CITY OF COMMERCE AGENDA REPORT
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager
SUBJECT: Expansion of Public Wi-Fi Access (Phase I)
MEETING DATE: March 10, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council consider:
Approving an agreement with Southern Computer Warehouse for a not-to-exceed amount of $27,000 for wireless access points, licensing, and mounting hardware.
Approving an agreement with Integrated Security for a not-to-exceed amount of $14,000 for cabling and installation at park facilities Authorizing the City Manager to execute all contracts, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Adopting a Resolution appropriating $41,000 from the Project Management Fund to support the one-time cost for the Phase I of the project.
BACKGROUND:
Access to reliable digital connectivity has become increasingly essential for residents to access services, complete educational and employment-related tasks, and support day-to-day activities. As technology continues to evolve, communities across the country are working to expand public access to wireless internet in order to address the digital divide that can disproportionately affect seniors, low-income households, and other underserved populations. By providing reliable internet connectivity in certain community spaces, the City can improve access to information and services and encourage greater community engagement.
Currently, City of Commerce facilities, including City Hall and its surrounding buildings, provide Wi-Fi access primarily for staff use. However, with the exception of the City’s four libraries, public Wi-Fi access at most City facilities and parks is limited or unavailable. In response to the growing demand for accessible connectivity, staff is proposing to develop the necessary infrastructure to support public Wi-Fi access at the following locations:
• Bandini Park
• Bristow Park
• Rosewood Park (City Hall & Brenda Villa Aquatic Center) • Senior Center
• Teen Center
• Veterans Park (mobile facility adjacent to the Veterans Library) ANALYSIS:
Staff conducted walkthroughs at each of the identified facilities to evaluate the infrastructure needed to support the expansion of public Wi-Fi access. Based on this assessment, staff proposes implementing the project into two phases: Phase I (interior coverage) and Phase II (exterior coverage).
Phase I focuses on providing interior Wi-Fi coverage within the facilities to support patrons participating in indoor programs and activities, including meetings, classes, and recreation programs held within community rooms and activity spaces. Implementation of Phase I will require the procurement and installation of wireless access points, mounting hardware, network licensing, cabling, and associated installation services.
Staff is currently seeking City Council approval to proceed with Phase I only.
Phase II would expand Wi-Fi coverage to exterior areas of the facilities, including park grounds, fields and courts, and outdoor areas. Implementation of Phase II may require additional infrastructure improvements such as trenching and/or conduit installation and would require coordination with the Public Works Department.
Because the scope and infrastructure requirements for exterior coverage vary by location, staff will return to the City Council at a later date with a separate request for Phase II funding and authorization once the implementation plan and cost estimates are finalized.
Network Security and System Management
The proposed public Wi-Fi network will be designed with appropriate security and monitoring to ensure the protection of the City’s internal systems while providing reliable connectivity for the public. The network will be fully segmented and isolated from the City’s internal staff network through the use of a separate network connection and firewall controls, ensuring that users connecting to the public network will not have access to any internal City systems or data. Similar to the public Wi-Fi services currently provided at the City’s libraries, the network will include safeguards such as network management and monitoring tools intended to discourage and mitigate illegal activity. While these safeguards help monitor traffic patterns and deter misuse where feasible, users connected to a public network are encouraged to exercise caution when conducting sensitive online transactions.
The network will also use the same content filtering service currently used for the City’s library Wi-Fi networks to restrict access to known malicious or explicit content. Additional security protections, including network monitoring and intrusion detection capabilities, will be supported through the City’s existing firewall infrastructure. Firmware updates and ongoing network monitoring will be managed by the City’s current provider, Variedy, which already supports other City network systems. Internet service will be provided by Spectrum, which will be responsible for troubleshooting and restoring service in the event of network connectivity disruptions.
The licensing costs associated with the wireless access points are one-time fees, and the current quote includes three years of technical support for the access points. Renewal of the technical support would be an optional ongoing cost; however, allowing the support to expire would not result in a loss of functionality. Ongoing costs associated with internet service will be embedded in the City’s budget in future fiscal years once the system is fully implemented.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve staff recommendation
2. Disapprove staff recommendation
3. Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the City Council will authorize a one-time appropriation of $41,000 from the City’s Project Management Fund, an assigned fund balance designated for one-time expenditures, to support phase I (interior) implementation of the public Wi-Fi expansion project.
The funds will be used to procure and install wireless access points, network licensing, mounting hardware, cabling, and associated installation services necessary to provide interior connectivity at the identified facilities.
This appropriation only funds Phase I of the project. Staff will return to the City Council at a later date with a separate request for authorization and funding to implement Phase II (exterior) once infrastructure requirements are finalized.
Attachments:
1. Agreement with Southern Computer Warehouse
2. Agreement with Integrated Security
3. Resolution
Recommended by: Alvaro Castellon, Director of Finance Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
Respectfully submitted: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager