joining-in on meetings in person. From my experience on the council, those who wish to personally voice their concerns will attend in person.
On-demand audio would actually provide a new means to enhance participation, as the council chamber has a capacity for only 45 people. As I wrote to the mayor and council, “The latest count in the Langley mayoral primary election is 473 votes. Many of these citizens would likely be interested in specific details of certain council deliberations. That number of citizens who cast ballots is more than 10 times the legal capacity of the council chamber. The laudable intent of having even 10 percent of the voting public attend in person is not feasible. Another readily attainable means of achieving that goal of increased ‘joining’ seems worth reviewing.”
“A city the size of Langley might not be ‘obliged’ to provide on-line audio recordings of official meetings but, mid-way through the second decade of the 21st century, I think it would be the right thing to do… certainly to explore… in pursuit of open government.”
Surely, if the county can do the same, and if the City of Oak Harbor can broadcast video with sound on-demand, this is not uncharted territory.
I trust that, after due deliberation, the council will vote to continuously improve the open nature of our local government.
HAL SELIGSON
Langley
