HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/28/2006 B A K E R S F I E L D
~v~ o,...- Mike Maggard, Chair
John Stinson, Assistant City Manager Irma Carson
For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Harold Hanson
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, August 28, 2006 - 1:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room - Suite 201
City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
1. ROLL CALL
The meeting was Called to Order at 1:04 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Mike Maggard, Chair; and Harold Hanson
Councilmember Irma Carson arrived at 1:10 p.m.
2. ADOPT JUNE 19, 2006 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Update Report and Committee recommendation regarding Refuse Hauling
Contract extension negotiations
Public Works Director Raul Rojas thanked Kevin Barnes, .Janice Scanlan, and
all the haulers for their hard work. Agreement has been reached by both sides
.on the contract issues. He noted the Laborde area is serviced totally by the
contract haulers and it was not included in the 50-50 split; this was an
agreement made by the City prior to the Laborde annexation and has been
carried over.
Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes gave an overview on the changes to the
contract. The haulers approached the City with a request to extend the term of
their contract from 2014 to 2025, which will make it easier for .the haulers to get
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT ~ Page 2
BUDGET AND F. INANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, August 28, 2006
long-term financing for their operations/equipment. Extending the contract to
2025 would also make the term of the contract consistent with the haulers'
contract with the County. In consideration for the contract term extension,
successful negotiations were reached on other contract issues. Highlights
include:
· Customer rate increases will be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
· The cap on the index and exception language was removed
· The CPI as it is adjusted up or down will be used for customer rate
increases
· Replacement of green and tan carts was clarified and defined
· The date for the construction materials recycling facility to be opened to
the public will be 2008
· The 50-50 split and the boundary language for new annexed areas was
defined and clarified
Public Works Director Raul Rojas stated the haulers' prOvide good service and
staff is recommending the changes to the contract.
Mr. Larry Moxley, representing the haulers, thanked City staff for working with
the haulers on the contract and stated the haulers are in agreement with staff's
recommendation on the proposed changes to the contract.
Committee Chair Mike Maggard spoke regarding the grant funds that may be
available from the Air Pollution Control District for the proposed transfer station.
He stated the District may also have unused grant funding for engine retrofits to
clean burning fuel and offered his assistance with the grant funding
requirements.
Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes explained Air Pollution Control District staff
has provided the City with some general grant application guidelines for the
transfer, station. City and County staffs have been working with an air emission
consultant to draft a grant application.
Committee Member Harold Hanson made a motion the Committee approve the
changes to the contract as recommended by staff and forward the contract to
the Council. The Committee unanimously approved the motion.
B, Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding WiFi (wireless
Internet service)
Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen provided an update. At the last
Committee meeting the Committee reviewed a proposal from MetroFi
requesting to lease City light poles'to provide free wireless Internet service,
"WiFi," to local customers throughout Bakersfield. The Committee had several
questions. MetroFi representatives were not available to attend the meeting
today, but have provided responses to the questions.
AGENDA SUMMARY RE~RT Page 3
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, August 28, 2006
Information Technology Director Bob Trammell, provided an overview of the
responses.
- MetroFi does not provide spam or porn filtering. MetroFI is proposing to
provide Internet service to anyone at no cost, so there are no profits to
provide extra services.
- There is no way to mask or hide the antennas to be placed on the light
poles. There is a fixed format for the equipment and all that could be
done would be put something bigger around it.
- MetroFi would prefer a license agreement instead of a franchise.
- The new regulations being proposed by PG&E to charge for electricity
used by equipment on the light poles would not affect MetroFi, as
MetroFi has a separate contract with PG&E to cover the electricity their
equipment uses.
- MetroFi does not have defined language to determine "family-friendly
advertising" on the banner ads across the top of the screen. However, if
the City writes language, they have agreed to sign off on it.
Public Works Director Raul Rojas informed the Committee that the City has
received an additional request for the use of approximately 30' light poles
throughout the City from PG&E to mount similar equipment to read gas meters.
Staff has requested additional information.
David Rogers, Electronic Towne Crier, stated he is a local Internet provider. He
spoke in opposition to the City giving MetroFi a franchise and in support of his
Internet service and other local Internet vendors.
City Manager Alan Tandy suggested Mr. Rogers provide the City with a
proposal from his company.
Committee Member Harold Hanson confirmed with staff that the City would be
requiring a bond to cover the cost of removing the equipment from the light
poles in the event MetroFi is not successful in Bakersfield.
Committee Member Irma Carson suggested a public hearing be held to receive
input from local providers before any agreement is finalized. She asked staff to
complete a very thorough background check on MetroFi.
Committee Chair Mike Maggard expressed concerns about the City allowing a
company to provide free Internet service without a way for parents to' control
access in order to protect their children from predators on the Internet. He also
agreed with having a public hearing.
AGENDA SUMMARy REi~I~RT - Page 4
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, August 28, 2006
Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen stated staff is recommending that
MetroFi representatives attend the next Committee meeting to present their
proposal/agreement and answer questions.
The Committee agreed with the staff recommendation and took no further
action.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson;
Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; Assistant City Attorney Janice Scanlan; Finance
Director Nelson Smith; Public Works Director Raul Rojas; Public Works Operations Manager
Brad Underwood; Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes; Solid Waste Superintendent Sal Moretti;
General Services Superintendent Steve Hollingsworth; and IT Director Bob Trammell
Others: David Rogers,' Electronic Towne Crier; Troy Squiney, Bright House Networks; Danielle
Wade, Bright House Networks; Joe Schoenstein, Bright House Networks; Walter Morton, ICT
Consultants; Larry Moxley, Kern Refuse Disposal Inc.; Bernard LeBeau, Kern Refuse Counsel;
and Dan Panero, Varner Brothers
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
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