2 2
6 4
CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: August 21, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Rochelle Clayton, Acting City Manager;
Rolland Kornblau, Director of Information Technology
Department: Information Technology
Subject: Accept Grant Funds from the California Emerging Technology Fund to Advance Digital Equity (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2024-185:
1. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept grant award funds in the amount of $1,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund to; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to conduct all negotiations, signing, and submittals of necessary documents to receive the grant award funds; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY 2024/25 budget in both revenues and expenses and appropriate $1,000 in grant award funds to be used towards advancing digital equity.
Executive Summary
On July 12, 2024, the City of San Bernardino received notice that it was awarded $1,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), a technology based non-profit agency. These funds shall be used for any purpose to advance digital equity.
Background
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) was established as a non-profit corporation pursuant to orders from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in approving the mergers of SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI in 2005. Since its inception, the CETF provides leadership statewide to close the “Digital Divide” by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved, underserved communities and populations, through initiatives and funding opportunities. 2 2
6 4
Discussion
In April 2024, the City was invited to participate in one of the Online Digital Equity Workshops offered on April 11th or May 17th hosted by the CETF. Local governments attending at least one webinar were eligible to submit to the CETF a check list on Best Practices to Achieve Digital Equity. This check list is a self-assessment to assess and benchmark efforts by Counties and Cities to close the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and achieve digital equity. For completing the checklist, cities would receive $1,000 from the CETF for any purpose to advance digital equity.
Staff attended the webinar and submitted the checklist prior to the May 31, 2024 deadline. The City of San Bernardino received the grant award notification with the $1,000 check enclosed on July 12, 2024. Staff will assess the status of current technology projects that may leverage the use of CETF funds in a manner consistent with grant requirements to advance digital equity.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
The request to accept grant funds from the California Emerging Technology Fund aligns with Strategic Target No. 2. Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community and Strategic Target No. 4 Economic Growth & Development, through efforts to advance digital equity to benefit underserved residents and businesses.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The FY 2024/25 operating budget will be amended by $1,000 in both revenues and expenditures.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2024-185:
1. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to accept grant award funds in the amount of $1,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund to; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to conduct all negotiations, signing, and submittals of necessary documents to receive the grant award funds; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY 2024/25 budget in both revenues and expenses and appropriate $1,000 in grant award funds to be used towards advancing digital equity.
Attachments
1. Attachment 1- Resolution 2024-185
2. Attachment 2-Award Letter from the California Emerging Technology Fund Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
No prior action.