Lancaster, CA: transparent city

This is how a city that means business acts: in public, on TV and on the web, where its citizens can see it and its citizens can interact.

Not only is Lancaster, California moving ahead with solar energy for jobs and financial benefit, it’s a transparent city:

City of Lancaster, California City Council Meetings are broadcast live on local cable channel 28.

And city council meetings are archived for viewing online; video of yesterday’s meeting is already up. They do require Microsoft Silverlight to view, but nothing’s perfect, and other cities use YouTube, Vimeo, or other more generally usable methods.

And it’s not just the Lancaster City Council: videos of their Planning Commission and numerous other authorities and commissions are also on the web. Plus:

PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR – AGENDIZED ITEMS

Citizens who would like to address the Criminal Justice Commission on any agendized item may do so when the item is being considered by the Commission. Please complete a speaker card and identify the agenda item you would like to discuss. Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each.

Then at the end of the meeting, they also have:

PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR – NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS

This portion of the agenda allows an individual the opportunity to address the Criminal Justice Commission on any item NOT ON THE AGENDA. State law prohibits the Commission from taking action on items not on the agenda and your matter will be referred to staff. Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each.

Apparently Lancaster, CA is not afraid of its own citizens.

-jsq