Title
Update on Broadband Master Plan
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(1A) Direction for Strategic & Economic Growth
MEETING DATE: September 21st, 2021
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
CONTACT: Trevor Minyard, Strategic Services Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• N/A
ITEM SUMMARY:
• In accordance with the City Council Strategic Goal, "1A | Establish regional and infrastructure incentives to increase economic growth…”, follow-up direction from the 2021 City Council Strategic Goal Setting Work Session, and City Council action on February 21st, 2021 approving broadband master planning, staff is providing an update of the broadband master planning efforts to date.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• During the 85th Legislative Session of Texas, Senate Bill 1004 was passed which;
1. Provided a uniform framework for the deployment of network nodes in a public right-of-way,
2. Limited the ability of local municipalities to regulate network nodes in right-of-way, and
3. Limited revenue collection of local municipalities concerning network nodes in right-of-way.
4. Due to the passing of SB 1004, the City of McKinney updated its code of ordinances, and established a design manual for the regulation of small-cell nodes in the public right-of-way on September 19th, 2017.
5. During the FY2019 - FY2020 city council strategic goals work session, the council recommended developing a strategic plan relating to “5G infrastructure.”
6. From April 2019 to May 2019 city staff and city council worked on establishing a roadmap for the previously mentioned goal relating to “5G infrastructure,” and ultimately adopted a slate of guiding principles for the strategic planning process.
7. After the established direction of city council, city staff interviewed and evaluated seven different firms for assistance in the development of a wireless/5G strategic plan for the City of McKinney from July 2019 - September 2019.
• During October of 2019, Council approved a resolution to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with the recommended firm from the mentioned interviews and evaluations.
• From November 2019 to Mid-2020, Staff and the consultant HR Green, LLC worked through various deliverables, held a citizen input meeting, and coordinated,
o Health Report Update
o Recommended Ordinance Changes
o Recommended Design Manual Changes
o Next Steps
• After affirmative Council action on July 21st, 2020 and the corresponding direction to move forward with phase two, staff began working with HR Green, Inc. to develop an updated scope for a fiber and broadband masterplan.
• At the 2021 City Council Strategic Goals Work Session, staff presented the timeline of recommended action, and February 16th, 2021 the City Council approved moving forward with a Broadband Master Plan with HR Green.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A