HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4080
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4080)
Technology Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Meeting Date: 9/17/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Master Plan to Provide Fiber-to-the Premise and Wireless
Network Plan
Title: Develop Master Plan to Build Out the City's Dark Fiber Optic System to
Provide Fiber-to-the-Premise and Develop Complimentary Wireless Network
Plan
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Technology and Connected City Committee recommend Council
direct staff to:
1. Develop a Fiber-to-the-Premise Master Plan and conduct a request for proposals to
build out the existing dark fiber optic system in Palo Alto.
2. Develop a Wireless Network Plan with a near-term focus on WiFi, and a long-term
consideration of other wireless technologies.
Executive Summary
Progressive cities want to ensure their residents, businesses and anchor institutions have access
to ubiquitous and reliable ultra high-speed1 broadband connectivity. With this goal in mind, and
in response to Council’s directive, staff is recommending that the City proactively develop a
Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) Master Plan and a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build out the dark
fiber optic system (fiber system) in Palo Alto. Staff also recommends developing a
complimentary Wireless Network2 Plan in a sequence that addresses both near term and long
term objectives.
The FTTP Master Plan will identify the design and specifications of the network. The City will
1 “Ultra high-speed” broadband connectivity refers to a telecommunications network that would provide speeds in
excess of 100 megabits per second (Mbps).
2 The term “wireless” includes a large set of technologies that support cellular, radio and “WiFi.” WiFi is a single
specific technology.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
also conduct any environmental review that may be needed in preparation for a subsequent
competitive process to attract a third party telecommunications provider to build and operate
the network. The Wireless Network Plan will provide a city-wide needs assessment, evaluate
how the existing fiber system and other City-owned infrastructure can be fully leveraged to
support a citywide multifunctional wireless network, recommend a network design that would
best support the City, and provide a business plan with capital and operational cost estimates.
This staff report also provides an update on the creation of a Citizen Advisory Committee.
Background
The Technology and Connected City Committee held its first meeting on May 14, 2013.
Attachment D provides meeting minutes. The Committee recommended that staff develop a
work plan to evaluate the feasibility of building a citywide high-speed broadband FTTP network
in Palo Alto, and create a Citizen Advisory Committee to assist in the evaluation. The City
Council approved the Committee’s recommendations on June 24, 2013.
Discussion
Fiber-to-the-Premise Master Plan and RFP
Since the late 1990s, the City has worked to develop a viable business plan to expand the fiber
system for residential use. From 2001 to 2005, these efforts included a FTTP trial to prove
technical feasibility. The trial was successful in terms of proving technical feasibility, but when
initial investment and overhead expenditures were included in the calculation for the business
case, it did not appear that a citywide build-out would be economically viable. As a result, from
2002 to 2004, City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) staff worked with a telecommunications
consultant to develop a FTTP business case and business plan. The final business plan
demonstrated that a FTTP utility could be “economically viable” over a 20-year construction
bond period, assuming the Electric Fund would issue revenue bonds. However, upon further
legal analysis by the City Attorney, it was determined that the Electric Utility could not continue
to fund the FTTP Project. Additionally, no Electric or other Enterprise Utility Revenue Bonds
could be issued, and financing costs would be greater than those assumed in the plan.
In 2006, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction and operation of a
“City-wide ultra-high speed bandwidth system.” The RFP process resulted in negotiations with
a “Consortium” of three firms to build a citywide FTTP network. Ultimately the City was
unwilling to raise the amount of capital that the Consortium wanted from the City to
participate. Additionally, with the economic downturn in 2008, the Consortium’s ability to
obtain their own financing was severely impacted and they withdrew from participation in early
2009.
At Council’s direction, in 2009 and early 2010 staff worked to evaluate the feasibility of
submitting a federal stimulus grant application for FTTP under the National Telecommunication
and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
Once the NTIA issued its project funding criteria, staff concluded that a municipal FTTP project
City of Palo Alto Page 3
would not qualify for a grant since Palo Alto did not meet the definition of a community
“unserved” or “underserved” by broadband service providers. In February 2010, Council
directed staff to submit a response to Google’s Fiber for Communities Request for Information
(RFI) to build and test “ultra-high speed broadband networks.” In 2011, Google selected Kansas
City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri for their first network deployments and have since
announced plans to expand their network into the surrounding suburbs of each city. In April
2013, Google announced plans to deploy a network in Austin, Texas and also announced the
purchase of an existing municipal FTTP network in Provo, Utah.
Citywide Ultra High-Speed Broadband System Project
After the negotiations with the Consortium ended, Council directed staff to explore the use of
the fiber fund reserve to independently proceed with a phased build-out of the existing fiber
system. In response, staff developed a two-phased “conceptual plan” for the Citywide Ultra
High-Speed Broadband System Project. The plan was reviewed by the UAC on June 1, 2011 and
the Finance Committee on November 15, 2011.
User-Financed FTTP
In 2012, staff conducted a study of an alternative FTTP business model that relies on
homeowners to voluntarily pay for some or all of the cost to build out the fiber system into
residential neighborhoods with an “open access,” broadband-only service.3 To analyze the
feasibility of the user-financed FTTP model, market research was developed based on a
community survey conducted by RKS Research and Consulting, in addition to a financial
assessment prepared by Tellus Venture Associates (TVA). The RKS survey results affirmed that
residents view CPAU as a respected and competent provider of core utility services. A
measureable number of homeowners are interested in adding telecom to the list of services
they can purchase from CPAU, but a commitment to invest in a fiber connection is very limited.
TVA’s report concluded that a fully user-financed citywide FTTP network is not possible. An
opt-in FTTP network can be built using a combination of upfront user fees and City financing,
but there is very little probability of the debt incurred being repaid through operations.
Ongoing subsidies would be required, almost certainly in excess of the surpluses generated by
the licensing of dark fiber for commercial purposes. Based on the market research and financial
analysis prepared for the conceptual plan and the assessment of the user-financed FTTP
business model, staff concluded there was no reasonable fiscal basis to pursue either approach.
On June 6, 2012, by a vote of 4 to 3, the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) accepted staff’s
recommendations to 1) continue the current business model for licensing dark fiber service
connections to commercial customers, 2) discontinue efforts to evaluate and implement
3 In an open access, broadband-only service model the network owner treats the network as a common carrier (like
public roads). The network owner invites multiple independent broadband service providers onto the network to
compete for customers on the basis of service, price and quality. The network owner generates revenues by
collecting network transport fees paid by the independent service providers to use the network for the delivery of
voice, video and data services.
City of Palo Alto Page 4
phased initiatives to build out the dark optical fiber backbone network, and 3) retain a wireless
communications consultant to study the feasibility of using the fiber fund reserve to build a
municipal wireless network.
FTTP Master Plan and RFP
The City has evaluated viable business plans/models to expand the fiber system for residential
use since the late 1990s. Given the upturn in the economy, the City believes that there is a
renewed interest from telecommunications service providers in building an advanced
competitive broadband network in Palo Alto. Staff believes the best way to attract these
providers is to develop a broadband Master Plan, including proactively designing the FTTP
network, defining appropriate network specifications and conducting any necessary
environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in preparation for
an RFP.
To develop the Master Plan, staff recommends retaining a consulting firm with an expertise in
developing plans and RFPs for government agencies contemplating building FTTP and wireless
networks. Once the Master Plan is developed, the objective is to issue an RFP for a third party
telecommunications service provider to build and operate the network. The estimated cost to
develop the Master Plan and conduct the RFP is approximately $150,000 - $350,000 (depending
largely on the level of required environmental review) and will include facilitating an
engineering study to develop the infrastructure plan and estimate the cost to build the FTTP
network, evaluate legal and regulatory issues, and complete environmental review. The
estimated timeframe to develop the Plan and conduct the RFP is nine months and will require
the time of approximately 1.75 FTEs over the nine month period.
If the environmental review for a FTTP Network results in a mitigated negative declaration, the
cost for environmental review would range from $20,000 to $50,000. If a full Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) is required (based on a third party network builder using the rights-of-way
for an FTTP Network and acknowledging potential legal challenges,) the cost may range from
$200,000 to $250,000. Under California State Law a mitigated negative declaration must be
completed with six (6) months from the date an application is filed and fully “completed.”
Under California State Law an EIR must be completed within one year of filing a fully completed
application. These time limits are “advisory only” but are a good rule of thumb.
Wireless Network Plan and RFP
In addition to developing a Master Plan and RFP for bring FTTP, wireless solutions should also
be employed. The term “wireless” as defined here includes a large set of technologies that
support cellular, radio and “WiFi.” The City’s fiber system has enough coverage and capacity to
support an overlay of a multifunctional wireless network. Moreover, cities with fiber systems
have an inherent advantage in deploying wireless networks since fiber provides essential
City of Palo Alto Page 5
“backhaul”4 transmission links to support high data rates over wireless networks.
With appropriate design and sufficient budget, municipal wireless networks can support
remote and mobile broadband needs for public safety personnel and other field-based staff, in
addition to potentially offering WiFi Internet access for the general public. Furthermore,
specialized uses such as a wireless communications system for smart grid applications can also
be accommodated by a multifunctional wireless network with the proper design and
technology.
Staff recommends issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain professional services from a
wireless communications firm with experience working with local governments to develop the
options and plans to build a wireless network. Staff estimates the cost will be $100,000 and will
take six to nine months to complete the Wireless Network Plan. The general scope of work for
the Plan includes, but is not limited to, the following tasks and deliverables:
Define the City’s wireless broadband goals and objectives based on conducting a “user
group” needs assessment among all City departments, including public safety. This task
would also include an assessment of the type of wireless communication system required to
support future deployment of Smart Grid applications.
Provide an assessment of how the general public and City could use the network for WiFi
access to the Internet in the near term.
Provide an analysis of using wireless data services from the commercial carriers as opposed
to building a dedicated municipal network for a variety of wireless applications to support
City services.
Evaluate how the existing fiber system and other City-owned infrastructure and properties
can be fully leveraged to support a citywide multifunctional wireless network.
Assess the various technologies used to build municipal wireless networks and recommend
which technologies and network design would best support end-user needs and the City’s
present and future goals and objectives for wireless services.
Prepare a preliminary business plan with capital and operational cost estimates.
Upon completion of the Wireless Network Plan, the findings and recommendations will be
submitted to the Technology Committee and the Council to assist the Council members with
formulating a final vision and direction for the deployment of a wireless network. Staff
estimates the cost to build a citywide wireless network to be in the range of $3 to $5
million. The projected ongoing support and maintenance cost to operate the network will also
be addressed in the Wireless Plan.
4 “Backhaul” is a term used to describe the transmission of customer usage data from a collection point in a
wireless network back to a central point or network backbone. If a fiber network is in place, it can put wireless
access points anywhere and offer each a dedicated amount of bandwidth in excess of what would be possible with
a purely wireless network known as the “all radio approach.”
City of Palo Alto Page 6
Other Potential Near-term WiFi Actions
Understanding the time that will be needed to develop both the Fiber Master Plan and WiFi
Plan, in the interim, staff recommends evaluating and implementing where practical, near term
solutions that are impactful to the community and municipal services. For example, expanding
WiFi capabilities in additional parks, plazas, University and/or Cal Avenues, and/or identifying
the most troubling dead zones in Palo Alto and deploying WiFi, etc.
Citizen Advisory Committee Update
An Advisory Committee will be appointed by the City Manager to provide objective advice, from
a citizen perspective, to the City Manager and the Technology Committee. The primary role of
the advisors is to work with the Technology Committee, City Manager and City staff to develop
the Fiber Master Plan and support the work necessary to develop recommendations for FTTP
and wireless deployments to the Technology Committee and City Council.
To date, eight members of the community have expressed interest in sitting on a Committee.
The City Manager will select candidates based on their knowledge of the telecommunications
industry and applicable technologies; familiarity with municipal broadband initiatives in Palo
Alto and other communities; understanding of the various business models for deploying fiber
and wireless networks; and interest in the public policy issues affecting government owned and
operated broadband networks.
Resource Impact
Licensing dark fiber is a financially successful enterprise for the City and generates a steady
revenue stream that can support the City’s goal of becoming a “leading digital city.” The fiber
fund reserve is $15.3 million as of the end of fiscal year 2013. There is also a $1.0 million
Emergency Plant Replacement Fund for the fiber system. The City Attorney has provided CPAU
staff with an opinion that the fiber fund reserve can be used for fiber and wireless
communication services, including developing a Fiber Master Plan, as well as planning for,
building and operating wireless network services. Staff recommends leveraging the fiber
reserve to develop the FTTP Master Plan and the Wireless Network Plan. Cost estimates are as
follows:
FTTP Master Plan $150,000-$350,000 (depending on required environmental review)
Wireless Network Plan $100,000 (up to)
Total $250,000-$450,000
Policy Implications
This recommendation is consistent with the Telecommunications Policy adopted by the Council
in 1997, to facilitate advanced telecommunications services in Palo Alto in an environmentally
sound manner.
Reference CMR: 369:97 Proposed Telecommunications Policy Statements.
City of Palo Alto Page 7
Environmental Review
The development of an FTTP Master Plan and a wireless services plan are not projects under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as feasibility and planning studies are exempt
under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262. The City plans on conducting a full CEQA review as soon
as the project is defined enough to permit a sufficient review.
Attachments:
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes (PDF)
TECHNOLOGY AND THE CONNECTED CITY
FINAL MINUTES
Page 1 of 9
Special Meeting
May 14, 2013
Chairperson Kniss called the meeting to order at 3:09 P.M. in the Council
Conference Room, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California.
Present: Klein, Kniss (Chair), Scharff, Shepherd
Absent:
AGENDA ITEMS
1. History of Fiber in Palo Alto
James Keene, City Manager, indicated the Agenda Items were meant to be a
survey of technology initiatives in the City.
Council Member Klein referenced an article contained in an email from the
National League of Cities regarding technology.
James Fleming, Utilities Management Specialist, reported the fiber backbone
was first conceived in the mid-1990s when the City developed a telecom
strategy that included building a fiber ring capable of supporting multiple
developers and/or service providers with significant growth potential. In the
mid-1990s, most investor-owned and public utilities invested in fiber optics
to improve command and control of utility infrastructure. Many fiber
networks typically had excess capacity that could be licensed or leased to
third parties. The original target market for the City's commercial fiber
service was competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC). CLECs emerged
after the passage of the 1996 Telecom Act, which mandated a competition
policy rather than monopoly regulation. Dark fiber was unused fiber optics
through which no light was transmitted and which did not carry a signal. By
the late-1990s, many CLECs left the market either through mergers or
bankruptcy. A fiber backbone would be a valuable asset with the capacity to
support the City's internal communication requirements, information
technology (IT) systems, and command and control of systems for critical
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 2 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
City infrastructure. The network could provide dark fiber service connections
to a variety of potential users. The system was financed internally by the
Electric Enterprise Fund through a 20-year $2 million loan at 0 percent
interest. In 2008 the fiber optics business completed the loan repayment to
the Electric Enterprise Fund and a separate Fiber Optic Enterprise Fund was
established. The first phase of the system was constructed in 1996 and
1997 and consisted of 33 route miles. In 1998, the backbone was expanded
to 41 route miles which passed the majority of business parks and
commercial property in the City. The end user was responsible for installing,
configuring and maintaining electronic equipment to provision the licensed
fiber strands. The City was highly dependent on the fiber system for
communications. The City's basic business model was to license dark fiber
connectivity to companies that required large amounts of bandwidth and had
the internal resources to install, configure and maintain the electronic
equipment required to provision the fiber strands. The City licensed dark
fiber connections to approximately 80 commercial customers with
approximately 200 separate connections. The backbone system was
extended based on demand, with recent extensions to the East Meadow
Circle area and 18 Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) facilities. The
Fiber Optic Reserve Fund was expected to have a balance of $14.5 million at
the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, and projected to increase by $2.3 million in
FY 2014.
Chair Kniss asked if some commercial customers resold fiber service.
Mr. Fleming indicated four or five customers were resellers.
Chair Kniss inquired about the number of residential customers.
Mr. Fleming replied there were three.
Chair Kniss asked if any apartment buildings were fiber customers.
Mr. Fleming answered no.
Chair Kniss suggested owners of apartment buildings might not be aware of
the fiber network.
Vice Mayor Shepherd inquired about the policy for connecting residential
customers.
Mr. Fleming explained the connection fee was significantly high and the
average household could not afford it, particularly if the residence was
located a distance away from the backbone.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 3 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Mayor Scharff asked if Staff considered a means to provide fiber to
apartment building owners.
Mr. Fleming reported Staff had not approached multiple dwelling residential
units. Apartment building owners would need to determine whether they
wished to provide an open access system or wished to directly provide
services.
Mayor Scharff asked how the three residential users utilized their fiber
connections.
Mr. Fleming supposed the fiber connection was used for internet service but
he was not certain.
Mayor Scharff inquired about the internet service provider (ISP) for fiber.
Mr. Fleming indicated fiber users most likely connected through Palo Alto
Internet Exchange (PAIX), which provided a choice of ISPs.
Chair Kniss stated many residents were not aware of PAIX.
Council Member Klein inquired about connection charges for a residential
customer.
Mr. Fleming explained the charge depended on the distance from the
backbone.
Council Member Klein inquired about monthly charges for residential
connections.
Mr. Fleming believed they were in the range of a few hundred dollars,
perhaps more.
Council Member Klein requested the amount of the connection charge for a
residential user.
Mr. Fleming reported the minimum connection charge was $615. In 2000
the Council approved a fiber to the home trial to determine the feasibility of
providing City-wide fiber for home access. The trial program indicated
technical feasibility; a 2004 business plan indicated a fiber to the home
utility could be economically viable. Further legal analysis determined that
the Electric Utility could not fund the fiber to the home project. In 2005 a
Colleague's Memo recommended a revised approach to fiber to the home
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 4 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
and Staff provided a discussion of legal and financial issues. In 2007, the
Council directed Staff to proceed with development of an ultra-high speed
broadband system business plan with a consortium of investors.
Negotiations between the consortium and the City broke down in 2008. In
2009, Staff recommended the City apply for grant funds available from the
Federal Government; however, Staff determined the City was not eligible for
funds under program requirements. The City retained two consultants to
evaluate opportunities to expand the fiber network. Their report, presented
in 2011, indicated there was no compelling business case to provide fiber
service directly to residences, because Palo Alto was served by two dominant
providers. In June 2012, Staff presented an alternative model for City-wide
fiber to the premise, whereby homeowners would pay for some or all costs
to build out the existing dark fiber network into residential neighborhoods.
The customer survey concluded that the community was interested in fiber
to the premise services, but interest in the user-financed model was low.
Financial analysis of the model determined user-financed fiber to the
premise system could not be achieved. Subsequently, Staff recommended
the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC): 1) continue the current business
model for licensing dark fiber service, 2) discontinue efforts to implement
dark fiber network for residential fiber to the premise, and 3) initiate an
evaluation to determine if the City should use the Fiber Fund Reserve to
finance the construction and operation of a wireless system which leveraged
and augmented the dark fiber network. The UAC voted 4-3 to accept those
recommendations.
James Cook, Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) Chairman, reported the
UAC was concerned about flaws in the study and the lack of direction from
the Council and community. The split vote was an indication of the UAC's
concerns.
Asher Waldfogel, UAC Commissioner, indicated the UAC felt the study did
not include all the latest thinking. Dramatic changes in technology and
equipment in the last few years could make fiber to the premises feasible.
Mr. Cook felt the UAC was frustrated in that the City had an Infrastructure
and Reserve Fund but no information as to how to use it to move forward.
Chair Kniss felt Palo Alto should have the ability to connect to its citizens.
Jonathan Reichental, Chief Information Officer, believed the future of
America was a connected country through broadband access.
Chair Kniss stated the City's goal was connectivity.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 5 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Vice Mayor Shepherd requested an explanation of the term "last mile."
Mr. Fleming reported the last mile was the distance from an access point to
an individual premise.
Vice Mayor Shepherd inquired about splice points.
Mr. Fleming indicated they were network connections.
Vice Mayor Shepherd understood that homeowners could not tap into fiber
optic cable; they had to connect via an access point.
Mr. Fleming clarified homeowners needed specific electronic equipment to
utilize fiber.
Vice Mayor Shepherd asked if undergrounded utilities contained fiber.
Mr. Fleming reported fiber was underground and aerial at different points in
the system.
Vice Mayor Shepherd inquired whether fiber was included in undergrounded
utilities.
Mr. Fleming felt few if any residential neighborhoods contained usable
conduit.
Vice Mayor Shepherd asked why the conduit was not usable.
Mr. Fleming suggested it could be full or old.
Tomm Marshall, Assistant Director of Utilities, reported fiber rings for
commercial services were in place. Spare conduit in most undergrounding
areas could be used for fiber; however, that could require reconfiguration of
existing conduit systems.
Mr. Keene inquired about the amount of fiber located underground versus
above ground if the City became fully connected.
Mr. Marshall indicated most residential neighborhoods were still overhead;
therefore, the majority of fiber would be located overhead.
Chair Kniss added Chattanooga, Tennessee's fiber was all overhead.
Apparently either method worked well.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 6 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Mr. Marshall believed undergrounding was not the issue for providing fiber
service. Fiber service was not set up for residential customers.
Vice Mayor Shepherd requested Staff provides copies of their presentation
for distribution.
2. Present Status of the Field
i. Changes Since Palo Alto’s Last Effort
ii. Google’s Impact
Chair Kniss indicated Agenda item 2 was covered in the previous discussion.
3. Preliminary Development of Work Plan and Schedule
James Keene, City Manager, reported Staff was conducting exploratory
research and outreach. Staff could provide an outline related to a schedule
for the Committee meeting; however, the specific functions of a work plan
would be formed by directives to Staff.
4. Initial Steps
i. Kansas City Conference
ii. Networking
Chair Kniss announced she, Vice Mayor Shepherd and Mr. Fleming would
attend the fiber conference in Kansas City on May 28th thru 30th.
James Fleming, Utilities Management Specialist, noted the conference was
sponsored by the Fiber to the Home Council.
5. Creation of a Citizen Advisory Committee
Chair Kniss suggested the City Manager appoint and work with a Citizen
Advisory Committee.
James Keene, City Manager, felt the Council wanted to implement a citizen
committee in order to utilize community talent and restart community
dialog.
MOTION: Mayor Scharff moved, seconded by Chair Kniss to request the
City Manager form a Citizen Committee.
MOTION PASSED: 4-0
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 7 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Chair Kniss believed it was unusual for a city to have dark fiber in place and
to make money on it.
Council Member Klein recalled that one of the issues in negotiating with the
consortium in 2006 was risk and financial requirements. The City's financial
leverage changed since those discussions.
Chair Kniss asked how Staff knew fiber rates for commercial customers were
competitive and if the City was one of the first cities to have dark fiber.
Mr. Fleming reported several cities in California had dark fiber, because
utilities needed fiber for command and control of infrastructure. Some cities
were aggressive about licensing dark fiber, but none of the cities provided
fiber to the residential market.
Chair Kniss requested Staff provide information regarding actions taken by
cities similar to Palo Alto.
Mr. Fleming indicated some cities leveraged dark fiber to build Wi-Fi
systems.
Mayor Scharff inquired about the program San Leandro Lit.
Mr. Fleming explained Lit San Leandro was a partnership between a software
development company and the City of San Leandro. The city allowed OSI
Soft to use existing conduit to run fiber in commercial areas. The private
company was driving the partnership, but the city was benefitting through
use of the fiber.
6. Rollout of Palo Alto 311
Jonathan Reichental, Chief Information Officer, reported the phone number
311 was aligned with government services. With Palo Alto 311, the public
could contact City services through e-mail, calls, text, and Facebook, and
the City could provide information to the public. Services through Palo Alto
311 would relate to the Public Works Department beginning June 1, 2013.
The community would know when City Staff was dispatched and when the
problem was resolved. Location coordinates would be placed on photos
submitted for service through a smart phone.
James Keene, City Manager, added Staff could track and combine multiple
calls for the same issue illuminating multiple responses.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 8 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Mr. Reichental indicated additional services would be added over time. In
alignment with the City's open data and government transparency policy,
data collected from Palo Alto 311 would be published in the open data
platform.
Vice Mayor Shepherd inquired whether phone numbers would be included in
the public data.
Mr. Reichental noted some items of information were protected.
Mayor Scharff inquired whether a picture taken through the 311 application
would automatically be sent to the City with a service request.
Mr. Reichental replied yes.
Mayor Scharff reported the 311 application had a calendar, a library catalog,
and could download e-books. He inquired about users providing feedback.
Mr. Reichental indicated the application itself could provide feedback. That
information would go to a team working on improvements.
Council Member Klein asked if neighboring cities were using similar
applications.
Mr. Reichental stated Mountain View utilized a 311 application.
Council Member Klein inquired about the length of time Mountain View had
used an application.
Mr. Reichental indicated more than 18-months.
Council Member Klein inquired about plans to notify residents about Palo Alto
311.
Mr. Reichental stated the application would be launched the same day as the
Hackathon with a press release and a number of marketing promotions.
7. Hackathon on June 1, 2013
Jonathan Reichental, Chief Information Officer, reported the national day of
civic hacking would occur June 1 and 2, 2013. The event was designed to
connect government and community to address community needs.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes
FINAL MINUTES
Page 9 of 9
Technology and the Connected City Special Meeting
Final Minutes 5/14/13
Key aspects were commitment to the principles of transparency,
participation and collaboration, government interest in open data,
partnership with the community to address community needs, and continued
and increased emphasis on the promotion of science, technology,
engineering, art and math (STEAM). Palo Alto's event was a festival for the
entire family and community with activities geared toward STEAM.
Chair Kniss asked how participants could register for the Hackathon.
Mr. Reichental noted the event was free with no registration required.
Lytton Plaza would be the epicenter beginning at 11:00 A.M. Three goals for
the event were: 1) align with White House and federal agencies, 2) fun
event for community, and 3) join civic solvers with civic problems. Staff
advertised in local newspapers and engaged social media. In addition,
private supporters were utilizing their networks to spread the word.
8. Upcoming City Technology Initiatives
Jonathan Reichental, Chief Information Officer would present the three-year
Information Technology strategy to the Council on May 20, 2013.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS
James Keene, City Manager, requested parties interested in serving on the
advisory committee contact him or Sheila Tucker.
Chair Kniss encouraged public attendance at the May 20, 2013 Council
meeting. The next Committee meeting would be scheduled for mid- to late-
summer.
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 4:38 P.M.
Attachment A. May 14, 2013 Committee Meeting Minutes