Upgrades made in 2022 to the City Council Chambers have been disappointing so the council last week voted to spend ARPA funds so an audio-visual firm can make further improvements.

Despite the installation of speakers throughout the chambers, an amplifier, new microphones at the podium and dais, monitors at the dais, push-to-speak system, a reprogramming tabletop touch panel and wall panel and wall mounted TV monitors, the council approved additional improvements to be installed through VIP Audio Visual Company at a cost of approximately $61,000.

Specifically the upgrades will include:

• Audio processors, which will fix the audio problems that are occurring during council meetings both inside the Council Chambers and on Zoom;

• Cameras and camera switcher, which will alleviate the issue of switching camera views/angles;

• Sound inside the control panel room (currently there is no live sound in the control panel room);

• Replace wireless handheld microphones;

• Power supply to the video desk installation (which houses the controllers, processors, and matrixes);

• Rewiring the entire system due to faulty cables;

• Repair faulty HDMI input

VIP has been providing audio-visual technician services to the city for over a year. These services include providing a technician to be onsite during regular council meetings and serve as an on-call technician in the event there are problems with the audio-visual equipment.

Ceres resident John Warren criticized the current system, saying it doesn’t work well.

“We have a hard time (hearing) out here, especially those of us that are hearing impaired as we get older in life and the ADA says ‘hey folks, you need to make sure that the citizens out here hear what’s going on,” said Warren. He explained that at times he can’t hear the person at the podium nor the councilmembers sitting at the dais.

One common disruption is when a citizen begins to speak at the podium only to find out the microphone is dead because the batteries are exhausted and haven’t been checked. Councilman Daniel Martinez asked if there is an option to have rechargeable mic batteries and if the push-to-speak system could have a feature that allows the mayor to know who pushed the button first.

Councilman James Casey said at times the Zoom audio of Ceres Planning Commission meetings is subdued or inaudible.

“This is something that needs to be fixed before it’s a problem because citizens can’t understand what’s being said,” said Casey. “Occasionally the person at the podium is very difficult to understand.”

City Clerk Fallon Martin said the city is re-evaluating the post-COVID distancing of the crowd from the dais and staff table. Before the pandemic the audience was allowed to sit much closer. Years later, despite the pandemic being over, the same distancing configuration is being used.

The council voted 4-1 to approve the professional services contract with Casey voting no.