08 StarNet Lease Negotiation - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET PROJECT: Consideration of and action on directing the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate an agreement with StarNet Online Systems for non-exclusive use of the City's water tower for the placement of antennas. BACKGROUND: StarNet Online Systems is the City of Paris's current provider of Internet and wireless services. The main City offices on 1 st Street N.E. are connected directly to StarNet via Category 5 cable and are receiving 768 Kbps of bandwidth for Internet service (compare to most modems at 56Kb), and this connection is utilized by all City employees working at the 1 st Street N.E. and Kaufman Street locations and by the Police and Public Works Departments. Fire Station One has recently installed a wireless system using 1 Mbps bandwidth connecting that location to the City's main server and to StarNet's Internet service. The City's Technology Committee, appointed by the City Manager, and the MIS Manager have researched the best available methods for providing connectivity to City offices located throughout the city and, based on this research and a site-survey of the City's offices, have determined that wireless connections are the only options available for those offices located far from City Hall and that wireless communications are fast, secure, dependable, and economical. StarNet has been shown to be the only service provider in the city that can provide the City of Paris with the bandwidth needed to allow proper communications between its various offices. Likewise, there is no other service provider located within close enough proximity of City Hall to allow a direct connection to its backbone such as the City currently has with StarNet. DESCRIPTION: StarNet is requesting a five (5) year lease with the City that will allow the placement on the City's water tower of antennas using the 2.4 and 5.8 Ghz frequencies. This will allow StarNet to provide wireless service to a larger area. As consideration for this lease, StarNet is offering the City the following: (1) expand the bandwidth provided to City Hall from 512 Kbps to 3 Mbps at no additional cost; and (2) provide 1 Mbps bandwidth for wireless connections located at the two (2) new fire stations, the existing fire station on Bonham Street, and the Water Treatment Plant at no cost. Utility Director Herb Campbell supports the concept of the antennas with appropriate engineering safeguards. The use of the water tower will be non-exclusive. COST: The City currently pays $320.00 per month for 512 Kbps bandwidth to City Hall and 1 Mbps bandwidth to Fire Station One. If the City exercises a lease agreement with StarNet based on its proposal, this will result in cost savings to the City of approximately $2,600.00 per month, which represents the cost of the increased bandwidth and new services. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate a lease agreement with StarNet Online Systems for non-exclusive use of the City's water tower for the placement of antennas. STAFF CONTACT: Michael E. Malone, City Manager, and Larry W. Schenk, City Attorney SCHEDULE: The City Attorney's Office is awaiting receipt of a form lease agreement from a reputable law firm that assisted the City in its completion of the wireless communications ordinance. Upon receipt of this lease and with Council authorization, the City Attorney and City Manager will begin negotiation of the terms of the lease agreement with StarNet.