Social Media Checks in on City Hall
A discussion of a possible city broadband utility might have the farthest-reaching implications, but plenty more happened during five meetings that occupied city commissioners and their top staff between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today. Here are some highlights, as seen on social media:
Magellan Advisors is presenting an update at the Broadband Task Force Meeting. Deployment Assumptions are as follows:#LKLD pic.twitter.com/4x2SQBWKNn
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
Broadband Utility Residential Services & Pricing: Options would include Internet-only, Double-Play and Triple-Play. Prices shown are at or below the current market prices. #LKLD pic.twitter.com/PhqYuxVV4C
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
City commissioners are hearing a presentation on a potential business plan for a broadband utility from consultants Magellan Advisors. Internet speeds would be symmetrical — same speeds up and down — unlike existing commercial services, consultant says. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
A 1-2% price increase can be expected per year to cover programming/contract increases, commodity construction costs, and interest rates, which are built into the financial plan for City-owned broadband utility. #LKLD
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
Mayor @DozenDad Mutz asked about availability of phone if power is out. Answer: system has a battery backup lasting 2-3 hours in homes. Businesses sometimes purchase bigger backup batteries. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan projects a city investment of $97,508,956 if city gets 38% of residences and 41% of businesses as customers. Start-up capital would be $17 million. #lkld pic.twitter.com/wQv0bHYBX4
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Project would require initial capital borrowing, with enough cash balance by 2030 to pay off initial $17 million debt, Magellan says. #lkld pic.twitter.com/GhbjnT5oOp
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan projects it will take until the fifth year of service to reach the target of 38% residences and 41% of businesses as customers. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan is reviewing business risks to the city, including competition, sales/marketing and political will. Magellan terms technology change as medium risk, not high, saying city could migrate from fiber to something like wireless, if conditions change. #lkld pic.twitter.com/F2Sq8Bhirc
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Mayor @DozenDad Mutz said he’d probably consider technology change as high risk and asks whether the plan should include contingency costs for tech change. Magellan responds that capital in plan would probably cover an emerging technology. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan: Cost for tech change will be the last mile. The fiber infrastructure will still be needed, even if last-mile tech changes. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan looks at the effect of different “take rates” – penetration of the market – on city revenues. The break-even point is 27.5%. #lkld pic.twitter.com/9PAA1O84HU
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan is also looking at the impact of rate changes on revenue. City could break even with rate drop of 26%. #lkld pic.twitter.com/XfqtwWyQzU
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Verizon FIOS, the competing fiber service, has 7,000 customers in Lakeland city limits, which is about 6 percent of the residential base, based on FCC filings. FIOS is not available in most of city limits currently. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Spectrum, the other residential provider, does not provide fiber service to homes in Lakeland, but a Spectum rep attending the meeting says fiber is available in much of the city. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Magellan projects eight revenue scenarios (after initial capital costs have been repaid) depending on cost variations. #lkld pic.twitter.com/A0oYS4Asf5
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
New Commissioner Sara McCarley asks a fundamental question: Why is the city considering a broadband utility? Commissioner @JustinTroller responds that low-cost broadband pushes city forward and city will need new revenue sources as hospital payments end in 2040. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commissioner Phillip Walker says it will be imperative to hear from the public before moving forward with a broadband utility plan. #lkld pic.twitter.com/zfUxN96pyu
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commissioner Bill Read urges caution, questioning the city’s track record in competing with the private sector and wondering about cities where broadband utilities have failed to meet expectations. #lkd pic.twitter.com/cajApqfKyF
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commissioner @JustinTroller: Of course there will be a community conversation before moving forward. Responding to Read: It’s hard to compare #lkld to other communities because much infrastructure is in place and legislative and business conditions differ. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Mayor @DozenDad Mutz: My motivation is that we become a smart city that fosters innovation. Broadband is a utility like water and sewer. Revenue replacement is not a motivator for him. The Magellan business plan helps, but he’s still looking for more info. #lkd pic.twitter.com/pZUXWqXQIs
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commissioner Scott Franklin: We’re still not ready to go out to the public. He wants to know every assumption going into revenue scenarios, citing a previous electric contract that failed to predict natural gas fluctuations. He’s worried about private competition. #lkld pic.twitter.com/DgJ2bqUF5X
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Franklin: City should see what private providers will do to upgrade service in #lkld and let them know that if they don’t improve, the city will get into broadband. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commissioner Stephanie Madden: Broadband has become a necessity, not a luxury, and fiber is crucial infrastructure. She wants to move forward but take the time it needs to make a wise decision. #lkld pic.twitter.com/vDbDnIUIf5
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
McCarley: Fiber is crucial infrastructure. “I don’t want to get into a dogfight with the private sector; we will lose.” She said she wants to see action, not talk, from private providers, and she wants to see a concrete game plan before backing a city utility. #lkld pic.twitter.com/NtXILK8Sff
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Spectrum representative is passing around a map showing where fiber is available in Lakeland and pointing out that 1 gig speed is already available. Plans call for higher download speeds in the next 24 months. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
However, McCausland says, there could be many hurdles. This is a an opportunity for vigorous public participation/discussion. Legally, at a minimum, he says we need an in-depth report from the City Atty's office in combination with the assistance of at number of experts. #LKLD https://t.co/XiYKpoh3fI
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
The Employees Pension Board evaluated alternative investments for the pension fund. One, Golub Capital Partners would be an appropriate addition to the Pooled Investment Fund. Finance recommends a$10M investment. #LKLD pic.twitter.com/8RSX7hCmX4
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
Refunding Opportunity: In 2011, the City issued tax-exempt Water/Wastewater Revenue Refunding bonds which refinanced previous outstanding bonds. However, current federal tax rules and provisions of the bonds make it difficult to take advantage of current market conditions. #LKLD pic.twitter.com/6Nhgf38uuu
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
Forward Funding – Water & Wastewater Bonds: The total savings estimated would be $3.6M (or 12.8%) on a present value basis. #LKLD pic.twitter.com/9xGxiKMe8R
— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) August 19, 2019
City spent $20 million on #HurricaneIrma recovery and has received approx. $360k reimbursement from FEMA. It’s about 10 percent of what’s expected. Finance director says FEMA is clearing smaller requests first. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
City Commissioner @JustinTroller is letting his shirt speak his opposition to a controversial proposal involving Lakeland Electric. Voters will decide in November whether to reduce the barriers to selling the utility. Troller (and his shirt) calls it a Trojan horse. #lkld pic.twitter.com/PCgjvtvgEy
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
City Commission meeting is beginning. First, Airport Director Gene Conrad gives an update about @FlyLakeland. Then a CityMaker award and three proclamations:
✓ International Overdose Awareness Day
✓ Lakeland Christian School “Vikings” Day
✓ Tropics Soccer Club Day#lkld— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Lakeland Linder is on schedule to upgrade its instrument landing system by next summer in time for opening of the Amazon air cargo center, Director Conrad says. A slide shows projected growth in economic impact. #lkld pic.twitter.com/kU2NPvJIbf
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Lakeland Linder is still negotiating for passenger service, Conrad says. Targets include Delta (but not necessarily to Atlanta) and American for flights to Charlotte. #lkld pic.twitter.com/ExXMDgcBs2
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
August’s CityMaker Award from the #LoveLakeland organization goes to Marie Hanna. She led the Lakeland Association of Realtors’ community service projects for several years and now spends time on religion-related work in Jerusalem. https://t.co/UZymY0B4LM #lkld pic.twitter.com/rhybMoEJe9
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commission approves voluntary annexation for land off S.R. 33 just north of I-4 that is the future site of a 710,962-square-foot spec warehouse. https://t.co/2Vw2o4KFHw #lkld pic.twitter.com/nVwe8gFXY3
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commission approves zoning change to allow a plant on George Jenkins Boulevard that will smelt aluminum vehicle wheels for recycling. Planning staff said no odors or emissions are expected. https://t.co/2Vw2o4KFHw #lkld pic.twitter.com/H33WRFUtCB
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/lakelandgov/status/1163503850780798978
Highland Park Church of the Nazarene will be able to place an electronic message center sign at 4777 Lakeland Highlands Road, courtesy of a conditional use approved by the City Commission. https://t.co/h7NQDvoFkY #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Commission accepts $729,524.00 bid by Rayco Industrial of Selma, Ala., to build a motor control center building near Lakeland Electric’s McIntosh Unit 3 cooling tower. https://t.co/IiTpITiz5S #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
R.F. Lusa and Sons Sheetmetal of #lkld wins a $436,000 contract for roof and gutter replacement at Lakeland Electric’s Larsen and McIntosh power plants. Low bidder Ramco LLC of Tampa ($229,150) did not attend a mandatory pre-bid conference. https://t.co/OPdhC4xiMT
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
Resident Paul Cunningham speaks against a city broadband utility and displays a certificate he made awarding Commissioner @JustinTroller the “Beat a Dead Horse” award for continuing to promote broadband. Government should not compete with private business, Cunningham says. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) August 19, 2019
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