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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUtilities 2009-07-28 Item 3D - Resolution - Federal Grant Application for Valley Cities Broadband Regional ProjectCity of Tukwila INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM "rDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Utilities Committee FROM: Mary Miotke, IT Director /7/ Jim Morrow, Public Work Director DATE: July 22, 2009 SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Federal Grant Application to Fund Valley Cities Broadband Regional Project ISSUE BACKGROUND DISCUSSION Jim Haggerton, Mayo; A resolution is required to authorize the City of Tukwila's participation with the Valley Cities Association (VCA) in a federal grant application opportunity through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for funding of a regional broadband project. In 2006, the VCA was awarded a COPS Technology grant to fund a feasibility study centering on public safety. This strategic study, completed in October 2007, resulted in a recommendation to focus on regional broadband development efforts for public safety, law enforcement and local governmental services by developing a regional fiber optic ring to interconnect all participating cities and agencies, which will result in enhancing interagency communication, emergency response, and municipal services. This ARRA grant request will be to fund the fiber backbone build -out through the VCA member cities and Federal Way to support public safety. Two things led to this effort: the 2007 strategic study recommendation to concentrate on public safety and fiber, and the Valley Communications 911 system upgrade that will benefit from the fiber backbone connecting the Valley Communication Center cities. Council endorsement of this collaborative effort is required to authorize the Mayor of Auburn to sign, on behalf of the VCA and the City of Federal Way, the grant funding application for submittal to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. This grant application will be for approximately $3.5 million and requires a 20% matching fund from the group; however, the match can be in -kind and that will be how this grant is focused. Tukwila's in -kind contribution will consist of City assets, including existing conduit and dark fiber already in the ground, and any new conduit or fiber to complete the fiber infrastructure from City Hall to the City's boundaries. Tukwila's fiber infrastructure will then be connected to our neighboring cities' infrastructure. Each individual participating city or agency will absorb any ongoing costs associated with repair and maintenance of fiber infrastructure within their boundaries. Because the federal agency released the grant paperwork in mid -July with a mid August deadline for submittal, the timeline is very short. The draft resolution is attached and contains as much information as was available by the agenda deadline. Additional supporting information may be delivered under separate cover as it becomes available. INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 RECOMMENDATION Staff is seeking: 1) Authorization from the Council for the City to apply for the respective grant, and 2) Passage of the resolution allowing the City of Auburn to act as our agent in the grant application process. Due to time constraints, the Utilities Committee is being asked to forward this issue directly to the August 3, 2009 Regular Meeting to meet the grant application deadline. ATTACHMENTS Resolution in draft form Whitepaper on Valley Cities Fiber Optic Connection Project Valley Cities Broadband Map Copy of Valley Cities Association Resolution No. 1593 dated 11/07/05 W:12009 InfoMemos\Valley Cities Info Memo 072109.doc v,C A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ENDORSING THE EFFORTS OF THE VALLEY CITIES ASSOCIATION AND AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR A FEDERAL GRANT TO FUND BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. WHEREAS, on November 7, 2005, the Tukwila City Council passed Resolution No. 1593 supporting the formation of the Valley Cities Association (VCA), an affiliation of municipalities joined for the purpose of collaborating on issues of common interest; and WHEREAS, in 2006 the VCA received funding and in 2007 completed a study that resulted in a recommendation to focus on regional broadband development efforts in the areas of public safety, law enforcement and local governmental services, by developing a regional fiber optic ring to interconnect all participating cities and agencies, resulting in enhanced interagency communication, emergency response and municipal services; and WHEREAS, the common goals of the VCA member cities and the City of Federal Way for enhancing broadband infrastructure and services are to: 1) improve access to and use of broadband for public safety agencies; 2) efficiently deliver local government services; 3) stimulate broadband, local economic development and job creation; 4) enhance service to public healthcare and educational institutions; 5) effectively manage public property and right -of -way; and 6) ensure equity, awareness and improved access to the public; and WHEREAS, as part of the technology improvements at Valley Communications Center, 911 communication services to the public safety community will be changed from radio -based to IP- based, thus requiring wired (fiber) communication from 911 communication centers to the participating public entities and wireless communications from the agencies to the mobile computers in vehicles; and WHEREAS, to outline an action plan addressing the member cities' goals and the anticipated technology changes, the VCA issued a whitepaper, hereby referenced as Attachment A, for this prospective grant that sets forth the scope of this comprehensive fiber optic infrastructure capital improvement initiative and budget estimates for constructing these infrastructure improvements to enhance public safety and municipal communication; and WHEREAS, new broadband technology grant funding is currently available through the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to fund the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP); and WHEREAS, the members of the Valley Cities Association and the City of Federal Way desire to pursue Federal grant funding through the ARRA for the first phase of the broadband infrastructure project as set forth in the whitepaper, in the amount of million; and W: \Word Processing Resolutions \Valley Cities Grant Application.doc ksn 07/22/2009 Page 1 of 2 WHEREAS, it is the desire of Tukwila along with tite other VCA member cities and the City of Federal Way for the City of Auburn to take the lead in applying for this Federal grant funding on their behalf; and WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila intends to fund its proportionate share of the local match by utilizing available City resources; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Council endorses the collaborative effort of the VCA to improve interagency communication, emergency response and municipal services through enhanced regional broadband infrastructure. Section 2. The Council authorizes the Mayor of the City of Auburn to sign the grant application on behalf of Tukwila and the other members of the VCA and the City of Federal Way for submission to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, for grant funding offered through the BTOP provided by ARRA. Section 3. The Mayor of the City of Tukwila is hereby authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this Resolution. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2009. ATTEST/ AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, CMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney Attachment A Whitepaper on Valley W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \Valley Cities Grant Application.doc ksn 07/22/2009 Joan Hernandez, Council President Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: Cities Fiber Optic Connection Project Page 2 of 2 Whitepaper: The Valley Cities' Fiber Optic Connection Project Improving Connectivity and Inter Operability for a Regional Public Safety Emergency Communications System Project Name: Valley Cities' Regional Broadband Network Project Request: The partners in the Valley Cities' Regional Broadband Network are requesting million (FIGURE IS AT LEAST $3.5 MILLION WILL BE FINALIZED WITH PUYALLUP SUMNER -FIRE increment costs) for a Phase I capital infrastructure build -out and enhancement of the public safety network, and excess dark fiber to enable Phase II inter connections and inter operability upgrades for other public agencies, schools, hospitals, libraries, and senior centers to Zink to this public- access network. The request is being submitted as part of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) enacted via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Project Background: The Valley Cities Regional Broadband Network is designed to dramatically improve the connectivity and inter operability of a public safety and emergency communications system serving a population of over 400,000 people. This project will better inter connect three regional PSAPs (Public Safety Access Points) the Valley Communications Center, Norcom Bellevue, and LESA Pierce County. It involves 10 individual cities spanning two counties. A group known as "Puget Sound Access" is a partner in the project, as is a Fiber Consortium of nine existing partners including the University of Washington; cities of Bellevue, Renton and Kirkland; Evergreen Hospital; Renton, Bellevue, and Lake Washington school districts; Bellevue Community College; and the City of Seattle. The Valley Cities project is a classic example of improving and expanding "access to, and use of, broadband service by public safety agencies," as envisioned in the broadband funding provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). It also will enable upgrades of, and enhanced connections with, broadband technology that simply would not be possible but for the grant funding under the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP). Making the system more connected and inter operable will also help the Valley Cities better serve some agencies and better connect agencies that are currently under served or unserved. The project is being submitted under "Middle Mile" provisions outlined in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for BTOP funding. This type of public safety project is envisioned as an asset by the State of Washington Governor's Broadband Advisory Council, which, in its final report, notes, "applications that effective leverage...public safety should be actively encouraged and supported (Pg. 4) and, "In particular, the state should support those broadband infrastructure proposals that 'improve access to, and use of, broadband service by public safety agencies. (Pg. 12). The Valley Cities segment of the Fiber Consortium project is a natural extension of years of planning, assessments, studies and analyses of the public safety -based broadband needs in the South King County /Northeast Pierce County region. Agencies involved in the project have developed a strategic plan for their fiber network build -out, conducted a needs assessment of broadband technology, inked a Fiber Optic Project Agreement among cities, and have worked together on a staff -to -staff basis for the past three+ years. Phase I of the two -phase Valley Cities' Regional Broadband Network involves the construction of a fully built -out fiber optic backbone dedicated connections to Valley Communications Center, anticipated connections to an emerging regional jail facility (known as "SCORE" —South County Correctional Entity), and enhanced inter operability between and among the participating cities of Auburn, Algona, Federal Way, Fife, Kent, Pacific, Puyallup, Renton, Sumner, and Tukwila. Phase I includes a wireless technology upgrade from radio -based communications to IP -based communications that will require fiber that links the Valley Communications 911 Center to the cities, police agencies, fire districts, and others participating in the build -out of the system. Along with the Phase I build -out of the public safety network, Phase II of the broadband network project anticipates opportunities for regional connections to other public agencies, hospitals, school districts, and the University of Washington. Valley Medical Center in Renton, the Auburn Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Tukwila Diagnostics Imaging in Tukwila, and the University of Washington medical clinics could be inter -woven into the broadband system, as would the University of Washington's main campus and Tacoma branch campus, and the Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Puyallup, Renton, and Tukwila school districts (K -12). Project Benefits: Dramatically enhanced broadband technology to serve the region A higher speed network to save seconds if not minutes for emergency response at crime scenes, on medical calls, for mutual aid, and for responses to natural disasters. The improvements to the system may help save lives Better connectivity and inter operability of an existing public safety and emergency communications system Future opportunities to connect the system to schools, hospitals, libraries, community and senior centers Direct fiber connections to and between agencies, to mobile data terminals operated by police and fire agencies, and to a regional 911 center Inter operability between an emerging jail facility and local law enforcement agencies that will need to communicate with the jail 24/7 Enhanced Information Sharing among numerous local agencies Upgrades in emergency communications, intelligence gathering between agencies, crime prevention, and crime analysis Near -term, high -wage construction jobs to construct nearly a dozen new and inter connected fiber segments of the regional network. Project Partners and Anticipated Project Partners City of Auburn /Auburn Police Department City of Algona /Algona Police Department City of Federal Way /Federal Way Police Department City of Fife /Fife Police Department City of Kent /Kent Police Department /Kent Fire Department City of Pacific /Pacific Police Department City of Puyallup /Puyallup Police Department City of Renton /Renton Police Department /Renton Fire Department City of Sumner /Sumner Police Department City of Tukwila /Tukwila Police Department /Tukwila Fire Department Valley Communications Center "LESA" South Correctional Entity (SCORE) Regional Jail Kent Municipal Jail Valley Regional Fire Authority South King Fire Rescue Central Pierce Fire Rescue East Pierce Fire Rescue Fire District 20 Fire District 40 Fire District 37 Valley Medical Center Auburn Regional Medical Center St. Francis Hospital Tukwila Diagnostic Imaging University of Washington /UW Medical Center /UW Clinics Funding Partners Valley Cities Federal Way Breakout of Funding million for expansion, inter connections, and upgrades of more than a dozen fiber network segments (complete costs per segment, materials, etc., has been calculated) About the Valley Cities The participating Valley Cities are located in the Green River Valley and within the South County portion of King County, Washington, and the Northeast corner of Pierce County, Washington. These two counties are the most populous counties in the State of Washington and host a combined population of about 2.75 million people. The Valley Cities partnering in the regional broadband network project have a combined population of over 400,000 people. The Valley Cities serve as a major employment and industrial center for the Central Puget Sound Region and the State of Washington, employing close to 100,000 people, hosting the second largest warehouse distribution complex on the West Coast. The warehouse distribution facilities in the Valley span 40 million square feet, generate $2.8 billion in combined payrolls, represent a Gross Domestic Product of over $20 billion, and accommodate fully 1/3 of all the truck traffic emanating to and from two of the nation's busiest container -cargo ports, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma. The Valley's role as an economic engine for the region and the State of Washington, the growing economic base in Federal Way, and the large and growing populations in cities such as Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Auburn, mean that the Valley is home to well over a half million residents and employees on a daily basis. The Valley cities also are home to a large network of human and social service providers who assist the most vulnerable residents in our society and those most in need. All of this puts additional pressures and stress points on the public safety and emergency communications network and underscores the vital importance of the Valley Cities Regional Broadband Network project. FEDERAL WAY 4 22.37 SQMI LAKEWOOD. .7 1 1 5.74 SQ 6 3 r 7.610 i..7 City Halls Puget Sound Access I Valley Communications Center Police Stations Valley Cities Broadband 1 0 PACIFIC MILTON 3.47 SQ PUYALLUP 38 6 I 3 0494 ml 9.035) SUMNER 7 67 1 5.9ii MERCER SI.!AND ..-,BONNEY LAKE --I Hospitals Ns! Existing Route Popuiatio6 of Par ticipatir6,-; Caws: 410.700 Area of Par tu Cities. 142.62 sci Fire Stations Proposed Route GOVINGfON7 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, SUPPORTING THE FORMATION OF A VALLEY CITIES ASSOCIATION. WHEREAS, for a number of years, there has been greater interaction between the Cities of Algona, Auburn, Fife, Kent, Pacific, Puyallup, Renton, Sumner and Tukwila relative to a variety of issues with which they have common or very similar positions, and WHEREAS, in order to be more effective in dealing with the issues that these cities have in common, it would be advantageous for them to coordinate their efforts, combine resources, and unite in collective responses, and WHEREAS, in addition to the joint efforts of the cities to address cominon problems, the gathering of these jurisdictions into a common urut would present a more powerful presence in terms of achieving desired outcomes for their benefit regionally and across the State, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Mayor is hereby authorized to work with the mayors, managers, administrators, and other executive staff of the Cities of Algona, Auburn, Fife, Kent, Pacific, Puyallup, Renton and Sumner to form a "Valley Cities Association," to identify rules of procedure, meeting schedules, and other matters consistent with their desire to work together for their common good. Section 2. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the passage of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed. RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE C TY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this 7 day of ZQ tte_4it/,Je- A "1"1 EST/ AUTHENTICATED: J s e E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney loos City of Tukwila Washington Resolution No. 45 C \Documents and Settings\AIl Users Desktop\Kelly\MSDATA \Resolutions \Valley Cities Association doc RL ksn 11/4/2005 ,tom Pamela Linder, Council President Filed with the City Clerk. -x- 2 Passed by the City Council: 7 -o.S° Resolution Number /<-6 Page 1 of 1