TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Lisa Jenkins, Interim Information Technology Director
SUBJECT:Title
Consider Approval of the South Bay Fiber Network Letter of Commitment (Interim Information Technology Director Jenkins).
APPROVE
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the South Bay Fiber Network Letter of Commitment.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Approval of the Letter of Commitment has no fiscal implications at this time. Once the fiber network has been established and is operational, the City will have the opportunity to acquire broadband access service. As indicated in the letter of commitment, the City anticipates utilizing two broadband connections. Each connection fee is $1,000 per month, or $24,000 annually. Monthly broadband charges are paid from the the Information Technology Department’s approved operating budget.
BACKGROUND:
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has been working toward establishing a broadband, fiber-optic network “ring,” with the goal of providing South Bay agencies access to a robust and redundant fiber network for the transmission of internet traffic and other data, as well as providing an alternative broadband access point. Once completed, the fiber-optic network will provide cost effective, high speed broadband to municipalities throughout the South Bay sub-region. This network, known as the South Bay Fiber Network (SBFN), will support enhancements to the region’s mobility and accessibility systems and to the networks that provide community services to South Bay residents.
DISCUSSION:
As higlighted during the June 18, 2019, City Council meeting, the City of Manhattan Beach will be utilizing the SBFN infrastructure ring to support transportation improvement efforts associated with the recently-awarded $5.44 million grant for the City’s Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal (MBATS) System Project. This project will upgrade signal controller equipment at all major intersections in the City and connect them through a fiber optic backbone infrastructure. The new system will also support emerging traffic management technologies and other smart cities initiatives.
In addition to the transportation benefits associated with the MBATS grant, the City will have an opportunity to acquire broadband connectivity from the SBFN ring for other municipal purposes. This additional source of access to the internet can be utilized as a redundant connectivity point to the City’s existing access point, or may serve as the primary connectivity point when it becomes available.
SBCCOG recently awarded a contract to American Dark Fiber to begin construction of the SBFN infrastructure, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2020. Once the infrastructure has been installed and activated, broadband services will be managed by Race Communications.
In order to ensure the City’s ability to access the SBFN, the SBCCOG required that the City provide a Letter of Commitment to SBCCOG prior to its Board meeting on Thursday October 24, 2019. In order to meet this deadline, the letter was provided by the City Manager contingent on City Council approval. The letter sent by Manhattan Beach and other SBCCOG cities provides a commitment that they will, at a future date, utilize the SBFN for data transmission and broadband access. The SBCCOG currently estimates that the cost for one gigabyte service will be $1,000 per month, which is approximately $300 less than the City’s current provider. As indicated above, the City has committed (subject to City Council approval) to two one-gig connections, one at City Hall and one at the Public Works Yard. When the SBFN broadband service become available, City staff will determine how the services will be utilized.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the letter of commitment for the SBFN. In doing so, the City commits to participation in the network when it is completed. A separate contract with Race Communications for the actual internet service will be presented for City Couincil approval at a later date.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney assisted in the review of both the Letter of Commitment and potential future licensing agreements with the broadband provider Race Communications. Any future agreements required for the provision of broadband services will be reviewed by the City Attorney prior to being executed.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Letter of Commitment