PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 04/19/21
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION TO RATIFY LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM SAN PABLO MAYOR PABON-ALVARADO ON STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO STATE LEGISLATORS RELATED TO BROADBAND AND INTERNET ACCESS/CONNECTIVITY - SENATE BILL 4 (GONZALEZ); ASSEMBLY BILL 14 (AGUIAR-CURRY); AND ASSEMBLY BILL 34 (MURATSUCHI)
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
Policy #410: Support Strategic Policy Objectives outlined in San Pablo Environment for Everything Digital (S.P.E.E.D.) Policy Framework (2020-2030); and Policy #410.1: Facilitate future SMART City 5G S.P.E.E.D. Network Projects, Policies and Services are adopted policy item contained in the adopted FY 2021-23 City Council Priority Workplan, effective March 15, 2021.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project as defined by CEQA as a budget or financing mechanism pursuant to 14 Cal. Code of Regulations section 15378(b).
BACKGROUND
On October 19, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution #2020-132 which formally adopted a new, integrated policy for future SMART City 5G strategic policy objectives into the current FY 2019-21 Council Priority Workplan, with the overall purpose to facilitate future external and internal Smart Cities 5G collaboration, networks, programs, and projects with appropriate third parties (i.e. private sector, public sector, other organizations).
The intention of the new SMART City 5G strategic policy framework was to enhance economic development, foster new private investment, and to close the “digital divide” for many low-income residents and small businesses in San Pablo who do not have access to high-speed internet, or Wi-Fi connectivity, and support public and private technology projects that promote digital inclusion, literacy and to close the “digital divide” for San Pablo residents.
FY 2021-23 Council Priority Workplan Adoption
Following City Council formal policy adoption, the FY 2021-23 Council Priority Workplan (Workplan), further amended on March 15, 2021 via Resolution 2021-026, contains the following adopted policies formally included in the Workplan, as follows:
Major Policy Goal: Economic Development & Diversification Priorities
• Policy #410: Support Strategic Policy Objectives outlined in San Pablo Environment for Everything Digital (S.P.E.E.D.) Policy Framework (2020-2030)
• Policy #410.1: Facilitate future SMART City 5G S.P.E.E.D. Network Projects, Policies and Services
Furthermore, contained in the City’s Strategic Goals under the City’s Adopted S.P.E.E.D. Policy Framework (Policy #410), a total of ten (10) strategic policy goals under the City’s adopted S.P.E.E.D. policy framework for potential policy and program implementation over the next ten (10) year period from 2020 - 2030 are identified. These strategic policy goals formally enable the City Manager to direct resources to provide for future project or program feasibility going forward.
State Proposed Legislation for 2021
Beginning in January 2021, a total of 15 newly proposed state bills related to supporting broadband and internet access connectivity were introduced by a number of members of the California State Legislature. The City of San Pablo requested that the City’s lobbyist, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), evaluate each proposed state bill and make recommendations on which state legislation to support to advance the City’s policy interests as adopted in the Workplan noted above. With further coordination and collaboration with TPA, all proposed state legislative bills were evaluated and found to support the strategic goals identified in the City Council’s adopted SMART 5G/S.P.E.E.D. policy, which requires formal support from the City based on legislative progress made to date.
Wireless Projects/S.P.E.E.D. Ad-hoc Subcommittee Review
On March 3, 2021, the Wireless Projects/S.P.E.E.D. Ad-Hoc Subcommittee (Cruz; Pineda) met with the City Manager, TPA representatives and City staff to review all potential state bills and authorized continued monitoring and tracking to support City supported activities, projects and services related to enhancing digital inclusion and promoting wireless or internet connectivity in the San Pablo community, such as continued development of the City’s public fiber project. To date, in consultation with TPA advisors, the following state bills have gained significant support and traction to garner formal support by the City:.
• Senate Bill 4: (State Senator Lena Gonzalez, 33rd District)
Communications: California Advanced Services Fund
This bill called the “The Broadband for All Act” would secure continuous funding and implement a number of critically needed reforms to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission.
• Assembly Bill 14: (State Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, 4th District)
Communications: broadband services: California Advances Services Fund
This bill would prioritize the deployment of broadband infrastructure in California’s most vulnerable and underserved rural and urban communities by extending the ongoing collection of funds deposited into CASF to provide communities with grants necessary to bridge the digital divide.
• Assembly Bill 34: (State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, 66th District)
Broadband Act for All Act of 2022
This bill would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 to support a program that would be administered by the Department of Technology for purposes of providing financial assistance for projects to deploy broadband infrastructure and broadband internet access services.
Therefore, on April 8, 2021, in consultation with TPA advisors, three (3) separate letters of support were developed and executed by San Pablo Mayor Pabon-Alvarado and transmitted via TPA to the authors of the State legislation noted above (See Attachments).
City Manager Recommendation
This evening, the City Manager requests ratification approval by majority vote (via minute order) of all three (3) letters of support executed and transmitted on April 8, 2021 by Mayor Pabon-Alvarado to the State Legislators who are sponsoring such proposed bills as noted above.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
AttachmentS:
1) Letter of Support dated April 8, 2021 re: SB 4 transmitted by San Pablo Mayor to State Senator Lena Gonzalez (33rd District)
2) Letter of Support dated April 8, 2021 re: AB 14 transmitted by San Pablo Mayor to State Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (4th District)
3) Letter of Support dated April 8, 2021 re: AB 34 transmitted by San Pablo Mayor to State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (66th District)