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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Panel thinks more TV time would be good Commissioners discuss putting additional meetings on RVTV By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings In an effort to make the planning process in Ashland more transparent, the planning commission decided on Tuesday night to ask the city to televise more of its regular monthly meetings. Currently, the normal session of the planning commission is televised by Rogue Valley TV. However, the commission would also like to have the other two monthly meetings televised. One is a study session, at which the body deals with non-specific-action–type planning matters, and the other is the hearings board, at which three commission members preside over seemingly more innocuous planning actions. Planning commissioner John Strom-berg, who has spearheaded this effort, said RVTV could show the additional meetings, but he did not know if they would be rebroadcast after the live showing. Stromberg said it would cost $1,000 to televise an additional 20 meetings. He agreed to attend a city council meeting to explain why the commission wants more coverage. At a previous meeting, Commissioner Mike Morris and Chairman John Fields said having the study sessions on TV could potentially erode the casual atmosphere of the meeting. On Tuesday both agreed to ask the city council to explore the possibility of more TV coverage. Morris, when asked for his vote, deliberated for several moments before agreeing to vote for more air time. He joked, “Can we do it with the lights off?” Commissioner Michael Dawkins said it would be important to televise the study sessions because these meetings are where the actual planning transpires. Commissioner Allen Douma said the legislative study session could prove even more important to citizens that the quasi-judicial planning actions because, “the legislative stuff may be more important to citizens because they can influence that.” Russ Chapman made certain to point out that he supported greater TV coverage. However, he pointed out that there are several other city boards and commissions that do not receive any media attention. “I’d like to give them the opportunity to get on camera once before we get on twice,” he said. Fields said, “Maybe the second meeting would be more effective if it was televised.” Planning staff members said they would support the idea of more TV coverage as long as the commission understands that it is strapped for time already and would be hard pressed to put additional effort into preparing for the study session. Bryan Holley, a member of the city tree commission, said a market survey has never been conducted to glean just who watches the Ashland municipal affairs that are already broadcast on RVTV, which includes the regular city council meetings and planning commission meetings. “Anecdotally, we know some people watch us,” he said. “We just don’t know how many.” The observation drew no formal response. Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x 3040 or [email protected]. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.