Minutes - 2015/05/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council May 26, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 6 Council Member Mueller questioned when the City would begin modernizing through the use of underground lines if CenturyLink were allowed to install additional overhead lines. City Administrator Ericson indicated this would take many years to complete and stated new technology could lead the City to make a change. He believed that a comprehensive analysis of all utilities would have to be conducted prior to making any changes to the current utility lines. Mayor Flaherty understood that CenturyLink would be offering an enhanced internet product for this market. Mr. Haggerty stated this was correct. He reported that 1 gig internet service would now be available to Mounds View residents, which would dramatically increase web browsing speeds. Mayor Flaherty asked if any new poles would be installed by CenturyLink. Mr. Haggerty commented that no new poles would be installed, but additional line would be run along existing poles. He discussed the amount of new lines that would be required and stated that over time, copper lines have been installed underground and CenturyLink would now be installing overhead fiber optic lines to fill in the gaps. Mayor Flaherty expressed frustration that such a large amount of new lines would be required in the City. He thought that CenturyLink would be piggybacking on existing lines. He requested the CenturyLink representatives review with the Council where the new overhead lines would be placed in the City. Aaron Krebs discussed the new project areas with the Council and explained that the fiber optic lines would provide better service to CenturyLink customers. Mr. Haggerty commented that the expense to put lines underground was four or five times higher than installing lines overhead. Mayor Flaherty indicated that he was not in favor of placing additional overhead wires in the City of Mounds View. He questioned how CenturyLink would proceed if the Council were to not approve the exemption. Mr. Haggerty encouraged the Council to consider the technological advancements that would be brought to the City through the fiber optic lines. City Administrator Ericson reviewed the language within the drafted Resolution and explained that as written it would prohibit the hanging of fiber optic lines if copper lines were available underground. Mr. Haggerty was not aware of this requirement from the City. Mayor Flaherty asked if the Council supported the Resolution as proposed or if the Council was in favor of modifying the language. Council Member Meehlhause supported the Resolution as written with the exemption noted by staff. Council Member Hull and Council Member Mueller agreed. Council Member Gunn supported the Resolution as drafted by staff.