PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council with a progress report on one of its goals for the year: establishing an oral history program for the City of Burbank.

BACKGROUND:

As the City Council adopted its goals for the fiscal year, it established as a goal, at the suggestion of Council Member Reinke, to establish an ongoing series of programs

recording �oral histories� of interesting Burbank citizens.

Since that time, two meetings have been held to provide more form and specificity to the suggestion. On August 13, 2007, the PIO Subcommittee met to discuss the proposal, and discuss methodology for producing the series. After discussion the committee named the effort �Burbank Voices:  Then and Now�.

Series Purpose and Format

The purpose of the series is to share with Channel 6 viewers the lives and experiences of interesting people who live or have lived in Burbank. The subject may be of any age.

Some subjects will have accomplished extraordinary things, or observed a long duration of Burbank history.  Others, such as younger subjects, may show great promise for the future.  The format for the interviews will be conversational, rather than academic. The format is open to focus on interesting life stories, or interesting historic events.  Where feasible, interviews will be supplemented with photographs or videotape.

Series Audience and Distribution

The audience for the series is anyone who lives in Burbank.  The primary method of distribution will be over Channel 6. Copies of the series will be available at Burbank public libraries.  Copies will be shared with the Burbank Historical Society.

Community Resources

It is anticipated that the Burbank Historical Society will serve as a valuable resource to the production of the program, nominating interview subjects, and perhaps loaning various photos and visual aids to the production of the series.  Additionally, the Burbank Public Library, the Heritage Committee, and Burbank Unified School District may serve as resources.

Nomination of Interview Subjects

It is intended that anyone can nominate a potential interview subject. A nominating form is being developed. The ultimate decision making body will be the Public Information Office Subcommittee.

Location of Taping

The interview subjects can be interviewed anywhere in Burbank.  For example: at home, or at their place of business. They might also be interviewed in the City Council Chambers, or possibly at some other site, such as the Colony Theatre or Historical Society.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Previously the City Council authorized $10,000 for fiscal year 07-08 for incidental expenses associated with the production of this series. None of the funds have been expended to date and the funds remain in the Public Information Office budget.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council note and file this report.

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