BURBANK : Council to Decide on Full Broadcast

In many circles, the weekly Burbank City Council meeting is one of the most loyally watched programs in town.

Council members may consider that fact when deciding tonight whether to continue broadcasting the sometimes controversial end of their weekly meetings when speakers can talk about any subject involving the city.

“There are many people who watch religiously every Tuesday night or the rebroadcast on Wednesday night,” said Carolyn Berlin, a leader of a homeowners group and a former council candidate. “The council meetings are the best show in town.”

A survey two years ago showed that 12,000 to 15,000 people watch the City Council meetings on a regular basis, said Larry Johnson, the city’s public information officer.

Broadcasting the entire council meeting was an issue during the council campaign earlier this year. In early 1990, the council banned the broadcast of the “second oral communication” at the end of the meetings, during which residents can ask the council about any city issue.

The rest of the meeting was broadcast, including the first oral communication, during which members of the public can comment only on those issues listed on the meeting agenda.

“It’s like watching a movie and you have to miss the tail end,” Berlin said.

But in early May, a recently seated council voted to begin a three-month trial period of broadcasting the meeting in its entirety. The council is to evaluate the change at its meeting tonight.

Ted McConkey, a frequent speaker at council meetings and a leader of a homeowners group, said the City Council stands to benefit by broadcasting the entire meeting. Council members or city staff members often answer speakers, which provides the city with a forum to explain public issues, he said.