04-04-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 4,2011 APPROVED 46 proposed project and the current status of the connectivity agreement. Mr. Karlson also 47 indicated that Anoka County representatives have met with concerned parties and have 48 done much to address outstanding questions. 49 50 Mr. Minke indicated that the agreement is not everything that all parties would have it be 51 but he feels everyone involved would say it's been improved with the latest review. Mr. 52 Karlson noted that one concern raised was the possibility of hidden costs to jurisdictions 53 that chose to participate in the network and Mr. Minke assured the group that there are no 54 costs involved to the city in the entering the agreement. Ms. Timm suggested that users 55 should think up front about where equipment would best be placed as conditions effecting 56 the service down the line (such as a in a non-temperature controlled facility) would not be 57 a responsibility covered in the agreement. 58 59 Mr. Karlson clarified that the private contractor involved, Zayo Bandwidth, will actually 60 own the network equipment and pipeline. He asked about the equipment replacement 61 clause in the agreement and who is exposed to the costs when it comes to play in 2017? 62 Mr. Minke added that he anticipates that by 2017 there will be some type of process and 63 system to handle the equipment question; overall the type of equipment that would be 64 replaced isn't expensive. 65 66 A council member mentioned that he is still struggling with the need for the project; there 67 is a cost to the taxpayers, including $2.8 million through the county. He's also not sure 68 that fiber is the latest technology and he questions the concept that this fiber has a 120 69 year life. Mr. Minke explained that the county's goal with this project is to have 70 connectivity to more of its sites, including sites to which they currently rent fiber and to 71 achieve that at a cost savings. He added that the concept of service for 120 years is not 72 necessarily real time but it is the figure chosen for the period that services will be 73 available to the county. Ms. Timm added that for the $2.8 million that Anoka County is 74 putting in, it is getting a$20 million network; she reported that the county has made the 75 decision to go on the project so it will happen. 76 77 When the Mayor asked if the network is not intended for home services, Mr. Minke 78 explained that the county has focused on services to government but it is reasonable to 79 think that others could come in and work with Zayo for services to other areas. For the 80 business community, Mr. Minke explained that they find the high speed services 81 attractive and having the fiber in place also adds to property values. 82 83 The mayor noted that the council is attempting to identify the pieces of the project and 84 determine what is good now and for the future in this city. Mr. Minke noted that there are 85 really three pieces to the puzzle: the government network that would connect 145 anchor 86 institutions (with a service connection right away or within five years); the business 87 community where Zayo will have fiber capacity to serve business customers; and the third 88 parties who could buy capacity through Zayo to sell to other users. 89 2