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This could begin in the next three to four months, city spokesman Ken Lynch said.
The upfront cost to install the necessary software is about $38,500, with an additional cost of about $1,800 a month to maintain it. Funding will come from the Communications Department, which has available money from a staff vacancy, Lynch said. The monthly maintenance cost will likely be factored into future budgets, he added.
Mayor-elect Lyn Truitt promoted the project to city staff, seeing a clear benefit to residents.
“Our aim is really to utilize that technology to open up government to our residents,” Truitt said.
In June, City Manager Jim Rumpeltes accused City Council members of meeting behind public view to line up votes. This claim has led to an ongoing investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office into possible violations of the Open Meeting Law.
Truitt is one of four newly elected council members stepping in Jan. 1, hoping to mend the city’s tarnished reputation.
Other Valley cities already using Granicus software include Glendale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Tempe and Apache Junction.
Truitt said Surprise officials were pitched the idea a few years ago but did not choose to pursue the project. The idea was pitched before its time, he reasoned.
“Three years ago, there were not many people who would have understood what the words ’streaming video’ meant,” Truitt said.
Currently, council meetings air live and repeat on Surprise Channel 11, the city’s television station for residents with Cox and Qwest cable services.
In the future, Lynch said, there is likelihood that Channel 11 will also run online.
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