There could be big changes on the way for Stratford city council meetings.
In the city’s 2026 draft budget, one project looks to fully replace the current audio-visual technology in council chambers with a solution that would lead to improved lighting, microphones, and camera systems that can better capture and broadcast meeting participants.
Director of Corporate Services and Treasurer Karmen Krueger said the current technology has been identified as a hindrance to some of their meetings.
“The limitations that exist with our existing system and within the space that is council chambers just makes the ability to deliver with our infrastructure pretty low-quality,” said Krueger.
“There’s a few things we’re looking to address. Deficiencies within the space, we got some control lighting exhaust fan issues, and microphone and camera issues.”
City council’s committee of the whole meetings are regularly streamed live and a video of the meetings is available usually by the next afternoon.
The meetings are recorded with one camera off to the side of council chambers, making it difficult to know who is talking at time, and the volume has been a bone of contention with listeners, also.
While the budget shows a planned overhaul of $500,000 of the technology, Krueger said they don’t have a full quote yet.
“We’ve looked at other municipalities that have done similar types of upgrades to get a bit of an estimate for the budget, but we would be able to conduct our procurement process to solicit bids for the solution if council approves this initiative,” said Krueger.
“I would expect we would receive quotes and bids from potential suppliers that could deliver the service, which could be higher or lower.”
If the city gave the green light on the budget, staff would put together a request for proposal in the new year and roll it out later in the year depending on what upgrades are needed.
