Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County could be spending more than $100,000 to upgrade the council chambers with electronic communications to comply with new requirements from the Municipal Government Act.
At its regular meeting Sept. 25, council passed a motion to approve audio-visual (AV) system upgrades to the council chambers at a maximum cost of $110,000. The project will be funded from the computer equipment reserve.
The upgrade will allow electronic public participation as required in the amended MGA, Joe Zdeb, director of corporate services, told council.
“This is a requirement,” he added.
“We are also looking for grant funding.
Alberta Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act 2024, otherwise known as Bill 20, received royal assent on May 30 and outlines a change to require municipalities to offer digital options for public hearings on planning and development.
To facilitate the requirement, an AV system upgrade must be completed to the council chambers.
“The proposed AV system upgrades would add multiple cameras in the council chambers to clearly show which council member or participant is speaking, microphones at each desk to ensure that council members and participants can be clearly heard, and improvements to the computer systems to stream, record and facilitate public participation during council meetings,” Zdeb said.
Currently, council does not have that capability for viewers and those in the council chambers to interact and communicate, said acting CAO Pat Olansky, director of community services and planning,
“We need a system where they can see and hear us and we can see and hear them,” she told council.
After approving the motion, Zdeb said he would prepare a request for quotations and proceed to purchase equipment.
“The AV system upgrade will show council’s commitment to good governance by promoting public participation and demonstrating transparency during meetings,” Zdeb said.
Joussard Councillor Richard Mifflin noted the work is needed.
“We’ll have to put meetings online, so we need to make upgrades.”