DATE: April 5, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services Prepared by: Roger Hiles, Library Services Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7421 AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION IN THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM SERVICES BUDGET
FOR A PUBLIC BROADBAND AND NETWORK EQUIPMENT UPGRADE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $57,789, OFFSET BY FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for online connectivity. The Arcadia Public Library’s public broadband infrastructure, purchased seven years ago, and used by over 100,000 patrons annually, must be upgraded to meet current needs and technical requirements. With the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) placing a priority on public broadband access, an opportunity exists to fund needed upgrades without burdening the City’s General Fund. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7421 authorizing a supplemental appropriation in the Department of Library and Museum Services Budget in an amount not to exceed $57,789, which will be offset by funds received from ARPA distributions.
BACKGROUND
Since 2015, the Arcadia Public Library has provided internet service to the Library’s public computers and public Wi-Fi system through a connection to the California Research and Education Network (“CalREN”), which is maintained by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (“CENIC”). This network currently provides high quality, high- speed access to the University of California, the California State University system, California Community Colleges, the California K-12 system, some private universities, and many public libraries.
The California State Library established the California Public Library Broadband Consortium to allow the State to apply for grant funds from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Teleconnect Fund grant program and U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries grant program on behalf of member
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April 5, 2022
libraries. These grant funds are then applied towards the cost of the CENIC broadband service and result in a substantially discounted cost for member libraries.
In the years since 2015, the Library’s public computers and Wi-Fi system served more than 100,000 patrons annually prior to the pandemic, and 5,000 patrons using the Wi-Fi from outside the building during the Library’s closure to the public in 2020-21. Since the Library reopened to the public, usage has grown back steadily.
The network hardware supporting the service has become obsolete and will not support CalREN’s plans for enhanced future capacity.
DISCUSSION
This proposal for improved public broadband service includes an upgrade of the Library’s network from the current 1 gigabits per second (“Gbps”) capacity to 10 Gbps, replacement of the circuit hardware needed to support the higher speed, and replacement of the seven- year-old network hardware (router, switches, and firewall) used for the Library’s public network, and three years of maintenance and support for the new equipment.
Of note, the upgraded 10 Gbps service is actually less expensive going forward because it is the CalREN’s new standard for broadband connectivity.
Proposed upgrades:
Network equipment replacement: $12,328
Two 48-port switches: $5,300
Two 48-port management software licenses (3-year term): $2,255 Two switch maintenance licenses (3-year term): $3,000 Secondary power supply: $1,773
Broadband Circuit Upgrade: $37,400
One Router
Two optical transceivers
One backup modem
Circuit deployment fee
Maintenance for 3-years
Sales tax (est.): $2,811
Contingency (10%): $5,250
Total: $57,789
As a member of the California State Library’s Public Library Broadband consortium, the Arcadia Public Library receives regular reimbursements for ongoing broadband service from the California State Library from a mix of State and Federal funds. The Library will continue
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April 5, 2022
to be eligible for these reimbursements with the upgraded circuit, and grant funding should also be available to defray some of the hardware costs of this upgrade. Details should be available later this year, as grant funding levels are determined. In the meantime, the full amount of the upgrade is being requested using ARPA funds. Should other grants be available, they will be used first to reserve ARPA funding for other pursuits. Note that grant funding in the past has been managed by Califa Group but is being moved by the State to CTC Technology & Energy, though the terms of the grant will be unchanged.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of the upgrade is not budgeted for this Fiscal Year. Therefore, a supplemental appropriation in an amount not to exceed $57,789 is being requested to adequately fund the Public Broadband and Network Equipment upgrade, which will be offset in its entirety by funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. ARPA specifically provided local municipalities with funds to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with an emphasis on providing broadband access to underserved communities.
As a result, the project will have no financial burden on the City’s General Fund, which would normally support such acquisitions.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7421 authorizing a supplemental appropriation in the Department of Library and Museum Services Budget for the Public Broadband and Network Equipment Upgrade in an amount not to exceed $57,789, offset by funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Attachment “A” - Resolution No. 7421
Attachment “B” - Circuit upgrade price quote from CENIC
Attachment "A"
Attachment “B”