For some time, KCAT had been taping the meetings as part of a test run, but the tapes were never aired. Now it's ready to launch the project before thousands of viewers.

"I'm hoping we reach a greater audience. This is just one more effort to reach the community," said Mayor Sandy Decker.

Plans to broadcast council meetings have been in the works for two years. Following a settlement with AT&T for relocating KCAT from Channel 6 to 15, the town received $95,000. At that time, the town agreed to use the money for telecommunications purposes, and $50,000 was set aside to telecast council meetings and other civic events. Along with money from another settlement, the town had a total of $132,857 for this project.

The town council then authorized upgrades to its audio system and the installation of a video production system. Town staff also worked out a contract with KCAT to broadcast the meetings to the 10,000 households in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno with access to the channel station.

As part of the agreement, KCAT will broadcast live town council meetings, including study sessions, as well as air reruns as its program schedule permits. The station also plans on airing tapes of planning commission meetings, but whether those will be live has yet to be determined. In addition, KCAT has agreed to provide the town with two free copies of each taping. According to town administrative analyst Jenny Haruyama, the staff is still deciding how to make those tapes available to the public.