The Town of Okotoks is looking to expand its on-line presence to get more information out to residents.

Two options currently being discussed include web casts such as council meetings and using social networking web sites.

“We like the principle. Certainly, the principle of all of this is how do you engage your residents more in participating in the governance of their community,” said Nancy Weigel, Okotoks’ municipal communications manager.

She said there are a lot of people who aren’t able to make it out to a council meeting and it could be a good way for them to keep up with issues.

“It’s just another way to increase the residents’ access to government services so they can have a look at what’s being discussed and how the decisions are being made,” she said.

At this point, the Town is researching the concept and how it has worked in other communities. She said Calgary and Edmonton webcast their council meetings and the Town will keep an eye on them.

Edmonton city council meetings have been streamed live on the city’s web site for more than a year and are available through an on-line archive.

The City has also put links to video segments in its council minutes for people to be able to access discussions on particular items without having to wade through hours of video.

She said the Town of Okotoks wants to ensure there would be enough demand for it because of the cost and staff resources required to web cast meetings.

She said it could also be an expensive proposition.

According to the Town’s research the initial cost would be about $10,000, plus $1,000 in annual contract fees and changes to its network and bandwidth would cost about $300 per month.

“That’s what people don’t realize is they see something over the internet and think that it’s free. It’s not,” she said.

She said the Town will also have to look at how privacy issues will impact broadcasting meetings on line.

She said the Town wouldn’t look at using web casting until 2011 at the earliest because it isn’t included in this year’s budget.

Initially, any webcasting would likely just cover town council meetings, which she said is the approach larger municipalities are also taking.

However, she said it could also be used in other high-interest areas such as candidate debates during elections.

She said the Town’s first forays will more likely be in social networking through sites like Facebook and Twitter.

She said they will use the sites to try to connect with youth in the community to get them involved with the youth centre and other recreation services.

While it will continue to use traditional modes of communication, she said the Town needs to keep up with technology and other ways of getting information out.

Mayor Bill McAlpine said he will watch what happens in other communities, but he doesn’t think there will be enough people watching meetings on-line to justify the cost.

“I don’t think we’re big enough to have that expense,” he said.

Coun. Naydene Lewis recognized there is a cost to do it, but she would be in favour of it.

She said it’s a matter of transparency.

“I think it’s a great idea. I think it gives people an opportunity to understand what’s going on, and at your convenience,” she said.

She said every member of council should agree to webcasting before it occurs.

She said she also likes the idea of using social networks like Facebook and Twitter or even YouTube.

“Everybody knows about Okotoks. Everybody hears about Okotoks. So, let’s show them what we do,” she said.

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