Okay folks, here it is.This last Monday, March 3, about 1 hour of Board Meeting time was taken up re-hashing the DEAD ON ARRIVAL "TO VIDEO or NOT TO VIDEO -- THAT IS THE QUESTION".Before I share details of the meeting, I will restate the IDEA that I have had all along:1) This CAN BE done rather simply -- ONE CAMCORDER on a rolling tripod can effectively capture the proceedings. This IS currently being done on YOUTUBE without the use of a tripod, and without the use of any assistance with audio. The current effort has been purposely AS LEAST OBTRUSIVE AS POSSIBLE in order not to enable anyone to claim that the effort is DISRUPTIVE. The current product is downgraded in quality in order to be YOUTUBE http://www.youtube.com/pleasantprairiewi compatible -- raw DV quality would keep video at desired level. Audio could easily and very inexpensively be improved by use of remote microphones.2) This raw video can easily be uploaded from the ONE CAMCORDER to a PC with installed editing software. I use Pinnacle Studio 11. This software has capabilities that I haven't even explored yet. The enhanced video can then be BURNED TO A DVD for transportability and storage reasons, OR could be left in DV-AVI mode for insertion into the CH25 stream.This is NOT a $26000 project.--------------------------------------------------------The following are 'scenes' from the debate on Monday night. FYI-EVERY BIT OF DISCUSSION ON this topic is INCLUDED. NOTHING IS LEFT OUT for any reason (except maybe 10 seconds lost when I was changing tapes).--------------------------------------------------------First clip:--Citizen activist Bob Babcock is first seen as he AGAIN explains his desire to see this happen. He went as far as communicating with the LT GOV's office, and was told that the LT GOV highly supports transparency and is not opposed to videotaping. Bob also brought up for the second time his idea on how KUSD students could be involved in this for a whole bunch of reasons.--Next came nay-sayer Dick Ginkowski who claims to be all for it, but gives every reason in the book as to why it's not a good idea. --Next came Bob Babcock Jr. -- Bob has been watching his dad's involvement and if picking up his own set of expectations. He too asks for more openness.
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-- I spoke next about my perspective on this. Covered funding issues. Highlighted nature of CH25 today, etc. I took exception with nay-sayer Ginkowski's suggestion that this MUST be LIVE (and MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE). Why live? If someone is aware of an issue and can make the time to watch it LIVE, then why not just come to the meeting. Recording allows for a citizen that happens on Tuesday morning to read about the meeting to watch it lets say at 9pm on Wed and/or 10am on Friday. In plenty of time to react before the next meeting. The VERBATIM minutes as currently available essentially always come much too late to act on anything. I have nothing against LIVE, but to use it as an excuse not to do the right thing is shameful. See for yourself.
--Next the Board voted to move Agenda Item K up to in order to allow for IT Manager Ruth Otto to head home since she was ill.
--Next Mike Pollocoff begins his explanation on what is required to bring video to constituents.
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IS THIS CNN ATLANTA or CH25 PLEASANT PRAIRIE: Wait until you see what is estimated as being necessary in order to do this. I will agree 100% that my rather conservative method could be FANCIER with more hardware, etc, but first objection I have is that MOST OF EVERYTHING SHOWN is really NOT particularly required to make the video idea work -- its 'needed' to take VILLAGE HALL out of the stone age. Better microphones, a video screen, a ceiling mounted projector, a desk, trip hazard cabling picked up off the floor, and power upgrades are not REQUIRED in order to get the job done, NICE, but not required. These improvements make the whole environment more professional. Today, we get to see a video projector shine an image on concrete blocks painted white. Do we really need audio gates and compressors? Nice again, but not necessary. Wolf Blitzer might want to work here!
This next clip shows the explanation of what is NEEDED (described above):
--$3000 for microphones -- is this Rush Limbaugh's golden microphone?
--$1000 for audio gates and compressors - Wolf is that you?
--$750 for an MP3 recorder -- maybe a trip to the Sony Outlet is in order!
--Projector ($600)/Screen ($1600) and hardware ($150): Sound reasonable, but are these things necessary to record meetings?
--Video recording equipment ($11300): 3 cameras and remote control. Again, I am not saying this is BAD, but it is NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE -- they just don't want to do it.
--Storage: $130 not $1300, but still too much. These videos can be archived on DVD. Sony Outlet calling again. OR can be stored on some of that fancy hardware we keep spending thousands of dollars. Take a look at the budget and see how much IT spending is going on in this village of 19,000 people. Give me a break.
--Video (capture device $5600): Apparently the RecPlex already has a TRICASTER PRO ($8000) -- I wonder if dues paying members at RecPlex know that their money is being spent on Tricasters instead of buying new equipment like stationary bikes, elliptical machines, and new basketballs for the Michael R. Pollocoff Fieldhouse. So the recommendation stands at a meager $5600 as a replacement/addition to the TRICASTER PRO $8000 model. THESE ARE THINGS WE ALREADY OWN!!!!! Next time somebody says anything about my ideas being too expensive --- EXPLAIN THE $8000 TRICASTER PRO. Oh, by the way, another $480 is needed to buy a monitor so that the technician can see what he/she is doing.
--Furniture: $500 for a desk. What we don't already have a desk? I bet there is a storage room either in Village Hall or at RecPlex with desks piled high and deep.
--Monitors for the Village Board ($900): Well, since the new $1600 plus hardware 108" x 108" screen will be behind the backs of the board members, we wouldn't want them to have to turn around! Might get a kink in that neck? Don't the chairs swivel? I am not against $900 to improve the stone age facility, but DON'T claim it's the fault of trying to videotape these meetings for the public to see!
LIVE!!: Give me a break. $6-8000 estimated to get to Roger Prange center -- by the way that's where CH25 is 'produced'. I'm so glad to know that as I always thought it was at the RecPlex. The internet connection would cost $4200/month to get it on the website too. And the multimedia server would cost $15000!. When we become ATLANTA or Kenosha, we can consider this, but for now Dick Ginkowski let's forget LIVE. $4200/month for internet connection! Maybe we do need some cable competition.
Word has it that the IT department addressed HIGH DEFINITION, but wrote that off as beyond current capabilities even of Time Warner. Lets get past YOUTUBE first and then we can talk HD.
By the way, I am in favor of every commission and board that works for the citizens of Pleasant Prairie to be included in the videotaping effort. CH25 can finally be the source of info citizens deserve --frankly I am tired of snowplowing, sewer cams, village contact info, and Kenosha County Board meetings. I WANT MY VPPTV!
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--Mike Pollocoff puts things in 'perspective'. This clip shows the 2008 Budget expenditures and PROVES why CH25 enhancement is not in the budget. All I can say is look at the budget capital improvements on the village website. Interesting array of items recommended and not recommended. I keep hearing an argument about how many people get CH25? Well, how many people as a % of our population use the North Ball Field at Prairie Springs at $208,000 for power and lights.
--Second part of this clip is where Mike Pollocoff refutes Bob Babcocks suggestion that KUSD students be enlisted to assist with this effort. School Board Member Eric Olson according to Bob Babcock during citizen comments seems to think its a good idea. Middleton, WI does just that, but it's JUST NOT QUITE TIDY AND GOOD ENOUGH FOR PLEASANT PRAIRIE - is it?
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--Mike Pollocoff explains usage of CH25 resources and who and hows its used, AND who pays for it. Interesting that he brought up that over HALF of CH25 usage is for "EXTERNAL BILLABLE" uses such as "ads", etc. Where is the EXTERNAL BILLABLE REVENUE going? I sure hope that it is going to pay for the operations of our CH25 effort, and if it makes a profit, shouldn't it go to offset the taxpayer portion of the funding? Hmm?
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Trustee#1 Monica Yuhas chimes in and indicates that SHE asked Mike Pollocoff to review this. She indicates that the village is taking steps to get things moving. I appreciate her willingness to talk with citizens and reveal the board video is desired, but she stops short stating that budget constraints need to be recognized. I agree that they do and as presented at $26000+ this is NOT more important than most budget items, but in the form I am suggesting this can easily be done. AGAIN, THANK YOU MONICA FOR BEING OPEN-MINDED. YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE ONLY TRUSTEE THAT HAS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TALKING WITH CONSTITUENTS (you are even willing to acknowledge the opinions of folks like Bob Babcock) -- ALL OTHERS DIVINE THEIR OPINIONS.
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--Trustee #4 Serpe first says he is not against being against -- sounds remotely familiar to anyone. I made a comment during citizens comments about a studio for CH25. He claims there is no studio except for a 'green board'. Well the current INSIGHTS show running on CH25 shows a Boy Scout pack being shown around the village and while at it they stopped in the Roger Prange building in which there is a room that sure looks like a studio with a 'green screen' background for super-imposing graphics -- so I guess were both right. He then brings up other budget items that were foregone in favor of existing approved budget items. He took time to explain how in the case of Kenosha County Sheriff's Dept and also in the Kenosha PD IN (squad) CAR CAMS are VERY IMPORTANT for "officer safety". So, why in all the budget discussions did this NOT get approved. As a taxpayer, I would be willing to pay the extra $10/year to provide for this. How did he rationalize this $55,925 item out? Are REPLACEMENT servers at $16000 more important? Is a mower at $42000 more important? Are lights at a BALLFIELD at $208,000 more important? I could name others, but I think you get the point. I think Serpe should be ashamed of continually using public safety as a tool when it serves his purpose. Getting the in car camera should have been priority #1, and not behind a mower.
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--Trustee#3 Allen chimes in. States taxes too high so raising taxes not a good idea. Cut services would be another idea. Or gut current budget to raise necessary funds like radios and squad cars -- not good ideas either. USES SQUAD CAR CAM argument like Serpe did. Did he also fight as hard for squad cams as Serpe did? Apparently he thinks replacing servers is more important. Agrees that residents deserve this. Finally criticizes why this is being brought up again. I suppose he didn't hear Trustee Yuhas state that SHE brought this up because she thought it was important. Trustee Allen are you saying Monica is wrong? I think his comments were directed at folks like the Babcocks and me, but we really didn't ask for this.
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-- Village Administrator Pollocoff apparently doesn't like what he is hearing so he jumps in front of elected Trustee Steve Kumorkiewicz. Robert's Rules of Order in practice? I thought the only individuals who had the right to the floor (except during citizens comments) were ELECTED TRUSTEES. He for some reason starts to justify the existence of CH25 and its technician. I don't think anyone was questioning that, but he still felt like he had to justfy it. I sure am glad those dollars that come from providing commercial advertising, and surveillance are going to offset those from the lost 1% franchise fee?
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--Monica Yuhas for VILLAGE PRESIDENT 2009. I would vote for her. She again states that SHE asked for this report, BECAUSE the citizens have the right to know. HOW REFRESHING! It is kind of unfortunate that she felt compelled to have to say anything, but the nature of previous comments made her FEEL like she had to defend her actions and explain that she is not in any way opposed to any public safety spending, but again that this topic needed to be heard.
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--After getting stepped on by Pollocoff (and by accident Yuhas also), Trustee #2 Steve Kumorkiewicz gets to TALK! Esteban, what did I ever do to you? You (and Howard Cooley) have been a guest in my home for the 2004 Presidential Debates. You offered your help when I ran for County Board in 2004. You vowed (but didn't) to stay neutral in my race against Tom Terwall in 2005. And then when I got on the board, and actually DID what I was saying I would do (look under every stone for tax savings), you turned vicious. What did I do???? Instead of saying anything actually applicable you AGAIN can ONLY ATTACK. Steve seems to suggest that I AM asking for $26k in spending for videotaping. HELLO OUT THERE -- I am not suggesting anything like that -- it's your LEADER that is doing that and using it as an excuse not to RECOMMEND moving forward. Your comment about you not having cable and therefore not getting CH25 is irrelevant -- IS THIS FOR YOU IN YOUR MIND - now I know why you are against it. Quit being so hostile, and then maybe you can start thinking straight again.
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--The Trustee#2 preamble got Trustee#4 going. Mike Serpe decides he is not done, so throws in a couple more gems. I thought because of the marvelous leadership of Pleasant Prairie that nothing can EVER go wrong. NO property sales shown this last week for Pleasant Prairie. Isn't this the place EVERYONE is coming. I sure hope not to be right, but is this kind of explanation the same thing we will be hearing if things elsewhere don't go right. Do I hear a bit of cautiousness? I think I have been talking about RISK MANAGEMENT since I have gotten involved in Pleasant Prairie. Developers asking for extensions on development plans! We shouldn't spend money on special interests? Let's take a look at that 2008 Village Budget again. AND THEN FINALLY HE SEES THE LIGHT -- he calls Mike Pollocoff the "SUPER TRUSTEE" -- smirks and giggles ensue. Kumorkiewicz at the end is heard "agree with you".
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--The honorable Village President (and State Assembly Representative) John Steinbrink FINALLY chimes in with his pearls of wisdom. He complains that this is being brought up OVER AND OVER. He exalts the time commitment of Mike Pollocoff and how he works with the utilities, and power plant, and revenue. Then he takes a direct shot at yours truly suggesting that I CAN WASTE my time watching CH25 and Cartoon Network. He then ties this time commitment somehow to his role in Madison suggesting that "working to 3:30/5:00 o'clock in the morning is not the most productive". But it's just a big love fest for John S and Mike P after all.
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FINAL clip:
--"Nice comments, John", Allen says. Having had enough of this Trustee-requested waste of time, Trustee Allen decides to add his last bits and motions for filing in the circular file cabinet.
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There you have it. DOA - DEAD ON ARRIVAL. SHAMEFUL. This is what happens when a government is monolithic in its majority. Your village government will put up whatever argument it sees fit to block this effort. Throwing video screens and NEW TEK TRICASTER PRO $8000 machines into the mix is just proof of how bad they don't want to do this.
Before it was BORING.
Now it is TOO EXPENSIVE, and NOT IN THE BUDGET.
What's next? "I won't be able to wear blue jeans to village meetings anymore -- those county board supervisors just don't look comfortable"?
I have proved that it can be done if WILLING PARTIES EXIST. Well, they don't exist. It's THEIR way or the HIGHWAY. I was hoping (how foolish!) that this group would see that it can be REASONABLY done, and that perhaps a side benefit of doing this would involve getting rid of me every meeting (negotiations still available!).
The KENOSHA NEWS should have a story on this matter in Thursday's paper (3/6). Should be interesting reading too.
I WAS elected to the board, but I am not today. I(We) will continue to do this upon review of agendas, and if the items seem BORING (as Trustee Serpe states), then I(we) may or may not come, but you can be sure that if controversial things do show up on agendas I(WE) WILL BE THERE with cameras and maybe better sound equipment too. Do you find this POSTING interesting and technically intriguing? Well, if you do, then please note that what you have seen here is far more involved than videotaping and playing the meetings 'gavel to gavel' on CH25.
