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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/10/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - RegularTelecommunications advisory commission Official minutes Meeting of October 10, 2018 1. Call to order Chair Abe Levine called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. 2. Roll call Present: Maren Anderson, Bruce Browning, David Dyer, Cindy Hoffman, Abe Levine, Nathan Munson, Rolf Peterson Absent: None Staff: Jermaine Wheeler, Jacque Larson, John McHugh Guest: Karly Werner, Comcast 3. Approval of minutes: July 24, 2018 Motion by Bruce Browning , second by Maren Anderson to approve minutes; all voted in favor of approval. 4. Adoption of agenda No changes to the agenda. Motion by Rolf Peterson , second by Bruce Browning to approve agenda; all voted in favor of approval. 5. Public comment: none 6. Reports and discussion a. Building readiness for smart cities Mr. Pires and Ms. Kramer presented. Mr. Pires explained Smart Cities are where digital technology and intelligent design have been harnessed to create smart, sustainable cities with high-quality living and high-quality jobs. He noted smart city core values involve livability, workability and sustainability. Mr. Pires shared a video of an overview of a future smart city, and the transformation that is already beginning, to improve communities. He asked the commissions what they took away from the video. Commissioner Browning noted we are headed in the correct direction, but it will take time. Chair Levine stated we are laying the fiber now in St. Louis Park. He stated in Barcelona, while they have the fiber optics, they have not been able to get it up to speed for its citizens yet. He also noted writing the software and creating the foundations of this will take until the mid to late 20’s. Commissioner Browning noted the city lacks a standardization of some things, and many items will need to be well thought out. Chair Levine added the bigger cities move ahead quicker on creating smart cities, but this might be beneficial for smaller cities like St. Louis Park. Commissioner Peterson stated he has concerns about privacy issues, and information collected by the city about private citizens. Page 2 Mr. Pires added privacy also struck him and the technology, noting the US is now in catch-up mode. He added this is about building readiness, and noted various subject areas including: Solid waste, broadband readiness, electric vehicle charging stations, parking structures and security cameras/emergency call stations, public safety radio coverage. He noted other cities are focusing on homelessness issues, in order to move toward the creation of smart cities. Mr. Pires noted the city is now working on broadband readiness as part of 2015 council goals and priorities. He stated the focus is not on commercial buildings and multi-dwelling units, in new and expanded units, and not in existing buildings. He added the city is working on various developments within the city to include broadband readiness, without an ordinance. He pointed out the developers are interested in providing this for their tenants as an option. Mr. Pires added with the racial equity and climate action plans within the city, and that broadband will be set up as an equitable service for all within the city, and to provide more capabilities for telecommuting for residents. Ms. Kramer discussed the electric vehicle charging stations ordinance. She noted the technology is quickly changing. She noted there are 3 levels, with Level 1 being for overnight charging and at cheaper rates, Level 2 is higher powered, and DC charging stations are for a Tesla, and are the most expensive. She noted the Climate Action Plan and goals within it that led to the ordinance for electric vehicle charging within the city. The ordinance states a requirement that new or reconstructed parking structures contain a minimum amount of charging infrastructure. She noted single-family homes are excluded from the ordinance, but because so many will be charging overnight at their homes, it was important to include multi-family homes. The ordinance will be for folks living or coming through St. Louis Park, to be able to charge their vehicles, Ms. Kramer stated. She added this will need to go through the planning commission, and revisions are still being made in developing the ordinance, with a public hearing at the end of the year. Commissioner Browning asked about the electrical grid and if the city has the infrastructure for the charging stations. He also asked if Xcel is aware of this also. Ms. Kramer stated staff is in discussion with Xcel on this already, and they are also looking at how to get electrical charging in the public right of way also, along with private development. Commissioner Browning asked how many electric vehicles are in St. Louis Park currently. Ms. Kramer did not know, but stated by 2030, 50% of all new vehicles will be electronic within the US. Commissioner Dyer asked if there is a requirement for certain businesses to put in the charging stations. Ms. Kramer said there are no requirements for smaller businesses with a low number of parking spots and also non-profit businesses. Staff has tried to balance public good with business realities. Commissioner Dyer also asked what the requirement is for people to put in electric charging stations. Ms. Kramer stated a lot of this goes back to requirements of the climate action plan, along with the broadband, so all have access to charging, if needed. Commissioner Dyer stated right now this is an incentive, and at some point it won’t be an incentive, so what will the requirements be then for providing free charging stations. Ms. Kramer stated there will be no charge for charging stations at this point, but businesses can do this if they so wish. Page 3 Commissioner Peterson asked if the city is charging for stations. Ms. Kramer stated there will be no charging at city hall, but it is possible they will contract with a vendor to install swiping for charging stations. Commissioner Munson mentioned business that require a donation from employees in exchange for use of charging stations; employees can choose among a variety of nonprofits to which they can direct the donation. Commissioner Hoffman stated her confidence in Minnesotan’s buying electric cars is not very high with our extreme weather conditions. She asked what the demand is for these cars in St. Louis Park at this point, and have we come far enough with battery production to deal with extreme weather? Commissioner Peterson noted the batteries start right away in the Volt, in Minnesota, with no problem, and in the Prius hybrids. Chair Levine added battery replacement might be the way to avoid building all the charging stations. Commissioner Peterson noted this will be done with over the road trucks in the future. Commissioner Munson asked about cost benefits to home owners, and if staff has looked at this through residential zoning changes. Ms. Kramer stated this is something that can be brought to planning commission, adding that Level 1 already exists in all residential garages, but it can be considered for the future. She added the ordinance will allow for Level 1 and 2 in residential garages, however not DC stations. Chair Levine stated if cities across the country don’t get involved in the same actions by a certain time, what will be the incentive for folks to purchase electric vehicles. Ms. Kramer stated not many cities have required this yet, but many are sharing information and hoping to get cities across the state to do this in the same timeframe. Mr. Pires noted parking ramps and garage safety and security cameras, and public safety radio coverage are also included as ordinance drafts at this time. He stated these draft ordinances will continue to be worked on after further discussion with stakeholders. Chair Levine asked how the commission can help. Mr. Pires stated the commission can help in showing governing body support and awareness, and that this is a work in progress. b. CenturyLink i. Review quarterly reports – Ms. Larson stated there have been no changes since the last report. ii. Franchise fee review update – no changes iii. Status of quarterly meetings – the commission agreed to have these reports discontinued in the future, unless there is updated information to report. c. Comcast i. Franchise renewal update – Ms. Larson stated there were no major updates. She did note some potential impact, adding staff will continue to pursue franchise fee charges with the FCC at the state and federal levels, to advance the city’s message. Page 4 d. Review Comcast and CenturyLink complaint logs – Commissioner Browning asked about one having trouble with On Demand. The person now has contact information for Comcast. 7. Communications from the chair, commissioners and city staff Commissioner Munson asked about the 2019 meeting schedule. Ms. Larson said she’d work on that in the next week and send to the commission members. John McHugh, ParkTV, noted productions for TV15 for 2018 and for the upcoming months. a. Staff – Ms. Larson i. Commission minutes recording – Timesavers, Inc. will record meeting minutes. ii. Right of way brochure – started working on a draft, and moving ahead on this. iii. ParkTV staffing update – Reg retired, job description has been rewritten and Jermaine Wheeler was hired for the position. Six production assistants will be trained to record meetings/events. iv. Upcoming webinars – Mon Oct 15 at 1 p.m. on the Impact of Video Streaming, and Dec 10, on The Courts and the FCC. Ms. Larson will send out a notice to the commission. Mr. Pires stated there will be an effort to plan ahead on right of way poles, and there will be reports to the commission on an ongoing basis regarding this topic. 8. Adjournment Commissioner Browning motioned to adjourn the meeting, Commissioner Dyer seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m.