Has the Park District ever explored audio recording or video recording board meetings?

Yes, in July 2015 the Park District obtained a price quote from Pentegra systems, a recognized vendor in the industry, for the labor and material required to upgrade audio recordings for its public meetings. The range estimate was between $11,000 to $13,000 depending on the preferred style of microphone.

Staff recently assessed other alternatives and determined the following:
The cost for upgrading audio recordings (for basic audio using 360 degree coverage microphones) is $900. Adding video recording (just two webcams, mounting and cables without text graphics) is $1,400. These videos would be posted on YouTube.  The quality would not produce professional results.  To provide professional quality output, a $15,000 to $20,000 investment is required for a professional system.  Staff are not recommending this option as the system would typically be used only one time per month.    The staff’s recommendation is to invest in audio recordings and add the cost for same to the budget for FY2025-2026.