Supervisors Split Over Televising of Meetings

SANTA ANA — Dedicated channel surfers know that next to infomercials, televised government meetings might be the most prevalent form of cable TV programming, from House of Representatives debates to city council meetings.

But don’t expect to watch the Orange County Board of Supervisors in action any time soon.

Even though the county is now studying the feasibility of broadcasting board meetings on cable, most supervisors are already expressing reservations about the idea.

Their concerns range from the costs and practicality of providing the service to fundamental doubts about whether televised meetings actually make government more responsive and efficient.

“I think there’s a tendency with television coverage for some people to play to the cameras instead of focusing on the issues,” said Supervisor William G. Steiner, echoing the view of several colleagues. “It might result in more theatrics and grandstanding--not just from the public, but from elected officials trying to be seen in the best light.”

More than half of Orange County’s 31 cities as well as many school districts televise their meetings. Some have done so for more than 20 years.

Several of California’s largest counties--including San Francisco, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego--have also embraced cameras in the boardrooms in recent years, according to the California State Assn. of Counties. After years of debate, Los Angeles County began televising its board meetings last year.

Orange County’s meetings were televised by a cable channel for a few months after the December 1994 plunge into bankruptcy. But as the financial crisis eased, the live telecasts disappeared, taking with them the public’s ability to view the proceedings without traveling to the Hall of Administration.

The county’s reexamination of the issue was prompted in part by a 1995 grand jury report titled “Openness in Orange County Government.”

The report recommended televising the board’s meetings as one way of making government more accessible to county residents, many of whom cannot attend the Tuesday morning board sessions because of work or child-care obligations.

“We have got to be more inclusive with the public,” said Supervisor Marian Bergeson, who supports the idea. “I think people will gain confidence in the process if they understand it and feel inclusive.”

Bergeson and others said that televised meetings would boost public interest in county affairs in the wake of the bankruptcy, which strained government credibility in the eyes of some residents.

“So few people know anything about county government right now that this can only help,” said Jean Askham, former president of the League of Women Voters. “I can’t see how anyone would oppose it.”

Askham acknowledged that the presence of cameras might result in some long-winded speeches and colorful antics. “If it makes the meetings longer, that’s the price we pay for democracy,” she said.

Television coverage has turned some elected officials into local celebrities who are approached at supermarkets and on the street by people who recognize them from the broadcasts.

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Elizabeth Thomas, an Irvine parent and president of a school fund-raising group, said cable TV coverage allows her to monitor developments from home while “I correct my kid’s homework or read the mail,” Thomas said. “It’s a great convenience.”

But even some supporters admit the cameras bring both welcome and unwelcome consequences.

Yorba Linda Mayor John M. Gullixson said he backs televised meetings even though some activists use them as forums to push their personal agendas in front of the cameras.

“You have some people who get up there and make the same annoying comments. You invite them to spend some time with staff to discuss issues, but they don’t show up,” Gullixson said. “They really just want to have an excuse to complain and get their five minutes on TV every two weeks,” he added.

Supervisors said they have also witnessed the way television coverage changes the way people behave at meetings.

Supervisor Jim Silva said that when he was on the Huntington Beach City Council, the public comments portion of the meeting often lasted for two hours or more as speaker after speaker came before the camera to have their say. As a result, meetings frequently went on past midnight, making it harder for leaders to make clear-headed decisions, he said.

“Originally, I thought this was going to be a great learning experience,” Silva said. “But after sitting through the delays and hearing the same people talk over and over, I found it hurt the city.”

Supervisor Don Saltarelli added that televised meetings sometimes prompt elected officials to pontificate on even the most routine items. “A meeting that should take 1 1/2 hours might take 3 1/2 hours instead,” Saltarelli said, adding that he would still consider the idea if he senses a strong public demand.

Others point out that the board already holds one night session per month in an effort to address the needs of residents who cannot attend the morning meetings because of work.

The county’s study will attempt to assess the cost of adding lighting, cameras and a control center to the board meeting room. Officials are contacting cable companies across the county to determine whether there is interest in broadcasting the meetings.

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Because cities control cable television franchises, they have more leverage than the county to get their meetings on the air. Many cities have required cable companies to broadcast their meetings, and in some cases provide the video equipment, as part their franchise agreements.

“The Board of Supervisors doesn’t have that same capability on a countywide basis,” said Robert A. Griffith, the General Services Agency director.

Los Angeles County spends about $330,000 a year to televise its meetings.

Judy Hammond, a public affairs officer for Los Angeles County, said the length of the board meetings has not increased since the broadcasts began last April.

Still, most Orange County supervisors said they are wary about spending money on video equipment while the county tries to recover from bankruptcy.

“If television sees a demand in the market for these meetings, they can come here and [tape] them,” Board Chairman Roger R. Stanton said. “I don’t see why the county should be expected to pay for it.”