So we can see the screen when there is a shared screen, see the people on the committee and they can see us when we speak.
It really makes no sense for them to be sharing agendas and powerpoints the public cannot see! (Psst, city too if you aren’t recording your Zoom meetings!) Glad they are looking to fix this!
This was sent last week:
All,
As we adjust to holding meetings remotely for the foreseeable future, I wanted to update you on Board Office efforts to improve on the meeting platform we have used to date.
As you know, when the shutdown began on March 13th as a result of the COVID pandemic, we quickly sought an approach that balanced security and transparency for meetings in order to hold the County Board meeting on March 19th. We have tried to embrace the goals of the Open Meetings Law for access, accountability, and transparency, while also managing meetings that regularly have over 50 participants.
Like each of you, we have learned the benefits and challenges of the Go-To-Meeting platform as we have gone along.
I asked Lindsay, with support from Lauren and Josh, to test meeting platform alternatives to meet the following goals: 1) allow the public who are attending the committee meetings to see the screen; 2) allow the public to see the members of the body; and 3) allow members of the public who are testifying to be seen. At the same time, in order to have effective meetings, we need a platform that offers security around the webcam and chat functions. Over the past several weeks, they have tested various approaches, weighing the attributes of each software, including the cost and the ease of use.
Our plan at this juncture is to test Zoom Webinar for the August 13th Executive Committee meeting. If successful, we will then work with training the department staff who support standing committees so that we can unroll the Remote Meeting Access 2.0 initiative in September for the County Board and for standing committee meetings, just as the budget process begins to ramp up. We will train staff of Boards and Commissions subsequently, but need to prioritize those bodies critical to the legislative process.
I appreciate your forbearance in these difficult times. If we are still in a remote posture this time next year, I assume someone will have developed a hologram technology for meetings. That might be our Remote Meeting Access 3.0 project!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Karin Peterson Thurlow
Chief of Staff
Dane County Board of Supervisors
(608) 266-5758
