Item 84-137 Council Chamber AlterationsDATE: June 15, 1984
TO: Mayor & Council
FROM: William P. Craig, City Manager
SUBJECT: Council Chamber Alterations to Improve
Public Presentations
The city staff has met regarding the best way to configure the
Council Chamber for the public to see presentations (either
personally or on TV). The ideas presented below would
considerably improve presentations at modest cost.
1. Camera positions. A small platform should be constructed at
the rear of the chamber, immediately to the left of the aisle as
you face the front. The manned camera needs platform height to
clear the heads of spectators.
2. A large pull -down screen should be purchased and affixed to
the wall at the location of the present portable blackboard. The
portable blackboard should be removed. Such a screen costs about
$200.00, and could be concealed by a wooden valance when not in
use. The engineer would project transparencies from a point near
the end of the Council table, and give presentations from the area
` immediately in front of the screen.
3. A large bulletin board surface should be affixed to the wall
near the recorder table, balancing the screen. This would allow
various presenters to tack up the large prints they always seem to
bring along so that both Council and public can see them. A "lip"
or projection at the bottom of this board would allow the'
placement of stiff display boards without the use of an easel.
Presenters would address Council from the side.
4. Consideration should be given to mounting a high - quality map
behind the Mayor's chair, between the two display aids listed
above. This would allow quick reference.
5. A television should be mounted toward the rear of the room, so
it can be easily seen by the camera operator. This would assist
those attending who haveto sit in the back, and also allow the
camera operator to check instantly what is going over the air.
6. Annunmanded'HIV camera should be mounted on the wall, probably
above the proposed map, facing the presentation table. A device
b should be obtained to allow switching from the manned to the
unmanned camera during those presentations.
7. If the suggestion for presentation involving visual aids is
accepted, one of the current presentation microphones should be
converted to a stand -up model and emplaced appropriately.
Two items should be considered regarding policy. First, will
those addressing Council be permitted to speak from their seats or
invited to come forward? TV viewers cannot hear those speaking
from the seats without some fairly advanced microphone work.
Second, is Council interested in going to lavaliere (lapel)
microphones? They restrict movement somewhat and tend to pick up
II
private comments,
has good and bad
used.
but they reduce the visual clutter. Each type
_points, and either type could be effectively
If the changes listed above sound worthwhile, they will be pursued
and an item -by -item budget prepared for approval and construction.
If not, you may wish to leave the chamber as it is, or engage an
architectural firm. It does appear, however, that substantive
improvements can be made in presentations at a relatively small
expense.
Respectfully submitted,
William P. Craig
City Manager
0
DATE: June 15, 1984
Y
TO: Mayor & Council
FROM: William P. Craig, City Manager
SUBJECT: Council Chamber Alterations to Improve
Public Presentations
The city staff has met regarding the best way to configure the
Council Chamber for the public to see presentations (either
personally or on TV). The ideas presented below would
considerably improve presentations at modest cost.
1. Camera positions. A small platform should be constructed at
the rear of the chamber, immediately to the left of the aisle as
you face the front. The manned camera needs platform height to
clear the heads of spectators.
2. A large pull -down screen should be purchased and affixed to
the wall at the location of the present portable blackboard. The
portable blackboard should be removed. Such a screen costs about
$200.00, and could be concealed by a wooden valance when not in
use. The engineer would project transparencies from a point near
the end of the Council table, and give presentations from the area
immediately in front of the screen.
3. A large bulletin board surface should be affixed to the wall
near the recorder table, balancing the screen. This would allow
various presenters to tack up the large prints they always seem to
bring along so that both Council and public can see them. A "lip"
or projection at the bottom of this board would allow the
placement of stiff display boards without the use of an easel.
Presenters would address Council from the side.
4. Consideration should be given to mounting a high - quality map
behind the Mayor's chair, between the two display aids listed
above. This would allow quick reference.
5. A television should be mounted toward the rear of the room, so
it can be easily seen by the camera operator. This would assist
those attending who haveto sit in the back, and also allow the
camera operator to check instantly what is going over the air.
6. An, unmanned TVcamera should be mounted on the wall, probably
above the proposed map, facing the presentation table. A device
should be obtained to allow switching from the manned to the
unmanned camera during those presentations.
7. If the suggestion for presentation involving visual aids is
accepted, one of the current presentation microphones should be
converted to a stand -up model and emplaced appropriately.
Two items should be considered regarding policy. First, will
those addressing Council be permitted to speak from their seats or
invited to come forward? TV viewers cannot hear those speaking
from the seats without some fairly advanced microphone work.
Second, is Council interested in going to lavaliere (lapel)
microphones? They restrict movement somewhat and tend to pick up
0
2
private comments, but they reduce the visual clutter. Each type
has good and bad points, and either type could be effectively
used.
If the changes listed above sound worthwhile, they will be pursued
and an item -by -item budget prepared for approval and construction.
If not, you may wish to leave the chamber as it is, or engage an
architectural firm. It does appear, however, that substantive
improvements can be made in presentations at a relatively small
expense.
Respectfully submitted,
' 3 ! ' - tV Ck-�- n
William P. Craig
City Manager
00