Loading...
IAC Minutes 04 21 2022 CITY OF SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES Thursday, April 21, 2022 6:30 p.m. Location: Online Streaming (Boxcast and Zoom) and Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street North (Committee Members attend in person.) Members in Attendance: John Carney, K.C. Douglas, Vice Chair Marshall Smith, and Chair Robert Wilmers. Absent: Steve Collier. Others in Attendance: City Administrator Ken Cammilleri, Mayor Christine Maefsky (arrived at 6:47pm), City Council Liaison Steve Kronmiller, and City Council Liaison Patti Ray. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by Wilmers at 6:32pm. Approval of Agenda – Motion to by Wilmers, seconded by Smith to approve the agenda with amendments to add discussion of Midco Day (7.b) and updates to the website on internet buildout progress to be included with the discussion of housing data (5.a). Motion carried. Approval of Minutes from the March 17, 2021 meeting – This item was tabled until the next meeting. Public Comments – No public comments were presented. Discussion and Consideration of Housing Data Used in Planning – Kronmiller explained that historically we have been using addresses from Midco and Frontier, Census Data, and County general housing data. He suggested that we start using the County’s cumulative data on housing units. It was noted that there was no way exactly the data of what is served but we have been able to get confirmation that the number of addresses served as ISPs consider this information to be proprietary. However, the City has been able to obtain fairly reliable data from service availability data from the ISPs and the data from state, federal, and local buildouts. It Motion by Wilmers, seconded by Carney, to use quarterly housing data submitted to the state by Washington County to track buildout progress. Motion carried. Discussion on Website Update – Wilmers noted that we need to update the website to put it in digestible form. It was agreed that a draft update will be based on the information previously developed by staff and Wilmers for a recent newspaper publication. It was agreed that this would be formatted for publication on the website. Kronmiller would provide updated data with adjustments. Scandia Internet Action Committee meeting minutes April 4, 2022 Page 2 of 2 Update in Citizen Expansion Inquires – Wilmers reported that there have been a few citizens who have reached out to him in some of the more rural areas of the community inquiring about the progress of internet buildout to their areas. He noted there are still intentions to bring services to their areas, but given their remote locations, their connections would be more financially challenging to reach these areas. As a result, a time frame was not able to be provided. Progress on 2022 Buildout - Wilmers reported that the City Council previously accepted Midco’s buildout proposal and passed approval of their support for a Washington County Broadband Expansion Grant. Cammilleri reported that Midco is starting a contract template based off of last year’s direct buildout agreement. He noted that it may take some time. Kronmiller expressed his disappointment that Midco only agreed to a $100,000 grant, and he noted that he would have rather seen a $500,000 request. Wilmers reported that Midco had indicated that the proposed Oakhill Buildout area for this area was “self-contained” and met all of the County’s requirements. Other build outs planned for this year had complications of overlapping funding sources were considerable onerous. Midco noted that they would be more willing to consider longer-term arrangements. The committee discussed the nature of commitments that the City can agree to. It was agreed that we want to consider putting together a letter of intent earlier in the year to help Midco plan earlier and make earlier orders for materials such as fiber including 2023-2024 fiscal construction years. It was further agreed that a budget discussion should take place as soon as possible. Midco Days Update – Ray reported that Midco Day is scheduled for August 31, 2022, which will include a cookout picnic and storyboard contest in Lilleskogen Park and an Internet Action Committee information stand will be at the Scandia Farmers Market at the Community Center earlier that day. The gift bag for this year will be red. (The Sister City Committee, which originally had a promotion stand at the August 31st Farmers Market was moved to the August 24th so that the IAC’s stand would be available for the Midco Day event. Scandia Elementary Students will be providing stories for the story board competition. Midco will be providing all of the contest prizes and photography for the event. IAC committee members requested that ice cream be at information stand for this year’s event, and staff noted that this would be arranged. Items for Future Discussion – The Committee requested to review of the 2023-2024 Capital Improvement Plan, discussion on Website Updates, and a Midco Day Update for their next meeting agenda. Next Meeting – It was noted that the next committee meeting will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Adjournment – Motion by Smith, seconded by Douglas, to adjourn at 7:43pm. Motion carried.