FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 21, 2024
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: Interim City Manager Alex Posada
SUBJECT: Santa Maria Community Television
The City Council will receive a presentation about Santa Maria Community Television.
BACKGROUND:
Thousands of hours of original videos made by the community and the City have been viewed on the City’s three public access television channels and via web streaming since the City launched television operations nearly 20 years ago. Staff’s presentation highlights just some of the work already undertaken and the efforts that are underway by Santa Maria Community Television (SMCTV).
DISCUSSION:
As part of its commitment to excellence in communication s internally and externally, the City Manager’s Office operates SMCTV, a Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access television offering community members, non -profit organizations, educational institutions, and the City with the tools to produce local programs for airing on three Comcast channels. The City began PEG operations in August 2004, taking over from Comcast.
SMCTV covers City Council, Planning Commission, and Recreation and Parks Commission meetings, provides audio -video production for all 10 City departments, produces content in English and Spanish, and coordinates live closed captioning (subtitles) in both languages for City public meetings across cable and digital channels.
Last year, the City upgraded its audio -visual system in the Co uncil Chambers and the control room. The superior quality is appreciated by viewers, and we now also provide meeting coverage for the 3CE.
Channel 23, the government channel, is reserved for programming supplied by the City.
Channel 24, the educational access channel, is reserved for programming supplied by or produced by local schools, Allan Hancock College, and the City.
Channel 25 is reserved for public access — programs that originate with local residents and nonprofit organizations.
2 IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY:
This service provides valuable public education and engagement with local government.
City videos explain in English and Spanish how and where the City departments are serving the community. City public meetings and local school board meetings are shown on Channel 23. The public makes TV programming on a wide variety of topics. This is another communication commitment the City provides to ensure meaningful access and transparency.