Bonin to Test Online Conferencing for Transportation Committee

City Councilman Mike Bonin will do a test run Wednesday of an online video conferencing system aimed at allowing Angelenos to give public input remotely during hearings on city issues. 

"People shouldn't need to take time off work and fight traffic in order to make their voices heard at City Hall," Bonin said. "Simple video chat technology will allow people to be more engaged in local government, and we are going to take the first step toward improving access at the Transportation Committee meeting on Wednesday."

It's his first meeting as Transportation Committee chairman. Bonin's also been picked to serve on the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority Board and on the Metro Board of Directors. 

He continues to speak candidly about his views on all transportation issues on the Westside and greater Los Angeles, including the 405 project, the city's bike plan, the Expo line, LAX and the Santa Monica Airport.

Bonin gave a five-part audio interview on all L.A. transportation issues with LAStreetsblog.

He will hold his first meeting as chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee by patching in members of the public and fellow Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who chairs the Information, Technology and General Services Committee.

The technology set to debut will allow the public to use video conferencing software such as Skype or Microsoft Lync to give testimony at committee meetings, where the bulk of public input on city issues is taken, Bonin said. He said he will work with the city's information technology staff to refine the process.

The Transportation Committee meeting agenda includes a motion to rescind a policy that allows the city to penalize drivers for parking at broken parking meters, a report on a potential funding shortfall in the Expo Phase 2 Bikeway project, and a status report on the Sepulveda Pass Corridor Improvement project. 

The meeting begins at 2 p.m. at City Hall. Click here to read more about Bonin's Access 11 program.

- City News Service contributed to this report.