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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 11/28/05 <br />Minutes - Page 9 <br /> <br />provide the City with an initial major east-west segment, to <br />eventually connect multiple city facilities and other access <br />points. Mr. Miller further noted that funding for this segment <br />would come from the Equipment Replacement Fund, the same <br />Fund used to purchase the new Police records management <br />system and the 800 MHz Radio system. Mr. Miller advised that <br />the major expense involved trenching for the fiber optic cable; <br />and that future budget appropriations could phase additional <br />segments. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller reviewed future lease opportunities of such a city- <br />owned, private fiber network as another enterprise fund revenue <br />source for the City. Mr. Miller further addressed current reliance <br />of the City on the Comcast-owned network, through its cable <br />franchise agreement; the long-term viability of access to that <br />network; and the City's regulatory authority with this network <br />and future long-term use being in flux. <br /> <br />Discussion included city-owned fiber optic cabling currently <br />available in the City; tax levy impacts for 2006; development of <br />a master plan to build infrastructure upgrades into planning; <br />current franchise agreement expiring in 20 II; pending <br />legislation; benefit to residents; future construction/maintenance <br />costs and implementation; and uncertainty of continued public <br />institutional use oflocal cable franchises. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing opined that the City was "playing catch up," and <br />no extensive discussions at a staff or City Council level had been <br />implemented for developing a greater system. Mayor Klausing <br />spoke in support of taking advantage of this partnering <br />opportunity with ISD No. 916 for a major arterial route. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller advised that staff had continued information <br />discussion of future technology needs; but had not developed a <br />formal presentation to the City Council to-date. <br /> <br />Further discussion included development of future markets to <br />cover the cost of the initial investment; broader policy <br />discussions; various revenue sources; impacts on Comcast; and <br />right-of-way acquisition costs. <br />