06-27-2018 Council Packet - final

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM: Vanessa Van Alstine, Cable Television Producer DATE: June 21, 2018 RE: Quote for Camcorder and Accessory Package The City’s portable video production equipment dates to approximately 2005. The Panasonic AG-DVC200P served faithfully until June 2013, when CTV “100 hours” technical assistance requests show that the record heads no longer functioned reliably. Since that time staff has used camcorders available through CTV North Suburbs. From 2007 through 2011, CTV North Suburbs had Panasonic AG-DVX100 camcorders, which shot in standard definition on MiniDV tape. These cameras were used as additional equipment alongside the City’s Panasonic AG-DVC200P for large productions such as Canadian Days. Around 2012, CTV North Suburbs replaced their cameras with the Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150. This camera had a similar compact form factor, but recorded high definition video on SD cards for a tapeless workflow. Staff used the AG-HMC150 as a second camera from 2012, and has relied entirely on this equipment since the City’s camera ceased functioning in June 2013. While this arrangement has worked for several years, there are multiple indications that the City should replace its portable equipment package. The cameras at CTV North Suburbs are about 6 years old, with heavy use from the volunteers and interns. They are well maintained, but wear and tear accumulates. Broken headphone jacks left no way to monitor audio. Scuffed and dirty viewfinder coatings obscured the picture. Worn tripod pieces led to balance issues and difficulty moving the camera smoothly. CTV North Suburbs’ hours of operation have been reduced in 2018, making the logistics of picking up and returning equipment challenging. Early evening events have the added burden of driving at rush hour to their Roseville location, spending time checking out the equipment, and then driving to an event site to set up. Requesting multiple cameras, or a longer than 24-hour checkout period, requires permission from management. While they have been very cooperative, the cameras are also used for classes, interns, and other volunteers, and sometimes may not be available. With the significant budget challenges CTV North Suburbs faces, there has also been discussion of charging users for equipment access. The proposed equipment package centers on a Panasonic AG-DVX200 camcorder. The AG- DVX200 shoots in resolutions up to 4K for future production needs, has an integrated 13x zoom lens, and records to affordable SD cards. This camera is like a big brother to the Panasonic AG- HMC150 staff has worked with for several years. The control placement, settings and switches, and ergonomics are very similar among the Panasonic compact camcorders, which makes