ALLOCATION FOR CITY-WIDE INTERNET ACCESS

Recommendation

It is recommended by staff that Council approve an allocation of $19,630 from the General Fund to pay for GTE Frame Relay T1 Services to provide Internet access and home page maintenance for the City.

Background

One of the listed objectives for the 1996-97 Data Processing Plan was to provide a plan for Internet access for the City. The initial budget for FY 96-97 allowed enough funding to pilot Internet use through the City Clerk's Office but did not provide adequate funding to launch a City wide program for Internet use.

Analysis

Staff has established a Data Processing Users Group who meet quarterly to discuss data processing needs and desires. Many departments have indicated that they need Internet access both as a means to communicate with other agencies and as a way to obtain necessary information that may not be available by any other means.

In addition, Council has expressed a desire to expand public access to City information and services via the Internet. Establishing Internet service is a necessary first step in reaching those objectives.

Staff evaluated a number of service provision alternatives including: (a) GTE: Frame Relay - Fractional T1, (b) GTE & Beachnet: phone/modem, (c) Fiber Optic to T1 (with Hermosa Valley School ) and (d) Datacomm / Beachnet Support: Integrated Services Digital Network. While each service varies in terms of its technical performance, a grid is provided below to outline the alternatives and costs:

SERVICE PROVIDER
	GTE	GTE & Beachnet	City/School District / Beachnet (requires agreement with District and fiber optic construction time)	Datacomm / Beachnet Support
Type of Access	Frame Relay -Fractional T1	Phone / Modem	Fiber Optic to T1	Integrated Services Digital Network
Start-up Costs	$6,000	$23,500	$26,400 (above ground)-$80,400 (below ground)	$3,000
Annual Maintenance & Agreement Costs	$2,350	$2,700	$2,700 + TBD for cable maintenance	$3,100
Annual Phone and/or Service Costs	$11,280	$12,050*	TBD (Subject to agreement with HVS.)	$12,300*
Agendas / Minutes Menu Maintenance Service	YES	YES	YES	YES

*Estimate based on projected use.

In evaluating these alternatives, the GTE Frame Relay Option was determined to be the most favorable alternative due to the costs, technical performance, professional support, flexibility and ease of implementation. Once approved, the City will have access for up to 50 users and will be able to take advantage of current and future opportunities related to the Internet.

Fiscal Impact: $19,630 Appropriate from General Fund.

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