Post updated to add photos at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 3:
Despite hearing from more than a dozen people in opposition, Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-1 to stop livestreaming their meetings on YouTube.
The Kansas Legislature this session passed a change to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (in HB 2134) to state that “A public body or agency that voluntarily elects to live stream their meeting on television, the internet or any other medium shall ensure that all aspects of the open meeting are available through the selected medium for the public to observe.” The law goes into effect July 1.
Under the city’s current procedures, the general public comment period — during which members of the public can discuss items that are not on the meeting agenda — is the only portion of the commission’s public meetings that is not livestreamed. Read more on the background at this link.
To comply with the state law, “meetings will no longer be live streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel,” according to a memo to the commission from City Clerk Sherri Riedemann. “They will be recorded and posted on the City’s YouTube Channel the following day, or as soon after as practicable.”
People can also join meetings via Zoom videoconferencing, but the Zoom feed oftentimes does not show speakers or presentation slides the way the YouTube broadcast does, which can make it challenging to know who is speaking and to follow along. One regular public commenter, Steven Watts, has frequently voiced concerns to the commission about the accessibility issues the Zoom feed presents. Zoom also requires viewers to download a program or app to their computer or phone in order to see the video feed at all.
David Baston, a frequent public commenter, said the commission’s decision raises serious questions about the city’s commitment to ensure residents can stay informed about decisions discussed during meetings.
John Martin told commissioners the city’s professed vision in its strategic plan is “innovative, equitable, transparent and responsible local government.” He said broadcasting live city meetings, including public comment, is a transparent process, and “any step away from that removes trust in your local government.”
Christina McKenna told commissioners that “We know exactly what is being attempted, and we are not here for that.”
“Not only is this a blow to the shred of transparency that we get from you, but you’re also going to be silencing … people who are differently abled than us — the accessibility voices in our community,” McKenna said. “That is discrimination.”
Chris Flowers, a frequent commenter, pointed out that the Legislature has passed laws preventing the city from enacting rent control and operating as a sanctuary city. “But my God — transparency in government. That’s what we’re going to fight and find a loophole for,” he said.
Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei said the Zoom feed allows people access to participate in the meetings. He said the Douglas County Commission posts recordings to YouTube after meetings as well, rather than livestreaming.
He said his only concern is one that Watts again raised during Tuesday’s meeting — that the Zoom feed does not show speakers consistently and makes it difficult to follow what is going on. Watts said he was switching back and forth between the Zoom meeting and the YouTube meeting to see who was speaking.
“I think we can continue to work on that and get that fixed,” Finkeldei said.
Mayor Mike Dever, who participated in the meeting via Zoom, asked after public comment how this would decrease transparency relative to people’s access to meetings.
“Is there really any decrease in transparency at all?” Dever asked. Finkeldei responded that the change was only taking away YouTube as the medium.
Commissioner Lisa Larsen, who is not running for reelection, was the only vote in opposition.
Finkeldei, Dever and Commissioner Bart Littlejohn, who has filed for reelection, voted in favor. Commissioner Amber Sellers was absent.
Zoom registration links are included near the top of each commission meeting agenda in the online agenda portal. There is no way to rewind or pause a Zoom meeting as there is with a YouTube livestream.
The resolution will take effect and YouTube livestreams will cease on July 1.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at [email protected]. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
