Shelley City Council to allow live streaming of meetings

December 9, 2020 Mike Price

Community Pioneer Co-found Jeff Kelley addresses the Shelley City Council Tuesday, Dec. 8.

SHELLEY — Following a request from Community Pioneer, the Shelley City Council will allow the news service to live-stream their meetings.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the Council agreed to a three-month trial period where Community Pioneer will stream public city council meetings live to YouTube. The Council reached the decision after a lengthy discussion with multiple councilmembers, and the mayor, expressing concerns.

“It gives an opportunity for elderly people who don’t want to go out in the cold and the ice and the snow to be able to be a part of the community without having to trudge down to city hall,” Community Pioneer Co-founder Jeff Kelley told the Council Tuesday night.

As well as being one of the founding members of the Community Pioneer, Kelley is a former Shelley City Councilman. Kelley left the Council in January 2018 after eight years of service.

“I know that as council members, you want to be open to the community and be transparent,” Kelley said.

While the Council ultimately agreed to a three-month trial period, they did have concerns.

“My concern is, if we’re all on camera, I guarantee I’m going to be super careful about what I say, or I’m not saying anything. Are we all going to be the same way? So the meeting will be done fast, and we won’t accomplish anything,” Mayor Stacey Pascoe said Tuesday.

Councilwoman Kim Westergard said she was concerned about the meetings being available for anyone to go back watch.

“I don’t think I would mind the live streaming, but to have it for them to go on YouTube so people can keep on looking. I guess I feel like if they have a desire to know what’s going on, they can join in and watch that evening. But to have it available, continually, I don’t want to be a YouTube star,” Westergard said.

Councilman Adam French joined Westergard in her concern over recorded meetings always being available to the public to view. He also conveyed unease over viewers being able to comment on the live stream without the Council being able to address those comments directly.

As a compromise, Kelley said Community Pioneer would disallow commenting on live-streams.

Currently, the City Council is holding its meetings via Zoom. When they begin holding meetings again at City Hall, Community Pioneer will provide the equipment and minimal training needed to stream the meetings — at no cost to the city.

The first meeting Community Pioneer will live-stream is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14. To watch it, and subsequent meetings, visit the Community Pioneer YouTube channel.

Monday’s meeting is a public hearing regarding creating a moratorium on commercial, manufacturing and multi-family residential construction and will be held via Zoom. Those who would like to address the Council will be able to join the Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 879 6182 3501
Passcode: 508399