R2022-177 Resolution Accepting Metro Communications Company, Inc. Invoice for Installation of a Fiber Conduit Raceway starting at Grand Avenue & Calhoun Street and Ending at the Southeast Corner of 22nd Street & Locust Avenue

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Information Technology DATE: 10/17/2022 MEMO: 2022-10 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council FROM: James Edwards,Director Information Technology Department SUBJECT: Resolution Accepting Metro Communications Company,Inc. Invoice for Installation of a Fiber Conduit Raceway starting at Grand Avenue&Calhoun Street and ending at the Southeast corner of 22nd Street&Locust Avenue. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: City Staff recommends City Council approve the attached Resolution authorizing payment of$50,000 to Metro Communications Company,Inc. (Metro)for the budgeted fiber optic conduit raceway work competed earlier this year. BACKGROUND: City owns,manages,and maintains a 144-strand fiber infrastructure,which is a high-speed telecommunications network providing reliable communication links to and among its own buildings and can provide schools,institutions of higher education,libraries, museums,research institutions,state agencies,other units of local government,and other local entities who provide computer connection services to Decatur residents. The City is continuing to expand its fiber optic communication network throughout Decatur to connect other City buildings as well as offer better high-speed options to other interested third parties. The City I.T. Department received a right-of-way request from Metro for the same physical route the city was planning for one of the fiber optic extensions approved by City Council on February 24,2020. After completing a cost comparison with Bodine, it was determined that work could be completed by Metro at a lower cost and the city's fiber optic raceway could be installed along side of,and at the same time as,the work being completed on Metro's route. Another positive outcome with this plan is the right of way along this route only gets disturbed once. I have worked with other fiber providers,including Metro Communications,in the past to coordinate projects like this where it makes sense to reduce the overall cost of the work being completed. Although the FY2022 budget provided for this $50K purchase,I did not get specific council approval ahead of time for this work. I regret this oversight,but it does continue the Council's overall intentions of expanding the City's broadband network in a cost-efficient manner. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: On February 24,2020,City Council approved a proposed Fiber Optic Network route plan documented on the attached Municipal Fiber Optic Network map for the City of Decatur,Illinois. On April 19,2021,Resolution#R2021-73,Resolution Accepting Bid from Bodine Communications for Underground Fiber Optic Installation Throughout the City of Decatur. City Council Approved the FY2022 Fiber Fund budget which includes specific allocation of$50K for this work. POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS: None Anticipated INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: None STAFF REFERENCE: James Edwards,IT Director BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: The City of Decatur was awarded 2021 Federal Stimulus American Rescue Plan (ARP)funds of which a portion can be used for Fiber Broadband Infrastructure Expansions. In FY2021,Council approved a one-million-dollar allocation of these funds to further advance the City's Fiber Optic build initiative. The cost of this one-time cavital Droiect will be raid out of this ARP allocation. This Droiect is accounted for in the FY2022 Information Technologv