No preview available
FiberNet Advisory Board Agenda Packet 05-13-2009AGENDA FIBERNET MONTICELLO ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4 p.m. Voting Members: Wayne Nehrenz, Roxanne Bakula, Jon Morphew, Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta Non - voting Members: Jeff O'Neill, Don Patten,Wayne Mayer 1. Call to Order —Mayor Clint Herbst (serves as President) 2. Introductions 3. Review of Governance Ordinance 4. Establish Terms of Office for appointed members (3, 4, 5 years) 5. Election of Vice President 6. Update on FiberNet Project, Broadband Grant Application, etc. (Jeff, Don) 7. Marketing Update (Megan) 8. Establish Mission, Vision and Values (Megan) 9. Establish Monthly Meeting Date and Time 10. Adopt Rules and Procedures (if needed) 11. Open Forum 12. Adjourn A 5si 4X ( 6,(e_ t�� CITY OF MONTICELLO RESOLUTION 2009- IN SUPPORT OF A BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (BTOP) GRANT APPLICATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA) WHEREAS, the City of Monticello desires to build out its full fiber optics telecommunications system, also known as FiberNet Monticello, as a self - supporting enterprise of the community, and WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires establishment of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) with the express purposes of (1) providing access to broadband service to consumers in unserved areas; (2) providing access to ultrafast broadband service in underserved areas; (3) providing broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support to schools, libraries, medical providers, senior citizen groups, and other entities to facilitate greater use of broadband and provide ultrafast broadband access to low income, unemployed and vulnerable populations; (4) improving access to ultrafast broadband service by public service agencies; and (5) stimulating demand for ultrafast broadband, economic growth and job creation, and WHEREAS, the grant award criteria of the BTOP grant program are met by FiberNet Monticello in terms of (1) long term economic development and job creation, (2) essential telecommunications services for all addresses in the service area at amenable prices, (3) local accountability and customer service, (4) utilization of ultrafast broadband technology which provides infinite possibilities, and (5) partnerships with our community hospitals and medical facilities, school system, library, public safety departments, and area townships in providing broadband access, and WHEREAS, the citizens of Monticello support the concept of FiberNet Monticello as shown by the referendum vote in September of 2007 and through surveys taken in Fall of 2006 and Fall of 2007, and WHEREAS, local businesses, residents, non - profit organizations, K -12 and Higher Education entities, medical facilities, and other governmental entities within the community of Monticello have expressed support of FiberNet Monticello, and WHEREAS, the City has endeavored to subscribe to the wishes of the voters by (1) designing and engineering a fiber optic network for every address within the City, (2) development of a complete and sustainable business model, (3) a successful revenue bond sale of $26 million, (4) completion of a Central Office and Head -end building, (5) installation of an 11 -mile fiber backbone network, (6) effective and expanding marketing efforts, (7) operational and management team in place through a partnership with Hiawatha Broadband Communications, (8) ultrafast broadband connectivity to the outside world, and WHEREAS, the $26 million in bond funds, due to a legal challenge filed against the City by the telephone incumbent, were placed in escrow in June 2008 subject to recall by bondholders in June 2009. The bondholders have indicated they will recall the bonds unless the legal challenge is fully resolved by June 2009, and the timetable for issuance of possible final appeal results runs beyond June 2009, wherein the bonds would not be available for funding of the FiberNet Monticello project as originally intended, and WHEREAS, the City seeks an alternate funding source for the FiberNet Monticello project and has at its disposal the ability to meet the 20% match as defined in the grant guidelines; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Monticello supports filing of a Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program grant application with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with the goal of obtaining funding to complete our expanded FiberNet Monticello project. ADOPTED, this day of Monticello, Minnesota. ATTEST: 2009, by the City Council of CITY OF MONTICELLO Jeff O'Neill, City Administrator Mayor AL-ss , h / V t �, o FIBER OPTIC TASK FORCE (FOTF) Meeting 4 — 7/13/05 *excerpts are taken from the notes of 7113105 Goals and Values — "What is Monticello all About ?" — long discussion to develop a list of values that represent the community. Discussed values representing today's community and what we might like to see in future years. Among the items discussed were the following: • Progressive community — is progressive the right word? What about "forward thinking" or "dynamic ?" • Competitive advantage — in comparison to other cities, in education, in medical areas, economically, in residential standards — what can differentiate Monticello from others? • Make Monticello a premier choice for living and doing business — "City with a Future" • Information is power — technology can deliver information faster, bigger, more of it, greater distances • Technology is a great equalizer — can provide access without ownership The committee members present decided on these Key Value Phrases: • Forward - thinking community • Welcome new population while retaining current residents and businesses • Create and retain sound economic base • Comparative and competitive advantage in residential growth, business development, and medical and educational services • Preserve quality of life [that we now enjoy] • "Yesterday's Values, Tomorrow's Technology" Further discussion centered on what values would stakeholders be looking for in this community. (whole value proposition) Example: monetary, "feel good ", efficiencies. Do you try to sell fiber optic based on today's needs or future possibilities? Some items that we listed include: • telephone bills lowered • educational excellence — families make ISD 882 their first choice • family -based learning • on -site training for businesses (Sunny Fresh ?) • life long skills and degrees • medical excellence — lower costs, local care, keep hospital independent • home businesses — adequate bandwith for all uses, support future endeavors at efficient cost There was also some discussion on what can fiber optic offer to individuals in the community. These were some ideas: • Choice for data/voice /video services • Lower price • "triple play" packaged services (1 -stop shopping) • improvement in delivery of services • recapture local service ( "homegrown ") ■ This is the list that was developed by Steve A and Lynn D -F regarding reasons for implementing fiber optics in Monticello. You will want to utilize this list when working on the first action step (above). • Further economic growth • Act as a development magnet • Add value as a community asset • Add value to individual homes and businesses • Contribute to a new revenue source • Improve city services and offer new services • Improve access to educational and medical services • Improve services offered by /through local businesses and Chamber • Keep residents involved in local community • Improve what is already offered in the community • Make Monticello the premier choice for living and doing business lnJ Council Agenda — 5/14/07 Approval of a business name for the City fiber optics entity. (JO, CS) A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND: Following the successful referendum approving construction of a telephone exchange, Council approved moving ahead with the engineering RFP and announced a contest inviting city residents to submit possible names for the business entity for the City fiber optics system. Name selection is taking place at this time for several reasons: we need a name for the business entity for the financing package and we need a name for marketing the fiber optics system, which will begin in the near future. The contest was publicized through mailings, on the website, and with flyers posted in various sites. We received about 25 entries as of the October 8'h deadline. Lynne Dahl - Fleming headed up the selection team consisting of four other members. Through a selection process, they narrowed the list down to seven possibilities. This list was presented to the City Fiber Optics Committee on October 18a'. After much discussion, the Committee arrived at a consensus to select from a combination of names that included the words: fiber, net, and /or communications along with the city name (Monticello). After studying various combinations, the group decided unanimously on the name of "FiberNet Monticello." We felt that it was important to use the word, "fiber" in the name as fiber optics will be a unique characteristic of our system. The word, "net" symbolizes the network of fiber optics services to every home and business. We also felt it was necessary to have our city name, Monticello, attached to the business. It will provide needed identification of the business for marketing and public relations. The name, FiberNet Monticello, has been reserved with the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and web domain names have been locked in for the business. If this name is approved by Council, the person that submitted a name most closely related to FiberNet Monticello will be awarded the prize of a free year of internet service when the City's business becomes operational. B. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS: DApprove "FiberNet Monticello" as the name of the business entity for the Monticello fiber optics system. 2. Select and approve a different name for the business. 3. Do not approve a name at this time. Council Agenda — 5/14/07 C. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of the City Administrator and the City Fiber Optics Committee to approve the name, "FiberNet Monticello' as the official name for the City fiber optics business entity. Utilizing a combination of names submitted through the contest, the City Fiber Optics Committee deliberated and came up with this name for the business. For the reasons stated above, we fully support this recommendation. D. SUPPORTING DATA: None.