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basis on the City’s cable channel, and real-time website broadcasts of Council meetings (Council meeting viewings are
available through the City’s website at www.benbrook-tx.gov on an on-demand basis with the ability to fast-forward,
search, and freeze-frame). The City upgraded, updated, and improved the broadcast of meetings through the
installation of a new video system in 2013.
Broadcast of Meetings
In 2005-06 the City upgraded the production quality of the Council meeting broadcasts by switching to a two-camera
system and by upgrading to a digital video recording system. In 2007, Staff installed an electronic voting board system
to display votes by Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and other City boards during official meetings; this
computerized system resulted in an enhanced presentation for audience members and for those viewing the meetings
on television and the internet. In 2007, the City began taping and broadcasting special meetings – such as the Quarterly
Joint Work Sessions and Work Sessions with the Fort Worth Independent School District. The 2007-08 Budget included
funds to record the monthly Planning and Zoning Board meetings for broadcast on the City’s cable channel and for
viewing on the City’s website. In 2010, the Council approved the taping and broadcasting of all City Board and
Commission meetings; the Economic Development Corporation’s meetings are also taped and broadcast. Funds are
included in the 2018-19 Budget for the continuation of all of these programs.
In the summer of 2010, the City launched a new web-based program to facilitate and to improve the process for citizens
to view videos of regularly-scheduled videotaped Council meetings and work sessions, along with corresponding
meeting documents. The new program allowed viewers to select specific meetings, choose the section they are most
interested in viewing, and view related agenda item documents. The program allowed citizens and other interested
people to bypass entire sections of on-line City meetings in order to view their topic of interest more quickly. Prior to
implementing this system, viewers were required to watch entire meetings to view the agenda item they really wanted
to see. The City upgraded and improved the broadcast of meetings through the installation of a new video system in
2013. In 2015 a new sound system was installed in the Council Chamber and new video screens were added; these
improvements were designed to improve the listening and viewing qualities of the meeting whether watched in person
or on-line; these improvements were funded through the PEG Fund. Meetings may now be viewed on the City’s
website in real time.
City of Benbrook Website – www.benbrook-tx.gov
Also in 2005-06, the City revamped its website by changing formats, implementing user-friendly features, enhancing
search engines and techniques, expanding data and archived information available to the public, creating links for
CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
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