Agenda Packets - 2005/05/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 09I Meeting Date:5/23/05 Type of Business: Administrator Review: _____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Kenneth Gammell, Television Production Coordinator Item Title/Subject: Replacement of Two Video Decks for Cable Playback. To the Council, This report details plans to replace the projector, screen, and document camera in Council Chambers. The Cable Capital Equipment fund (Account# 210-4350-7030) for 2005 is $15,500. The proposed purchase price for this new equipment is $3,149. 1. Background Because of the extensive number of meetings that the City requires for cable channel 16, a number of video players are needed for this service. These video decks run programming seven days a week. Currently, there are six digital video decks, and five S- VHS video decks. Two of the S-VHS video playback decks have become nonfunctional over the last six months. The two faulty decks are Panasonic AG-7510 models purchased in 1992 and 1993. The first VCR no longer accepts a tape and will not play. The second VCR has poor audio and the video image is unstable. Both machines had a life expectancy of 5 years and have been in service for over 11 years. Because of the age and the expensive amount to repair these VCRs, it is recommended that these units be replaced. 2. Digital Video versus S-VHS Video The video format of the two decks that need replacement are currently S-VHS. S-VHS is older analog technology and now is considered outdated for professional applications. These were both professional S-VHS models that would cost approximately $1600 a piece to replace. A new digital video deck is about the same cost, so it makes sense to replace the S-VHS decks with the digital video format. Digital video has vast improved quality and performance that is now considered the standard for community access television. In the past 6 years, Mounds View has been continually updating it’s equipment to digital, including digital cameras for meetings, and the purchase of 7 digital video decks. 3. Recommendation Previously, the City Council approved the purchase of a JVC BR-DV3000U DV video deck in February of 2004, and has performed satisfactorily. It is the cheapest professional model available. The BR-DV3000U can playback both the Mini-DV and DVCAM digital video formats. This is compatible with the current digital recording system for meetings, as well as the City’s camcorder. It has a life expectancy of approximately five years.