We’ve all heard of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. A few of us even know a select handful of artists – Elton John, Jennifer Hudson and Mel Brooks among them – have won all four. They’re called “EGOT” winners.

But here’s the one you don’t know: live streams of city council meetings can also win prestigious awards. 

According to their website (anthemawards.com), “The Anthem Awards honor the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations (including municipalities) worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark…that inspires others to take action in their own community.”

Like the rest of us, it’s unlikely Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson has ever heard of the Anthem Awards – even though she already has a good start on writing a nomination for her communication director, Kim Horiuchi.

“Our city council live streaming technology is so incredible; we are so proud of that,” the mayor said. “Our live streams are 100% Kim Horiuchi’s work. She has developed our city council live streams into something head and shoulders above any other council I am aware of.”

Gone are the days when we must jump in the car and drive to Taylorsville City Hall in order to see what issues our elected officials are addressing or how they are voting. Now it’s just a matter of connecting online, either through the official Taylorsville City website (taylorsvilleut.gov/elected-officials) or through the city’s Facebook page (facebook.com/taylorsvilleut-city). 

Granted, city council live streams have been around for several years. But recently, equipment improvements in the Taylorsville live stream system have made the product available online better than ever before.

“It does create an ease for people to attend city council virtually from the comfort of their own home,” Horiuchi said. “It makes it much easier to know what local government is doing.”

Horiuchi cut her teeth in radio and television production while she was a Utah State University undergraduate. She still draws on that experience, while also “learning as (she goes)” at the city.

“We began experimenting with city council live streams during COVID (2020-21),” Horiuchi said. “But in the past couple of years we have upgraded our system with several improvements. I know federal pandemic funding helped cover some of
the cost.”

Horiuchi now spends each Taylorsville City Council meeting seated behind a modest director’s board, with two large computer screens at eye level, along with just enough buttons and do-dads on the control panel to intimidate a mere mortal.

“We have about eight microphones: one for each of the five council members… the mayor… at the main guest podium and a few others,” she added. “And there are about a dozen cameras. I can select and zoom any one of them, or pan them to the left or right as needed.”

Horiuchi is also pleased with recent software additions that now allow her to put a picture within another picture. This is used primarily when a city council member is questioning someone at the podium. It allows the live stream viewer to see the presenter’s answer and the councilperson’s reaction to that response simultaneously.

Horiuchi’s equipment also allows her to add written graphics onto the screen, normally featuring the speaker’s name and title or affiliation. This feature has proven so convenient that some city council members frequently watch the meeting live stream in real time, on their phone or other device, while participating in the meeting. 

Nearly every presenter appearing before the Taylorsville City Council also comes armed with a power point presentation. These are seamlessly included on the live streams as well.

“I would like to add a couple of more upgrades to our live stream equipment – and receive a little more training on how to run it all – in the future,” Horiuchi concluded. “But I believe what we provide now is serving our residents’ needs well.”

Taylorsville City Council live streams begin at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. λ