SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - San Francisco government could have a lot more eyes and ears on its business — in real time on the Internet.

The City provides live audio and video broadcast on its Web site for 14 boards, committees and commissions that hold public meetings at City Hall. Archives of the meetings — which include the Board of Supervisors and its six committees along with the Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees Muni — are also provided on the site for up to one year.

But about 100 boards, committees and commmissions that meet at City Hall escape that kind of scrutiny, with public access limited to meeting minutes posted online or by requesting an audio cassette.

The Entertainment Commission, Department of Environment, Recreation and Park Commission, Animal Welfare and Control Commission and the Ethics Commission are among those that escape the live and archived broadcast.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi has introduced legislation that would require The City to stream live audio and video of public meetings at City Hall as well as establish an archive, with footage held for two years. The bill would require posting the meetings’ footage within 72 hours.

Mirkarimi said the law would enhance The City’s sunshine ordinance, which requires public access to certain city government information, and uses advancements in technology to move toward “complete transparency.”

The proposal is estimated to cost about $76,000 annually in labor costs, according to city officials. The City would also spend $55,000 from its Cable Franchise Capital Fund to purchase necessary equipment for startup.

Open-government advocate Kimo Crossman praised the proposed law, but advocated for same-day posting of the archived footage.

“The real value of the recording is to be able to read the story in the newspaper and then go listen to it,” Crossman said. “You really want to encourage same-day postage so people can listen to and participate in the government, because a few days later people forget about it and move on to different things.”

SFGTV Station Manager Jack Chin said that “No other city in the country provides this much meeting coverage.”

The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee voted Thursday to send the bill to the full board with recommendation for its approval. The full board is expected to vote on it on April 15.

jsabatini@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:36 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Examiner Reader said:
$131k per year to implement...how about if the Supervisors kick in portions of their own salaries to cover the cost?

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7:46 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Kimo Crossman said:
The ordinance only requires digital recording. SFGTV on it's own initiative is expanding that to audio webcasting in August 2008.

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3:57 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Outgoing supervisors vie for sway"

Examiner Reader said:
Mayor Newsom is hardly a stranger to political power plays.

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3:46 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 9, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

turtle head said:
How in the world would it help make people healthy? If you don't know deep fried food makes you fat, you are likely fat because you are too stupid too be able to read.

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3:04 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

King of the Dynasty said:
Chris Daly endorses David Chiu in D#3. Voters need to remember that connection when they vote. Do we want more of the same political dysfunction?

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6:39 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

CRS said:
Sabatini states: "Moderates are looking to break the current progressive majority on the Board of Supervisors to give Mayor Gavin Newsom the four allies needed on the 11-member board to assure veto power on legislation." This is not particularly so. The mayor already has his veto power. Moderates are running with no reference to the mayor. They're running because they feel the need to bring some sanity and responsibility to the supes' side of the second floor, that's why. Andrew Ferguson

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1:46 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 7, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

Native San Franciscan said:
I sometimes wonder if Tom Ammiano isn't going to be happy until every restaurant in San Francisco is closed and either turned into a homeless shelter or crack house. So now were going to turn every restaurant menu into a document the size of the Tokyo phone book putting yet another cost on San Francisco restaurants in order to inform people of something they should take the individual responsibility to learn themselves. Why anybody whould want to own a restaurant in San Francisco with the current pinhead on the Board of Supervisors is beyone me.

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