Title
A. RESOLUTION NO. 2016-031 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING A GRANT OF $30,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS COMPUTER AND NETWORKING EQUIPMENT AND CONSULTING SERVICES TO DELIVER HIGH SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO THE CITY’S LIBRARIES (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
B. RESOLUTION NO. 2016-032 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AND CALIFA FOR THE PROVISION, INSTALLATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ADVANCED NETWORKING (DATA) EQUIPMENT
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolutions.
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SUMMARY
The Chula Vista Library has been granted $30,000 to implement a new high-speed internet network for all three library locations. These funds will offset costs to purchase and install high-speed networking equipment in the libraries which will be able to handle the high-speed gigabyte connections.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The Project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines.
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable.
DISCUSSION
Since the 1990’s libraries across the nation have incorporated digital services into their business model and continually advocated for higher levels of internet bandwidth but the rapid increase in usage by library users and for library operations is beginning to outstrip their capacity to effectively deliver their services. The Chula Vista Library system is no different. With three locations, hundreds of patron/staff computers, and countless wifi users, internet bandwidth is at a premium. Currently the Library’s two largest branches, Civic Center and South Chula Vista, are connected to the City’s 100 Mbps internet connection via a fiber optic connection and the Otay Ranch Branch is connected through T-1 lines. Although current connection speeds are, for the most part adequate, there is no room for any “digital growth”; meaning, as the City deploys more and more Cloud based services, the 100 Mbps connection will become increasingly more congested, resulting in slower internet connection speeds across the entire IT infrastructure, including Libraries. As such, the Library and Information Technology Services departments have been actively seeking a long term solution to meet the growing digital needs of the Library.
State-wide, these problems now plague most library jurisdictions. To address the lack of bandwidth issue, the following four institutions have come together in partnership: California State Library, Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC); The Califa Group, a non-profit California public library benefit corporation; and the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), the organization that operates the California Research and Education Network (CalREN). CalREN is a state-wide high-speed broadband network with high-capacity 3,800-mile fiber optic backbone designed specially to meet the needs of education: K-12 schools, and academic and research institutions including UCSD, SDSU, USC and CalTech. Through this partnership and funding from the State of California, public libraries will be become members of CENIC and have the capacity to meet and exceed bandwidth needs.
Because libraries are central to our communities, connecting to CalREN will effectively provide all of California’s residents with high-performance access to the myriad of resources that constitute 21st century digital citizenship and will provide California with all of the economic and educational benefits of a digitally empowered population.
The State Library established the “California Public Library Broadband Project Grant” through which 64 Library jurisdictions are eligible to receive up to $30,000 each to assist with infrastructure costs required for high-speed bandwidth of up to 1 GB as well as extremely discounted rates on telecommunications services. Chula Vista has applied for this grant and is proceeding to design a new high-speed network capable of handling the 1 GB internet speeds that will be implemented at all three library locations. Additional equipment funding will be provided via the Public Education and Government (PEG) Fund.
The Libraries involved in the grant authorized CENIC to apply on their behalf as one large group for greater federal E-Rate discounts for telecommunications services. This ensures significant reductions in the costs for 1 GB services over what the City would normally pay from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Califa, acting on the City’s behalf, will contract with CENIC, to provide the circuits at that discounted rate to join CalREN.
The Information and Technology Services Department has been working closely with CENIC technical engineers to develop a solid network infrastructure capable of handling the significantly enhanced bandwidth. Specialized equipment will be needed to handle the increased bandwidth and an updated, highly technical network needs to be put into place in order to work correctly.
This entire project will allow the Library to expand its digital services in ways that could not be contemplated utilizing current internet bandwidth.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it does not affect real property and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community.
Connected Community: Offering 1 GB high-speed internet access at all three Chula Vista Branch Libraries is a significant step toward becoming a Smart City. With this increase in broadband the library will be able to provide strong consistent internet and wifi access to library users any time of day for the foreseeable future and be able to expand our digital services in new ways such as being able to offer streaming services.
Economic Vitality: Without the deeply discounted rate for the high-speed broadband provided by our CENIC membership we simply could not afford to provide or maintain this service.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The total implementation cost for this project is projected at $152,670. The table below details how funding for this project will be handled:
|
SOURCE |
CSA GRANT |
PEG FUNDS |
GEN FUND |
|
Consulting |
$18,450 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Equipment |
$11,550 |
$122,670 |
$0 |
|
TOTAL |
$30,000 |
$122,670 |
$0 |
This resolution will result in an appropriation to the Library for $30,000 to offset the cost for consulting and some equipment. There are no further appropriations needed as sufficient funds exist in the Public Education and Government Fund to cover the remaining equipment costs ($122,670). There will be no net impact to the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2016 for the implementation phase of this project (as detailed above). It is anticipated that this project will be completed by December 2016.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
As is mentioned in the this report, the City will be receiving extremely favorable “E-Rate” pricing for the 1 gigabyte connection to the libraries. The cost for connections to the 1 gigabyte circuit will be $2,958 per year. By comparison, the City’s current 100 MB connection is approximately $17,000 per year. These funds will be requested as part of the upcoming Fiscal Year 2107 budget development process.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment #1 Agreement and Appendix 1 between City of Chula Vista and Califa
Attachment # 2 Broadband Grant Application
Staff Contact: Jodie Sawina, Digital Services Manager, Library