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CR 94-178 Installation Telephone CableAugust 30, 1994 Proposed Action Staff recommends that the Council approve the following motion: Move that the Hopkins City, Council approve the expenditure of not more than $23,000 to install conduit and telephone cable between Citv Hall and the Public Works Garage. Adoption of this motion will result in the installation of a telephone cable between City Hall and the Public Works Garage. Overview INSTALLATION OF TELEPHONE CABLE Council Report 94 -178 The Hopkins School District is installing fiber optic cable to connect its various facilities. As part of this project a cable will be laid along County Road 3. The City has an opportunity to place conduit and cable in the same trench. This would allow the City to install cable at a lower cost than if we had to dig our own trench. The proposed project would include a 3" conduit and two 1" innerducts. The innerducts are smaller conduits which are placed inside the 3" conduit. The innerducts will be used for future cabling needs such as fiber optic cables for computers. A 50 pair telephone cable will also be placed inside the 3" conduit. The installation of the telephone cable will allow the City to save about $375.00 per month in U.S. West charges. This project would pay for itself in approximately five years. Staff is proposing using cable television franchise fees to pay for the bulk of this project. The cable account could be reimbursed from the savings. Primary Issues to Consider What are the costs associated with this project? How will the project be paid for? What additional benefits can be had from this project? Supporting Information Analysis of the Issues es A. Genellie ssistant Manager es A. Genellie ssistant City Manager Council Report #94 -178 Page 2 Analysis of the Issues What are the costs associated with this project? When this project was mentioned at the September 6 Council meeting, a cost of approximately $11,000 was mentioned. This was an estimate for fiber optic connection between City Hall and the Public Works Department. The 3" inch conduit and the telephone cable have been added to the proposal. The City will also have to have work done by its telephone company to make the new connections using the new cable. Staff has received two other quotes for $28,000 for just the 3" inch conduit and a single innerduct without a telephone cable. How will the project be paid for? The Public Works Department has some funds available but the bulk of the money would come from the Cable Television fund. This money could be repaid from the money that will be saved from U.S. West. Currently the City is paying for 10 off premise extensions (OPX) at the Public Works Garage. These extensions, while part of the City's telephone system, must run over U.S. West telephone lines. The City is currently paying $37.78 per OPX. By having our own cable we can avoid these costs. The City will be saving approximately $4,500 per year. What additional benefits can be had from this project? As part of this project two innerducts will be placed inside the conduit. At some time in the future the City will be able to have fiber optic cable placed in one or both of these innerducts. This would allow for a direct computer link between City Hall and the Public Works Garage. Alternatives 1. Authorize the expenditure of funds. This will allow the installation of conduit and telephone cable. 2. Do not authorize the expenditure of funds. Staff recommends Alternative #1.