HomeMy WebLinkAbout8 Regular Update on Board Broadband
AGENDA ITEM # 8
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MEETING DATE: December 1, 2021
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Steven Poncelet, Public Information and Strategic Affairs
Director
SUBJECT: Informational Update on the Board Community Broadband
Committee
APPROVED BY_______________________________
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive this informational report and provide input.
DISCUSSION:
On May 19, 2021, following significant community outreach and participation, the District
adopted an updated Strategic Plan for 2021-2024. The Strategic Plan 2021-2024
established robust goals and Board initiatives identified by the Board, staff and the
community. The four initiatives were explored in detail during the General Manager Task
Forces, establishing preliminary goals and purpose. The initiatives are listed below:
100% Clean Renewable Energy Initiative;
Community Broadband Initiative;
Undergrounding Electric Initiative; and
Local Clean Renewable Generation Initiative.
On June 16, 2021 the Board took action to establish, based on community input, Standing
Committees for the Community Broadband Initiative and the 100% Clean Renewable
Energy Initiative. The Board also established process options for the structure and
selection of committee members which included:
o Nine people (for depth of knowledge);
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o Report to Board as advisory every month; and
o Application process
Two staff members – Facilitator and record keeping (non-voting)
Two technical experts
Two agency partners
Two lay members
Three – advocacy/community members.
The Community Broadband Committee (Committee) received solid community input with
10 qualified community members applying. The District selected all ten applicants to fill the
committee. The ten members comprising the Committee during the kick-off meeting were:
Dan Dickerman
Mark Simon Featherstone
Tim Chase
Bjorn Book-Larsson
Serita K Cox.
Penelope "Penny" Morris
John Paul
Judy Price
Michael J. Wolf
Chris Fajkos
Chris Fajkos regretfully informed the District that he needed to resign from the Committee
leaving nine members. The District’s Public Information and Strategic Affairs Director,
Steven Poncelet, and Contracts Administrator, Regina Cooley have teamed up to facilitate
the Committee meetings.
The Committee held a kick-off meeting on September 23, 2021 and discussed the
procedural issues associated with the Ralph A. Brown Act, established meeting protocols,
and reviewed the TDPUD Strategic Plan and history of the Community Broadband
Initiative, in addition to establishing the Committee’s initial project scope and goals.
Key results from the kick-off meeting include:
Monthly meeting established for the 3rd Thursday of the month from 3:30
p.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
Committee reviewed and adopted the initial project scope prepared by the
General Manager Community Broadband Task Force: Identify the level of
broadband internet services the community requires to meet local needs
from the perspective of public safety, economic health and community
access. Based upon these needs, establish collaborative partnerships to
facilitate the larger community benefit; and
Committee reviewed and adopted the proposed goals prepared by the
General Manager Community Broadband Task Force:
o Identify key stakeholders, potential partners, and local resources;
o Develop a scope of work for a feasibility study;
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o Identify options for a potential organizational structure; and
o Identify funding opportunities.
The Committee did express a strong desire to continue to meet via Zoom which is
dependent on the emergency orders from the State of California and the District Board’s
decision regarding meeting in person. Based on the Board’s move back to in person
meetings in October, the second meeting for the Committee scheduled for October 21,
2021 was also moved to in person. Unfortunately, shortly before this scheduled meeting it
became clear Committee participation would fall short of a quorum and the meeting was
required to be canceled. District staff attempted to schedule a special meeting but were
unsuccessful.
The next meeting is scheduled to be on November 18, 2021 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
As of the writing of this staff report on November 17, 2021, this meeting is scheduled to be
held via Zoom and the first item the Committee will consider is passing a resolution
resolving a local emergency and authorizing remote teleconference meetings for a period
of November 18, 2021 to December 18, 2021 pursuant to the Brown Act provisions and AB
361. Should the Committee vote against the resolution the meeting will be immediately
stopped and all remaining items held until such time that the committee can continue with
in person meetings. It should also be noted that, for the period that this is permissible by
the State of California, the Committee would consider a similar resolution at future
meetings to continue the remote teleconference option.
The Agenda for the November 18, 2021 Committee meeting is Attachment 1 and the key
results of the meeting will be presented to the District Board during the informational
update.
District Strategic Plan Goals:
4. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to
identify opportunities.
5. Take the best of private sector thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our
communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this informational item.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Regular Broadband Committee Meeting November 18, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. Agenda