Carmel, IN (September 8, 2009)—Citizens of Carmel can now view City Council meeting videos anytime on the City’s website via a new electronic video archiving and indexing system (click here to view archived videos). Viewers can watch a previously recorded meeting in its entirety or select a specific agenda item and watch just that section of the meeting.
This new feature is just one element of Carmel’s website re-design. More changes to the format and functioning of the City’s website will be occurring throughout the remainder of the year.
This video archiving and indexing component gives citizens in Carmel greater access to city government and allows them to become more familiar with the issues, projects and city leaders who are affecting our community.
“We are always looking for ways to share more information with our residents and businesses about the process of city government. Given the demands on people’s time it is understandable that they are not able to attend the meetings, however, this new online system will allow members of our community to access city meetings any time of the day or night. Being able to access specific agenda items provides a quick easy way to get updated on issues and projects around the City,” said Mayor Jim Brainard.
In the next few months, Plan Commission meetings and Carmel Redevelopment Committee meetings will join City Council meetings in this system. There are also plans to eventually add other city meetings to the system. Other streaming videos with non-meeting content on the City’s site will be moved to this system as well. The indexing categories and search feature will make it easier for viewers to find educational videos
The system allows for online, on-demand access to City Council meeting agendas, documentation, video and audio. Through the Carmel website, residents can also access a searchable audio/video archive by agenda item using a keyword search. Side-by-side meeting documentation and video allow visitors to jump to a point in the meeting video that corresponds to an agenda item of interest. This functionality substantially increases the convenience of access to meeting archives.
The new component also organizes meetings for the Carmel Redevelopment Commission and the Plan Commission with the same type of jump-to format. 200 hours of non-meeting related content currently posted on the Carmel website will also be categorized and indexed with the system.
Video indexing provides a user-friendly portal of on-demand content that is accessible from the city’s website. The large files contained in Carmel’s archive, such as videos, agendas, minutes, and supporting legislative documents sit on servers outside the City network. Through an unlimited bandwidth model, the City can more efficiently bring information and news to citizens through the convenience of the internet.
Michelle Krcmery
Department of Community Relations
City of Carmel
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
Office - (317) 571-2495
Mobile – (317) 697-9669
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