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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/19/2006 B A K E R S F I E L D /~ ~ ~-~-- 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, June 19, 2006 - 10:00 a.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 10:04 a.m. Present: Councilmembers Mike Maggard, Chair; Irma Carson; and Harold Hanson 2. ADOPT MAY 9, 2006 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding WiFi (wireless Internet service) Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen gave an overview of the information in the packet. Wireless technology has been around for several years and is commonly used by business and governmental agencies. There are two models governmental agencies use to provide wireless Internet to the community. First, many larger cities sponsor and are direct providers of wireless Internet, especially in the downtown areas. The cities purchase the equipment and place it around the city. A server dedicated to wireless Internet provides service to the community at a cost or free, depending on how each AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Page 2 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, June 19, 2006 ~ agency wants to provide the service. Staff did not recommend the City enter into being a direct provider of wireless service. The second model government agencies use is to have a private company. provide wireless Internet service through a franchise agreement. The private company makes the investment and pays for the service through advertisements (banners across the screen). The service is free to local customers or a nominal fee is charged, which is usually free of the banner advertisements. The City has received a proposal from MetroFi requesting to lease City light poles in order to provide wireless Internet service throughout Bakersfield. MetroFi is proposing to provide wireless Internet service or "WiFi" at no cost to local customers. The cost of the service would be paid for with advertising on content pages. This product is ideal for City residents who cannot afford monthly fees for Internet service. For a small fee of approximately $20 the service would be available without the banner advertisements. MetroFi currently provides this service in many other cities in California. MetroFi would pay the City lease payments of $36 per light pole per year. The service would require 20 to 30 light poles per square mile with yearly revenue to the City of approximately $180,000 to $200,000. This service would be in competition with other Internet services; however, it is not quite as fast as DSL or cable modem and customers who can afford high speed Internet would most likely stay with their current service provider. The MetroFi network could also be used for surveillance in graffiti and code enforcement. Public Works Director Raul Rojas provided new information. The City owns the streetlight poles and PG&E provides electricity to the light poles at a flat rate. PG&E has in draft form ready to submit to the PUC a proposal to meter and charge for loads on streetlight poles other than for lights and sprinklers in order to get paid for electricity used for such things as telecommunication equipment. This has no implications to the City, but telecommunication companies may have to pay in the future. David Rogers, Electronic Town Crier, a local Internet provider, spoke in opposition to the City giving MetroFi a franchise without testing and research with other companies. Information Technology Director Bob Trammell gave a report on the necessary bonding to pay for taking the equipment down and electricity should the company not be prOfitable in Bakersfield and go out of business. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Page 3 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, June 19, 2006 Committee Chair Mike Maggard requested staff to report back on the possibility of masking the equipment as we do with cell phone towers. He also had concerns if the City is providing free Internet, the company be able to offer free of charge some way to filter unsuitable content and advertising. The Committee requested staff to research and bring the requested information back to the Committee. B. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding California State Department of Transportation Audit Report. of City of Bakersfield, Department of Public Works, Indirect Cost Rate Proposals (ICRP) for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2003.and June 30, 2004 Finance Director Nelson Smith explained this audit had one finding that indirect costs as well as direct costs need to be accounted for with project numbers. The audit took exception to the fact that on the timesheet the engineers did not record project numbers when working on an administrative assumption or non- billable items. There were no other findings and the cost rates met with approval. The Finance Director provided a letter of response to the Department of Transportation, Audits and Investigations, stating the City's intent to comply with the finding by requiring the Public Works Department to code all labor hours worked with project numbers. Committee Member Harold Hanson made a motion to recommend acceptance of the report to the Council. The Committee unanimously approved the motion. C. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding California State Controller's Office Audit Report of the City of Bakersfield's Gas Tax Fund for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2005 Finance Director Nelson Smith reported this audit was to ensure the City spent Gas Tax Funds in compliance with regulations. The audit had no issues or findings and concluded the City accounted for and expended its Gas Tax Fund in compliance with the Streets and Highways Code. Committee Member Harold Hanson made a motion to recommend acceptance of the report to the Council. The Committee unanimously approved the motion. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Page 4 BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, June 19, 2006 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; City Attorney Ginny Gennaro; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; Finance Director Nelson Smith; Public Works Director Raul Rojas; Assistant to the Public Works Director Georgina Lorenzi; General .Services Superintendent Steve Hollingsworth; IT Director Bob Trammell; and Assistant IT Director Edward Chavez Others: David Rogers, Electronic Town Crier cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council S:\JOHN\Council Committees\06Budget&Finance\06 jun 19summary.doc