Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY
ENGINEER
DATE: AUGUST 8, 2023
SUBJECT: STATUS UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CITYWIDE FIBER OPTIC
NETWORK SYSTEM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the June 8, 2023 City Council budget workshop session, the City Council requested that staff return at a future meeting to provide an update on the progress of implementing a citywide fiber optic network system . This report provides some background on the original development agreement that was approved by City Council on January 25, 2022 with SiFi Networks Downey, LLC, as well as planning and designing that has been underway since that time, including a status update outlining the timeline to complete the construction of the fiber optic network throughout the City.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Receive and file a status update on the implementation of a Citywide fiber optic network system with Sifi Networks Downey, LLC.
BACKGROUND
One of the City Council’s strategic goals over the last couple of years has been to establish access to inexpensive and reliable high -speed internet service throughout the City. Currently, the majority of occupied parcels do not have access to a fiber optic system. In 2021, City staff met with major telecommunication companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to get a better sense of any plans to expand their fiber optic infrastructure. While these companies have plans to expand their fiber optic systems over time, the process has been slow and disjointed. As a result, over a six-month period, staff met with and negotiated a development agreement with Sifi Networks Downey, LLC (SiFi) that was approved by City Council on January 25, 2022 for the implementation of a complete fiber optic network that would be accessible to all residential and commercial properties throughout the City (Attachment A).
APPROVE BY
CITY MANAGER
STATUS UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CITYWIDE FIBER OPTIC NETWORK SYSTEM AUGUST 8, 2023
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2 The agreement outlines a plan to install approximately 450 miles of new fiber optic cable at a cost of 100 million dollars to be fully funded by Sifi . The estimated time to complete installation of the network was four years. Once the network installation is completed, SiFi will make the cable available to various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through lease agreements. Residents and businesses will continue to have the option to receive service with their existing ISPs or with new companies that are leasing cable from SiFi.
Furthermore, the agreement, which has a term of 30 years with a renewing optio n for an additional 30 years, does not preclude any other service providers from also installing their own fiber optic networks or expanding their existing infrastructure . This framework will provide greater access to high speed internet within the community as well as greater competition improving pricing and customer service.
ANALYSIS
Staff has been meeting with SiFi to provide guidance on its design of the 450-mile fiber optic network, including 42 equipment cabinets to be installed throughout the City in City right-of-way, as well as one larger power terminal to be installed at the edge of one of the City’s parks. The location of the cabinets, the size of a typical traffic signal cabinet, are typically installed in parkways. The larger power terminal is constructed above ground over an approximate 1,000 square-foot pad. This essentially acts as the main artery for the entire system. The design of the terminal is intended to be out of the way and screened so that it is both protected and unnoticed in the park environment.
Microtrenching
The process for installing the 450-mile network is done through a process called microtrenching. In this process, a one- to two-inch wide trench is cut along the transition between the road pavement and the curb (see Figure 1 below):
Figure 1 – Typical Microtrenching Detail
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3 The equipment used to cut a one-foot deep trench involves a three-point train comprised of a spotter on the ground, the ditch cutting machine, and a vacuum truck that suck up all the debris from trench-cutting. The spotter is there to guide the entire process (see Figure 2 below):
Figure 2 – Microtrenching Train
A crew comes along after the trench is cut to install the fiber optic microducts that range between 6 and 16 millimeters in diameter (see Figure 3 below):
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4 Figure 3 – Microduct Installation
Following the microduct installation, laterals are installed from the main line to each property so that service lines are in place for future service (see Figures 4 and 5 below).
There is no cost to the property owners for these installations.
Figure 4 – Crews making the lateral cuts for future service at each property
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5 Figure 5 – Details of main line to lateral and the finished box in parkway The process is completed by backfilling the trench and finishing to grade (see Figure 6 below):
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6 Figure 6 – Backfilling of the micro trench
Overall, the microtrenching process takes 2-3 days to complete before the next section is started. In general, the crews can trench approximately one -half mile per day.
Staff met in late July with the project managers at SiFi to get an update on their design and construction timeline. Based on their estimates, they are approximately six months away from completing all of their trench, cabinet, and terminal designs. At that point, they will be ready to submit their plans for review and permitting with the Public Works Department. As part of the planning and review process, Staff will be coordinating with SiFi to ensure that scheduled work will not interfere, to the maximum extent possible, with
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7 any of the City’s planned or recently completed infrastructure projects. Upon completion of review and issuance of permits, Sifi anticipates that it will take between two and three years to complete the installation of the network through the City. Staff will return to City Council in January 2024 to provide an update on this timeline, since it is anticipated that designs will be close to completion and permitting will be underway at that point.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City for this project. The agreement outlines that SiFi will be responsible for all review, permitting, and inspection fees throughout the project.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance approving development agreement with SiFi Networks