Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Council Sessions to Be Taped for TV : Government: The meetings will be shown on cable public access channel the night after they occur.

Tape Delayed! From Santa Clarita! It’s Tuesday Night!

Beginning tonight, City Council sessions will be videotaped for showings on Santa Clarita’s fledgling public access channel. But it’s not exactly a gala debut.

The meetings will be taped with a single camera, volunteers will run the equipment, and the meetings will be shown without editing, said Gail Foy, city public information officer.

Showing City Council and other local governmental meetings on television was first discussed during the 1980s, when efforts began for Santa Clarita to become a city, according to Allan Cameron, a participant in the effort.

“I would say the thing that astounds me is this is common in more than 300 cities in California alone,” Cameron said. “Not only do I not understand why it has taken so long, I don’t know why it’s not being broadcast live.”

Foy said it was a matter of cost. She estimated that it would cost the city $150,000 to $200,000 to purchase equipment and hire a part-time employee to air council meetings as they occur.

The TV debut is welcomed by those who say the the cable access program will increase the accountability of city officials. But others fear the influence of cameras in the council chambers, saying their presence may encourage grandstanding by those addressing the council, political hopefuls or council members themselves.

Council meetings are held on the second and third Tuesday of each month. They are scheduled to be shown on the Wednesdays following the meetings on cable channel 20 at 5 p.m.