City Council - Special Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Special Meeting Minutes August 5, 2024, 6:00 PM Mayor: Kimberley Lund Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. “Skip” Williams, Lisa Anderson, https://cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist and Jace Cotton Call to Order The City Council Special meeting was called to order at 6:02pm. Roll Call Present: Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Excused Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Special Meeting 24196 1. Presentation and Workshop on City Fiber Network Comprehensive Plan p. 2 Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Director, gave opening remarks, describing the purpose and scope of the meeting. He reviewed the history of the Broadband Advisory Workgroup (BAW) and the development of the plan. Neil Shaw and Dave Stockton, both of Uptown Services, presented the draft Municipal Fiber Network Plan. They identified seven tasks as part of the plan’s scope to include: 1. Updating Existing Infrastructure Documentation 2. Identifying Locations for New and Replacement Infrastructure 3. Identifying Operational Resources a. Services strategy b. Staffing and Operational Resources and Procedures 4. Identifying resources to Retain, Replace, and Renew Infrastructure (capex and opex) 5. Identifying Opportunities to Serve Unserved and Underserved Areas a. Opportunity to Qualify for Federal Grant Funds in Underserved Areas b. Large Business Segment: Demand for lit and/or dark fiber transport c. Residential Segment: Demand for fiber broadband 6. Completing Financial Analysis a. Funding Sources City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 1 August 5, 2024  b. Pro Forma Scenario #1A: Middle Mile Dark Fiber Leasing c. Pro Forma Scenario #1B: Middle Mile Leased Access (lit service) d. Pro Forma Scenario #2: Last Mile Retail Broadband 7. Creating Fiber Construction, Documentation, and Standards Documents City officials and former BAW members discussed the plan and asked questions. Topics included costs, funding, how similar cities have approached the issue, future growth, laying conduit and “dig- once” policies, and area prioritization. The presentation slides can be found here. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:52pm. Daniel Hammill, Council President ATTEST: Jackie Weller, Legislative Office Manager APPROVED: 8/26/2024 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 2 August 5, 2024