The Region of Queens is working to make council more accessible.<\/p>\n
At Tuesday\u2019s meeting, council agreed to contract Catalyst Consulting Engineers to design the proposed new council chambers audio video layout, issue and evaluate the request for proposals, and oversee the final installation.<\/p>\n
Mayor Darlene Norman says they needed to find someone with the expertise in these systems that wasn\u2019t trying to sell a particular product.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve done other municipal council chambers across the province and they\u2019ve done other related work and they don\u2019t sell the gear and they\u2019re not related to companies that do sell it. So this is the best way to get an unbiased viewpoint of what\u2019s required,\u201d said Norman.<\/p>\n
Council has budgeted $11,000 for this phase of the project. Norman says the public may have sticker shock when the final bill comes due, but council sees the value in making chambers more accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people were more readily able to access live feed, have good quality feed, if the council chamber were more accessible, et cetera, that we would have more engagement from the public,\u201d said Norman.<\/p>\n
Council has been given a ballpark number of $100,000 to properly outfit the chamber with the necessary audio\/visual equipment and make it accessible. That includes new microphones, speakers and displays to improve the experience for people in the chamber and those watching council proceedings via live stream from home.<\/p>\n
Part of the design will see council sitting around one large table instead of the individual desks and raised dais for the mayor. Norman says the chambers will also be rearranged to allow people to watch and present to council, no matter what range of mobility they may have.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not doing the cosmetics, we\u2019re doing what it takes to have a council room that can look as equal and accessible as can be,\u201d said Norman.<\/p>\n
Catalyst Consulting Engineers will soon begin the work of assessing the council chamber and putting together the request for proposals.<\/p>\n
Council will then take the consultant\u2019s recommendations under advisement before approving the final budget.<\/p>\n