Item 6 Staff Report Adopt Policy Providing Video Access and Retention for Videotapes of Town Council Meetings and Other Public Meetingsf
MEETING DATE: 1/21/03
ITEM NO. ^
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: JANUARY 21, 2003
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: MARIAN V. COSGROVE, TOWN CLERK
SUBJECT: ADOPT POLICY PROVIDING VIDEO ACCESS AND RETENTION FOR
VIDEOTAPES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OTHER PUBLIC
MEETINGS
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a policy authorizing the Library to retain video recordings of Town Council meetings, and
other public meetings when taped, for a period of ninety (90) days for the purpose of public access.
BACKGROUND:
Section 34090.7 of the California Government Code states that videotapes and films shall be
considered duplicate records if a city or county keeps another record, such as written minutes or an
audio recording of the same event. The video recording medium cannot be destroyed or erased for
ninety (90) days after the event. The Town of Los Gatos retains written minutes as its permanent
and official record of Town Council and Commission meeting actions.
DISCUSSION:
In early 2003, it is anticipated that the Town will contract with a video production service provider
to videotape and televise Town Council meetings. Because the Town Clerk's Office maintains the
official record by means of the approved minutes, videotapes of Council meetings or other public
meetings are considered temporary and duplicate records.
However, as noted earlier, the California Government Code requires that video recordings medium
must be kept for a minimum of ninety (90) days after the event. Therefore, in the interest of public
access, it is recommended that video copies of public Town meetings will be made available for
check-out at the Town Library. After ninety (90) days, the videotapes would be pulled from the
PREPARED BY: BOBBI FRIES, DEPUTY TOWN CLERK
,�// N:\MGRVHaruyama\StaffReportsWideo Council Report.wpd
Reviewed by: eS.SNssistant Town Manager ' Attorney Finance Revised: 1/13/03 1:49 pm
Reformatted: 7/14/99
PAGE 2
SUBJECT: ADOPT POLICY PROVIDING VIDEO ACCESS AND RETENTION FOR
VIDEOTAPES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS OTHER PUBLIC
MEETINGS
January 21, 2003
shelves and returned to the Town's video production service provider for reuse, recycling, or
disposal. Upon request, the Town's video production service provider will provide copies of the
public meetings for a fee to be determined by the provider, as the Town does not have the equipment
or staff to provide this service.
To assess how other municipalities managed videotape records, the Town Clerk's Office conducted
an informal survey involving 35 California cities. Although the survey responses were varied and
not conclusive, the responses did provide some insight regarding videotape retention. Below is an
overview of the survey results.
Videotape Retention Responsibility
57 percent of municipalities managed the retention of videotapes
29 percent did not respond to the survey
14 percent of cable companies or video production service providers managed the retention
of videotapes
Provision of Videotape Copies
.
•
37 percent of municipalities provided copies of videotapes
31 percent of cable companies or video production service providers provided copies of
videotapes
20 percent did not respond to the survey
9 percent provided copies of videotapes by outsourcing
3 percent did not provide copies
Videotape Duplication Costs
Videotape duplication costs varied and ranged between $2.50 to $30.
Retention Period
22 percent retained the videotapes for 1-2 years
20 percent retained the videotapes permanently
17 percent retained the videotapes for 6 months
17 percent did not respond to the survey
11 percent retained the videotapes for 30-90 days
11 percent retained the videotapes for 3-5 years
r
PAGE 3
SUBJECT: ADOPT POLICY PROVIDING VIDEO ACCESS AND RETENTION FOR
VIDEOTAPES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS OTHER PUBLIC
MEETINGS
January 21, 2003
CONCLUSION:
The Town of Los Gatos maintains the official records of the Town Council and other public
meetings in the form of approved minutes. Therefore, video recorded media is considered to be
duplicative material and is required by California Government Code to be retained for a minimum
of ninety (90) days. The Library is a logical resource for the public to access the videos.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Minimal Fiscal Impact. Library staff time would be required to prepare the videos for checkout,
shelve them, and pull them at the end of their life cycle.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Council Policy - Access and Retention of Video -Recorded Public Meetings
COUNCIL POLICY
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
Subject: Page:
Access and Retention of Video Recorded
Media of Council Meetings:
Approved:
PURPOSE
Section Number
Effective Date: Revised Date:
To establish the process by which the public and staff may obtain video recorded media and
maintained copies of Council, Board, Commission, and/or any other public meetings, and to set
the retention policy with regard to videotapes or electronically stored video copies retained by
the Town.
SCOPE
This policy applies to video tapes, DVDs or any other means of electronic video recordings
made in the process of televising or videotaping Council, Board, Commission, and/or any other
public meetings.
POLICY
California Government Code Section 34090.7 allows for the destruction or erasing of recordings
resulting from "routine video monitoring" so long as another record such as an audio tape or
written minutes are maintained. The Town currently maintains both written minutes and audio
recordings of its Town Council and Planning Commission meetings. Therefore, ninety (90) days
after the date of the video recorded meeting, all video recorded media will be returned to the
Town's cablecast service provider for reuse, recycling, or disposal. Any electronically stored
video recordings are to be deleted.
During the ninety (90) day retention period, the custodian of the video recorded media is the
Library. The video recorded media, maintained as a public access copy, will be available for
viewing and/or checkout, which ever the Library deems appropriate.
PROCEDURES
The Town's cablecast service provider will furnish the Town with at least one (1) copy each
videotaped meeting. The Library will make the video recordings available for a period of 90
days, after which time they shall be returned to the video production service provider for reuse,
recycling, or destruction. The Library shall maintain a log of receipt and disposition of the
media, and present this log to the Town Clerk / Records Manager at the end of each fiscal year.
The Town will not maintain staff or equipment to provide video and/or DVD copies to the
public. Video copies of meetings may be obtained through the Town's video production service
ATTACHMENT A
provider for a fee to be determined by the provider. All requests for copies will be referred to
the Town's video production service provider.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Town Attorney
Town Council Minutes January 21, 2003
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
HEARING CONTINUED
MONROE COURT 10/PLANNED DEVELOPMENT/ZONE CHANGE/CONT.
Bud Lortz continued
and need to be delineated. Compatibility with the neighborhood floor area and design was a goal of
project review. The riparian corridor is being dedicated as open space. Reduced density will need
to go back to Planning Commission for redesign. Reduced intensity needs to go to Architecture and
Site and can be reviewed for a more compatible floor size relating to thL ,t ighborhood.
Council Comments:
Mr. Wasserman requested a more compatible design to enhance the property; that there be a
redesign for three homes to reflect the history of the neighborhood; and that three homes providing
larger lots and more open area will be more compatible to the Monroe Court neighborhood than four
homes.
Mr. Pirzynski noted that the request of the neighbors was for three homes with reduced square
footage; that the riparian habitat be preserved for the neighborhood; that there is a market for smaller
homes in Los Gatos which include the ambiance of the neighborhood where they are situated; that
the values articulated tonight move quickly through the system so that the project can be completed.
Ms McNutt noted that four cottage styled homes with reduced square footage could be
accommodated on the same area to serve more families as three homes within the 8,000 square
footage limitation.
Mrs. Decker noted that the extra house would cause extra paving and affect the runoff in the project;
also the additional proposed fencing of the properties will limit the ambiance of the view shed.
Motion by Mrs. Decker, seconded by Mr. Wasserman, to remand to Planning Commission; to have
only three homes on site; to have no more than 8,000 sq. ft amongst the three homes; to protect the
riparian elements of the property as the designs and home placements are prepared. Carried by 4
ayes. Mr. Glickman voted no with the desire to request that at least two of the homes be allowed the
view and access to the creek property.
VIDEO TAPES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS (06.42)
Council consensus to have staff research cost of DVD copies of Council meetings which can be
maintained in archival form, and have audio-visual tapes of the proceedings available for a six month
period for circulation through the library. Staff to return to Council with further information.
PROJECT 0324/DIGITAL TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS (PHASE 3)/RESOLUTION 2003-12 (10.24)
Motion by Mr. Glickman, seconded by Mr. Pirzynski, that Council adopt Resolution 2003-12
entitled, RESOLUTION OF TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH HJW GEOSPATIAL, INC. IN CONNECTION WITH
PROJECT 0324 - TOWN DIGITAL MAP PROJECT (PHASE 3) - DIGITAL TOWN
TOPOGRAPHY AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, and to request that the vender apply the
correction techniques to the very few tall buildings that we have in town as well as to the bridges.
Carried unanimously.
DOWNTOWN STREET IMPROVEMENTS/PROJECT 0233/N. SANTA CRUZ AVE. (18.24)
John Curtis, Director of Public Works, spoke of proposals that were presented to Council at a prior
date. He invited Council and audience to come forward to the center table to review the completed
work and presented the plans and recommendations for this coming year. He spoke of the meetings
with the downtown community in preparation for this work
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