Speak Up! Council chamber set for 21st century sound/video makeover

Posted Jan 19, 2012 By Bill Hutchins

EMC News - When our local politicians speak, can anyone hear them?

The council chamber at Kingston City Hall has a notorious reputation for its terrible acoustics and video display system.

"The current audio and video technology is dated and has its limitations," said Wayne Rice, the city's supervisor of information technology.

To bring the stately chamber into the 21st century, city officials have unveiled a $300,000 plan to install state-of-the-art sound and video systems. The plan was unveiled at the January 9 meeting of the heritage committee, which is responsible for preserving architecturally significant buildings.

Rice outlined sweeping plans to replace the council chamber's outdated microphones, speakers, cameras and projector screen with technology that will make it easier to present information and follow along with discussions in the room.

The upgrade message was driven home during Rice's own 15-minute presentation when committee members and other observers struggled to view his microscopic-sized power point presentation on the room's portable projector screen.

"I guess you can't see it," Rice quipped.

His plan is to equip the historic room, known as Ontario Hall, with multi-video input sources that can display laptop, tablet, DVD players and other mobile devices from a drop-down projector screen, along with more than 30 microphones on the desks of politicians, staff and the public podium to amplify voices through 12 new speakers along the walls. There are also plans to make more use of the new projector screen to publicly display, tally and record council decisions, so everyone can see how councillors vote on each issue.

In addition, there are plans to mount tiny, high definition cameras along the walls to televise the council meetings on TVCogeco and to stream meetings on the city's website.

"Councils across the country are embracing technology and automation as a means to engage the community," Rice explained.

The removal of the room's infamous globe chandelier could also accommodate a drop-down projector screen, he added.

"They need an up-to-date system that isn't going to fail them" agreed council observer and heritage watchdog Helen Finley.

She added: "Would I come here with a power point presentation? Probably not, because I think something would go wrong."

It's not uncommon for speeches to be lost in the room's hollow acoustics and for video presentations to be unreadable, making it frustrating for politicians and the public to understand what's being said. The chamber is also used by a variety of other committees and groups.

Committee members applauded the planned improvements, but cautioned staff not to tamper with the council chamber's heritage fixtures when installing the new technology. Rice says the portable equipment will be colour-coordinated with the room's existing décor and will not impede its heritage value and displays.

John Johnson, who maintains city facilities, says replacing the room's outdated technology is in keeping with a strategic directive of council. He plans to brief councillors on the planned upgrades at their January 24 meeting.

"The technology we have in there is mid-60s to 70s. It really does not work well. The sound system is terrible."

Johnson says the audio/video upgrades, if approved by council, should be finished by this summer.

However, the $300,000 techno-budget does not include improvements to the room's footprint to remove uneven flooring or to expand the spectator gallery.