TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Cathi Johnson, Community Services Director
DATE: May 8, 2024
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF NOVATION AGREEMENT TRANSFERRING
EXISTING CONTRACT RESPONSIBILITIES OF COLUMBIA
TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION TO IMPERIAL
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION FOR THE PROVISION,
INSTALLATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ADVANCED
NETWORK SERVICES AT THE CROWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
Inviting and Relevant City Facilities
BACKGROUND
Since 2015, the Crowell Public Library has participated in the California Library Connect program. This program supports California public libraries by connecting them to the California Research and Education Network (CalREN).
CalREN is a high-capacity, roughly 8,000-mile, fiber-optic-based network which supports the vast majority of K-20 students together with educators, researchers, and others working in California’s public-serving institutions. It is through this program that the Library receives access to high-speed broadband at a discounted rate.
California Library Connect program is supported through the partnership of three agencies: the California State Library, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), and a third agency that manages billing and contracting. Califa was the third agency in charge of managing and administering the program until 2022, when Columbia Telecommunications Steven W. Huang, DDS, Mayor
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Vice Mayor
Tony Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
Steve Talt, Council Member
Corporation (CTC) took over; thus, the existing agreement (Attachment 1) is between the City and CTC.
DISCUSSION
In October 2023, staff were notified that CTC would no longer manage and administer the program effective December 31, 2023. In February 2024, staff was notified that Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) had been appointed as the new administrator for the project.
While the Library will not experience a change in service or e-rate, the change in administrator does require a novation agreement transferring the duties of the original agreement from CTC to ICOE (Attachment 2).
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
No budget appropriations are needed at this time and future annual costs will be included each year in CSD’s annual operating budget.
Procurement review is not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council approve the novation agreement with Imperial County Office of Education transferring existing contract responsibilities from Columbia Telecommunications Corporation for the provision, installation, and maintenance of advanced network services at the Crowell Public Library. If the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to approve the novation agreement with Imperial County Office of Education transferring existing contract responsibilities from Columbia Telecommunications Corporation for the provision, installation, and maintenance of advanced network services, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement between City of San Marino and Columbia Telecommunications Corporation
2. Proposed Novation Agreement between City of San Marino and Imperial County Office of Education