Northlake residents can watch Town Council meetings from the comfort and safety of their own homes following the Town’s installation of a new live streaming system.
The Town of Northlake successfully executed a test of the new system during the December 10, 2020 Town Council meeting at Northlake Town Hall. Town Administrator Drew Corn said the system will allow residents to stay informed in a more convenient and protected fashion moving forward.
“We’re still working out a few bugs, but this system is a huge step in the right direction for the Town,” Corn said. “The live streaming system makes it easier than ever for Northlake citizens to remain informed on Council actions.”
Swagit Productions LLC, the company that provides live streaming for Council meetings in municipalities such as the Town of Flower Mound and the City of Irving, installed the system earlier this month. Corn said the Town recognized a need for streaming services after capacity in Town Hall was limited due to COVID-19 precautions.
“With social distancing practices in place, the capacity in the Chamber Room is limited,” Corn said. “This system allows all interested parties to stay informed on Council actions without leaving the safety and comfort of their own home.”
The live streaming system, which Council approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, was funded entirely by federal CARES Act funding.
Highlights from the Town’s first live-streamed meeting include potential residential and industrial developments and an update from the Mayor Pro Tem on the Town’s Charter Commission, which has begun meeting regularly to discuss the Town’s upcoming transition to a home-rule municipality.
“This is an exciting time in the Town’s history,” Corn said. “There’s no better time for residents – both old and new – to get engaged; this system makes it easier for them to do so.”
Moving forward, the Northlake Town Council will stream public meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm; the decision to begin meetings one hour earlier was approved at the December 10, 2020 meeting. Interested parties may access the live stream on the Town’s website via the following link: https://www.town.northlake.tx.us/337/Watch-Council-Meetings