Comments at City Council meetings to remain televised

To televise or not televise, that was the question in front of the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday, April 19. While live streaming of the Council meetings is not required by law, it is something the City has done on both the internet and television since May, 2007.

The agenda item was added after discussion arose during the April 5 meeting when Mayor Wendy David asked that they stop televising the public comment portion of the meetings. Her comment caught many by surprise, even by some of her Council members.

During Tuesday's meeting, City Clerk Susan Alessi went through the history of SLT Council meetings being televised:

1998: City begins filming Council meetings
1998-May, 2003: Filming of public comments on non-agenda items was done.
June, 2003: Televising public comments on non-agenda items discontinued
May, 2007: Live web streaming of Council meetings begins. Public comments for non-agenda items was not added to webs streaming, was not videotaped
February, 2011: Change in policy from previous eight years. Public comments on non-agenda items was added to live web stream and the televising of City Council meetings.

Mayor David was concerned about things the public might say during the open comment period, things the Council couldn't respond to due to the Brown Act and things that might be slanderous.

The Council was advised by City Attorney Tom Watson that, even though those on the dais cannot engage in conversation with people who ask questions during the public comment period, they may immediately respond if what the person is say is untruthful, needs factual clarification or is an unwarranted attack on staff.

The Brown Act prohibits the Council from discussing or taking action on items not on the agenda.

Watson reminded the public that what they say at the podium is not a "safe harbor" and they can be held liable in a civil court. During elections, candidates may not go to the podium for "their own gain," according to Watson.

What is also not allowed during public comment periods are personal attacks or opinions that are about things the City doesn't have jurisdiction over.

"The podium is not a batting cage," added City Manager Nancy Kerry. She said the podium is intended for professional speech, courtesy and not to take pot shots from.

Some speakers during the public comment period might only show up to be seen, and heard, on television. A frequent speaker and former Council member Bill Crawford said, "I don't comment because of television, I just come to correct you when you get it wrong."

Many in the community voiced their opinion on social media prior to Tuesday's meeting, saying they felt the move to not televise was taking away their rights. Since public comments will always be a part of the City Council meeting, rights were not threatened, freedom of speech was in tact, and people weren't "being muzzled" as some eluded to.

The Council voted unanimously to continue televising the public comment period.