CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. __-26 APPROVING USE OF PUBLIC,
EDUCATIONAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL (PEG) ACCESS FUND FOR
REPLACEMENT OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS VIDEO WALL
SYNOPSIS
City staff is requesting use of Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) funds to replace the existing video wall in the Council Chambers. The existing video wall is approximately five years old and has begun experiencing reliability issues that affect City meetings. The current multidisplay configuration also creates visible seams that can interfere with the presentation and legibility of meeting materials. Advances in LED technology now give the City an opportunity to replace the existing system with a seamless video wall that improves presentation quality, while addressing the reliability concerns associated with the existing displays. Staff is therefore requesting an appropriation of $69,998.62 from the City’s PEG Fund for the video wall replacement.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA), enacted in California in 2006, established a statewide franchising system for video service providers and set standards for supporting community access television. Under DIVCA, cities are authorized to collect a PEG Access fee of up to 1% of a provider’s gross video service revenues to ensure continued support for local broadcasting and media access. These funds support capital expenditures and operations for local access channels, such as equipment, facilities, and content creation.
In June 2021, the City completed a comprehensive refresh of the aging audio/visual equipment used to support and broadcast City Council meetings. As part of that project, the City replaced the existing rear-projection system in the Council Chambers with nine 55-inch LED displays configured to operate as a single, unified image.
After approximately five years of service, the existing displays are experiencing intermittent outages and unprompted resets during City meetings. In addition to reliability concerns, the bezels (or edges) separating the individual displays are increasingly distracting during presentations and can significantly affect legibility when presentations contain spreadsheets, detailed graphics, or small text.
At the time of the 2021 refresh, bezel-less, direct-view LED technology was cost-prohibitive for the City. Advances in LED display technology over the past five years have substantially improved both the availability and cost-effectiveness of large-format, bezel-less display systems. These systems have become increasingly common for applications requiring a large, seamless image, including council chambers, boardrooms, control rooms, and other professional presentation environments.
Analysis
Staff solicited proposals from multiple vendors and evaluated several large-format, bezel-less LED display solutions. Based on the evaluation, staff recommends Creation Networks, Inc. to furnish and install an Absen M54 direct-view LED video wall in the Council Chambers.
The proposed system will replace the existing nine-display configuration with a seamless LED display, eliminating the visible bezels between individual screens. The new system is expected to provide improved image uniformity, greater readability of detailed content, and enhanced reliability for City Council meetings and other public meetings and presentations.
Absen is a global manufacturer of professional direct-view LED display technology and has established a significant presence in the professional audiovisual industry. Its products are used in a variety of commercial, government, broadcast, and other professional applications.
Creation Networks, Inc., based in Concord, California, is a commercial audiovisual integrator specializing in the design, installation, and support of professional audio/visual systems. The company has provided audiovisual solutions for corporate, governmental, public safety, transportation, and other institutional clients. Its experience includes projects for organizations such as Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the County of San Mateo, Cal Fire, and Rivian.
Staff evaluated the proposed equipment, system design, vendor experience, installation services, reliability, and the overall project cost of $69,998.62. Creation Networks, Inc.'s proposal is based on California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) pricing. CMAS pricing satisfies the City's competitive procurement requirements and provides established contract pricing for the proposed equipment and services.
Currently, the PEG Funds allocated in the City’s current fiscal year budget total $65,000, which is insufficient to replace the video wall. Staff therefore requests an appropriation of $69,998.62 from the City’s PEG Fund to cover the replacement cost.
The Budget Committee reviewed this request at its September 30, 2026 meeting and recommended that the City Council approve the appropriation of PEG funds for the video wall replacement.
In the near future, a portion of the $65,000 in PEG funds allocated in the City’s current fiscal year budget will be used to replace the 16 microphones in the Council Chambers with models featuring built-in status lights. These lights will provide meeting participants with a clear, visible indication of whether a microphone is muted or unmuted.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact is the appropriation of $69,998.62 from the City’s PEG Fund, for the procurement and installation of the new video wall. As of the beginning of FY 26/27, the Finance Division has confirmed the PEG Fund balance is approximately $315,000. The appropriation would not impact the City's General Fund.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Move to adopt the proposed resolution to appropriate $69,998.62 from the PEG Fund and authorize the City Manager to expend those funds for the replacement of the video wall in the Council Chambers.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
The City Council could reject the proposed action and provide direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Proposed Resolution
Proposed Agreement with Creation Networks
Creation Networks Proposal
Prepared by: Ling King, Chief Technology Officer
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager