Title
Staff Report for a Resolution of the City of San Leandro City Council to Approve a Consulting Services Agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies for a Public Wi-Fi Expansion Project to Downtown and City Parks and for a Resolution to Approve a License Agreement with the County of Alameda for Use of County-Owned Communications Facilities
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve two resolutions that authorize the City Manager to execute the following: A Consulting Services Agreement between the City of San Leandro and SmartWAVE Technologies to expand the City’s Public Wi-Fi System to City Parks and throughout the Downtown Area and a License Agreement with the County of Alameda to utilize Communications Facilities for the Wi-Fi network. The total cost of the Wi-Fi Expansion project is not to exceed $100,000.00 and the annual cost for the License Agreement with the County of Alameda shall begin at $6,668.00 and increase by 4% per year.
BACKGROUND
The City of San Leandro has invested in building a Public Wi-Fi network that covers the Downtown core, Casa Peralta and Museum area, Community Centers, Libraries, and City Facilities. In the 2017-18 Capital Improvements Program budget, the City Council authorized funds to expand the Public Wi-Fi network to City Parks and additional areas Downtown.
Analysis
In 2015, the City of San Leandro entered into an agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies to deploy a high speed Public Wi-Fi system in the City’s downtown core. The system covered a four-block radius throughout the Pelton Plaza, Village development, and the surrounding streets and areas. It utilizes the Lit San Leandro fiber optic network to provide connectivity and high-speed Internet service.
Building on the success of this project, in 2016 the City expanded Wi-Fi service to the Senior Community Center and Casa Peralta and San Leandro History Museum area. Then in 2017, the City Council authorized further expansion to replace existing and outdated Wi-Fi systems at City facilities, including the Civic Center (City Hall and the Police Department), Public Works Service Center, and the Water Pollution Control Plant, using the same platform that powers the Downtown deployment. This process was part of a broader effort to unify all of the City facilities onto a comprehensive gigabit Wi-Fi platform.
As part of the adopted FY 2017-18 Capital Projects Fund, the City Council appropriated funding to expand the Public Wi-Fi network to City Parks and further into Downtown areas.
For Downtown expansion, Staff identified several optimal locations, including Joaquin Plaza, to complement the “Chime Way” musical installation, and Washington Plaza, where the City Fountain and outdoor public seating and table areas are located. This location will also cover the area surrounding the potential future landmark sign that is envisioned to be installed near the Davis Street and East 14th Street intersection.
For City Parks, staff worked extensively to identify locations where Public Wi-Fi could be expanded that would provide maximum public benefits. Related analysis included identifying parks that were regularly used and accessed frequently by the public, and which could also be retrofitted with the necessary technology in the most cost-effective manner possible. During this period of field work, it was determined that a Communications Facility (i.e., a Tower) owned by the County of Alameda in the unincorporated portion of the San Leandro Hills was the ideal location to deploy high speed millimeter wave wireless connectivity, which would serve as an alternative to fiber optics backhaul. This design significantly reduced costs as fiber optics build-outs would not be required to reach City Parks that have direct line-of-sight visibility to the County Tower. Though not as fast as fiber, millimeter wave wireless backhaul can still provide very high-speed broadband connections.
Based on this analysis, Staff recommends deploying Public Wi-Fi at seven City Parks:
• Floresta Park
• Halcyon Park
• Marina Park
• Memorial Park
• Siempre Verde Park
• Stenzel Park
• Toyon Park
In addition to the above work, point-to-point links will be installed to create a connection to City Hall. These links may be utilized in the future for additional expansion to areas not serviceable by the City’s Fiber Optics network. The proposed Ten-Year License Agreement with the County of Alameda starts at a rate of $6,668.00 per year, and increases 4% per year. Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the License Agreement with the County of Alameda.
In addition, Staff recommends City Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Consulting Services Agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies to procure and install the Wi-Fi expansion to the areas described above in an amount not to exceed $100,000.
Previous City Council Actions
• Resolution 2015-066, March 16, 2015 City Council approved an Agreement with Pelton Plaza Owners in the Amount of $37,974 for a Broadband Expansion Agreement; and an Agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies in the Amount of $30,416 for the Free, Public Wireless Network in Downtown San Leandro.
• Resolution 2017-017, February 2, 2017 City Council approved a Consulting Services Agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies, LLC to Replace and Expand the Wireless Network at City Facilities (in an Amount Not to Exceed $80,000)
• Resolution 2017-132, September 18, 2017 City Council approved a Budget Amendment to the City’s Fiscal Year 2016-17 and 2017-18 General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Capital Projects Funds, and Agency Funds Budget
Legal Analysis
The City Attorney’s Office reviewed and approved as to form the Consulting Services Agreement with SmartWAVE Technologies and the License Agreement with the County of Alameda.
Fiscal Impacts
The total cost of the Consulting Services Agreement is not to exceed $100,000. This is presently budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund, account # 210-62-127 for fiscal year 2017-18.
The Ten-Year License Agreement with the County of Alameda is to be paid from the 2017-18 Information Technology Operating Budget, account # 688-13-001; the first year payment is $6,668.00.
Budget Authority
The 2017-18 Adopted Budget includes funding for this project in the Capital Projects Fund, account # 210-62-127 and there are available funds in the 2017-18 Information Technology Fund operating budget account # 688-13-001 to accommodate the first year of the license agreement with the County of Alameda.
PREPARED BY: Tony Batalla, Information Technology Manager, City Manager’s Office
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