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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/04/13 Item 5 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT APRIL 13, 2010, Item~ SUBMITTED BY: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA SUPPORTING GET CONNECTED! IN THE ST ATE OF CALIFORNIA WHICH IS A PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM TO PROMOTE INCREASED BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO FOSTER POLICIES AND ACTIONS TO PROMOTE INCREASED BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT AL SERVICE~ CITY MANAGE~ ASSISTANT CIT~NAGER c:;;r ITEM TITLE: REVIEWED BY: 4/STHS VOTE: YES D NO~ SUMMARY A Resolution by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista supporting the extension of broadband access throughout the state of California and directing the City Manager to work with staff to foster policies and actions to promote increased broadband connectivity as proposed by the California Emerging Technology Fund. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed resolution of support for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the proposed action would not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, this activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. RECOMMENDATION Council adopt the resolution. 5-1 APRIL 13, 2010, 1tem~ Page 2 of3 BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDA nON Staff has submitted the resolution to the Technical Sub Committee and comment will be provided at the City Council meeting as appropriate. DISCUSSION Attached for your review and consideration is a resolution and fact sheet supporting the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) program, "Get Connected." Get Connected is a public awareness and education program sponsored by CETF designed to reach California residents that have not yet adopted broadband technology. The mission of the California Emerging Technology Fund is to close the Digital Divide and ensure that California is a global leader in the deployment and adoption of broadband. CETF promotes that, "the ability to be connected" instantly through the Internet to information, services, and digital tools is increasingly critical for access to and success in education, jobs, and economic opportunity; that high-speed Internet networks are essential 21 st Century infrastructure-as vital to commerce, economic competitiveness, and quality of life as the transportation system was to the last century. According to CETF, "the magnitude of California's Digital Divide is unacceptable for global competitiveness. That is why the California Public Utilities Commission directed the establishment of the California Emerging Technology Fund in approving the 2005 mergers of SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI. AT&T and Verizon are contributing to CETF a total of $60 million in seed capital over five years. CETF has launched an all-out effort to close the Digital Divide within a decade (by 2017-ten years after beginning operations) with the overarching theme of, Get Connected California!" More information about Get Connected and the CETF public education campaIgn can be obtained at: www.GetConnectedTodav.com. or by contacting CETF at: CETF, The Hearst Building,S Third Street, Suite 520, San Francisco, CA 94103- 3206, 415-744-CETF, or CETF, 1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4297, 213-346-3222 DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section I 8704.2(a)(l ) is not applicable to this decision. CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT The adoption of this resolution does not result in the City executing a project or action and will have no fiscal impact to the City's current fiscal year. ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT Projects that are implemented by the City or the State as a result of "Get Connected!" may directly impact the City's cost for maintaining public thoroughfares and the resources generated by their use. These projects could also have significant secondary impacts on local government, 5-2 APRIL 13, 2010, Item~ Page 3 of3 business, and educational communication costs, and the efficiency and effectiveness of these institutions. ATTACHMENTS A. Fact Sheet Prepared by: Michael Meacham, Director, Conservation & Environmental Services 5-3 t 7.. . (?EI<::_Q~NECTED! ~ Your Life Mode Easier A'fT ACHMENT A FACT SHEET Get Connected! Get Connected! is a comprehensive statewide public awareness program, first unveiled in Los Angeles County, that educates targeted populations about the economic and social benefits of broadband connectivity. The program aims to break down barriers and address misperceptions that perpetuate the Digital Divide that currently exists in California. The program will increase awareness of the value of broadband through an array of communication vehicles, including a multilingual Web portal for new users (www.GetConnectedTodav.com) ,TV and radio commercials, and Community Connect Fairs that provide hands-on experience with broadband. The program also includes Champions for Access, which are organizations across a variety of industry sectors that sponsor and fund Get Connected! initiatives. Broadband Benefits . Broadband high-speed Internet saves time and makes an individual's life easier by giving him/her instant access to what he/she needs - communication, information, and services. . Using broadband high-speed Internet helps stretch dollars. . Individuals can get ahead in their career and in life with high-speed Internet. Target Populations Launched by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), the program is aimed at reaching low- income Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Priority communities include rural and remote areas, disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, and people with disabilities. AU percerttages' apply totarifOmla except the U.8.pereeritage. *Callfomianswith under $40.000 AnnUal HousehOld Income California Emerging Technology Fund CETF provides leadership statewide to minimize the Digital Divide by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband and other advanced communication services to unserved and underserved communities. The organization invests in programs and projects to improve access, affordability, applications, accessibility and assistance to broadband- ultimately, to increase broadband adoption in California by 10% in 2010. Broadbaild At Home California's Digital Divide Although the deployment and adoption of broadband technology is steadily increasing across the nation and within California, there persists a pattern of differential access and use among socio-economic population groups - this reality is referred to as the "Digital Divide" and is a major concern for California's future global competitiveness. Computer and broadband use by Californians is only on par with the national average - at 55% for broadband connection at home and 75% for computer use. More than 17 million Californians are without broadband connection and more than 13 million are without Internet connection at home. For more information, please contact Luis Arteaga at luis.arteaga(@cetfund.org or 415.7442388. 5-4 RESOLUTION NO. 2010- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA SUPPORTING GET CONNECTED! IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WHICH IS A PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM TO PROMOTE INCREASED BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO FOSTER POLICIES AND ACTIONS TO PROMOTE INCREASED BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY WHEREAS, closing the Digital Divide is vital to the economic prosperity, extending educational opportunity, and the general quality of life for residents in the City of Chula Vista and throughout California; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista finds and declares that high-speed Internet access- referred to generically as "broadband" and including both wireline and wireless technologies-is essential 21 st Century infrastructure in the local and global economy, the provision of efficient govemment, safety and medical services; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista recognizes that California is home to a wellspring of innovation that has given rise to the evolution of broadband and other information technologies, however Californians' adoption and use of broadband technology is only equivalent to the national average; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista acknowledges that 38% of all Californians, 40% of low-income households, and many Chula Vista residents, businesses and institutions are not connected to the Internet with cost effective and state of the art broadband service speeds, leaving more than 14 million Californians without high-speed Internet access at home; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to helping families and children be healthy, productive and self-sufficient and realizes that the use of broadband can save both time and money for residents while helping them bridge the economic divide; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to helping students obtain the highest- quality education possible incorporating digital literacy and understands that high-speed Internet connectivity and the availability of computing devices both at school and at home are critical teaching and learning tools for academic achievement; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and recognizes that broadband is a strategic "green" technology that has great potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil by enabling e-govemment, enhanced in-home medical services, and providing residents and businesses with better information and control of their utility services and the provision of more services online; and 5-5 WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is committed to Digital Inclusion and increasing citizen participation in the public process through expanded engagement using broadband; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista recognizes that it has the opportunity to impact broadband deployment and adoption in its several loca'! government roles and responsibilities, including as a policy leader, planning body, land use approval agency, purchaser-consumer of communications equipment and information technology, and a service provider; and. WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista also recognizes that it has the responsibility to maintain the Right of Way, streets and public thoroughfare with diminishing resources, and the City has regularly convened an underground coordinating committee comprised of all the utilities to maximize a collaborative, efficient and cost effective use and maintenance of public infrastructure, and that franchise fees and utility user's tax derived from utility services that use this infrastructure are a vital source ofrevenue that funds public services; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista welcomes the opportunity to partner with the California Emerging Technology Fund along with the Governor, Legislature, other local governments, civic leaders, community organizations, employers, labor representatives, educators, and policymakers to encourage adoption and the cost effective delivery of advanced broadband speed and capacity to all residents and businesses; and. WHEREAS, Get Connected! furthers the City of Chula Vista's desire to provide universally available, cost effective internet access to all residents and businesses by informing citizens about the educational and economic benefits of broadband connectivity and promoting the importance of deploying the best available technology in broadband infrastructure equitably throughout California; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista hereby joins with the California Emerging Technology Fund in launching and promoting Get Connected! -a public awareness program to close the Digital Divide-and declares 20 I 0 as the target year for all residents, businesses and community organizations to Get Connected!; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City ofChula Vista City Council encourages that the applicable departments review services to identify and report back to the City Manager on the strategic actions that will remove barriers to and promote the deployment and adoption of competitively priced enhanced broadband speed and capacity to all residents, businesses, customers, and recipients of public services; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista City Council directs that appropriate policies promoting and supporting the deployment and adoption of competitively priced and enhanced broadband capacity and speed continue to be examined for possible promulgation and incorporation into future General Plan and other appropriate land use and economic development plans as they are developed; and 5-6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista City Council directs the City Manager and other appropriate departments to continue to optimize the use of broadband technology to inform and engage residents to increase citizen participation in the public processes of governance and expand Digital Inclusion; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista City Council will seek to cooperate and share the results of Get Connected! with neighboring jurisdictions and other public agencies and shall post this resolution on the city website and send a copy to the SANDAG for appropriate distribution to other local governments; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chula Vista City Council authorize the use of their names as champions of Get Connected! on the websites of the California Emerging Technology Fund (www.CETFund.org and www.GetConnectedToday.com) and in printed materials pertaining to Get Connected! Presented by Approved as to form by Michael Meacham Director of Conservation and Environmental Services .~~ Bart Miesfeld City Attorney 5-7