FILLMORE, SANTA PAULA : Cost Concerns Delay Airing of Meetings

Concern over the high price of video equipment has delayed the broadcast of Santa Paula and Fillmore city council meetings on public access television, officials said.

In July, the two cities amended their franchise agreement with Ventura County Cablevision to require the cable company to pay the two cities $195,000 during two years to purchase equipment for public access broadcasting. Under the agreement, Santa Paula received $66,300 of the first year’s installment and Fillmore $31,200.

But plans to begin broadcasting council meetings and public access shows have been jeopardized, officials said.

“Once we really got to it and looked at the cost of the equipment, we were astounded,” said Cheryl Trent, an assistant city administrator in Santa Paula.

Mike Houser, who serves as the cable coordinator for each city, said the cable company’s payment would not cover the full cost of the cameras, editing machines, lighting system and other equipment.

Santa Paula is now studying the possibility of broadcasting government meetings while delaying public access programs, Trent said.

Fillmore is looking at the opposite approach: making public access available first because it can be accomplished without costly equipment purchases.

The Fillmore council last week expressed willingness to borrow money from the general fund to proceed with the public access plan, Councilman Roger Campbell said. In a report reviewed by the council, City Clerk Noreen Withers estimated it would cost $68,600 to purchase necessary equipment and modify council chambers for broadcast of government meetings.

Campbell said a proposed partnership between the two cities for sharing equipment and expertise has been rocky. “There has been no mutual understanding about how to proceed,” Campbell said.