08-08-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO. CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 8, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. (3., LMCC PRESENTATION, Continued) McMillan noted the City did receive a letter from an Orono resident regarding the cost of running intemet to their house and the fact that they received a high quote from Mediacom to connect to their system even though Mediacom's existing cable is located approximately 2,500 feet from their house. McMillan asked how much time is spent by the LMCC in terms of finding solutions for those residents in Orono who do not have access to cable. Fletcher stated expanding the service area is becoming a higher priority and that the LMCC could consider possibly obtaining a fixed price per unit or per. foot for any additional cable service outside the agreed to service area, which may help reduce the cost. McMillan asked if there are a number of other cities that are also lacking coverage. Fletcher indicated that Victoria and Minnetrista are two communities who are lacking coverage. McMillan stated she would also like to talk about the fiber optic project. Gabriel Jabbour, 994 Tonkawa Road, stated he would urge the City Council to strongly pass a motion taking Orono out of Tonka Connect. Jabbour commented there is a serious problem in Orono and the history has been lost on how the City has gotten to this point. There is a major inequity in the system and there are people who do not receive any services. Those people represent geographically perhaps the majority of the residents while others might eventually receive streaming video on demand. Jabbour commented that this project is a waste of time. Jabbour indicated he has spoken with a number of -other cities, such as Shorewood, Victoria, and Greenwood. Greenwood passed a motion 5 -0 against the fiber optic project. A couple of major cities in the area, such as Mound and Wayzata, are not members of the LMCC. Not only is the City wasting their time, but they are spending taxpayer money doing studies for a pie in the sky. project that the LMCC does not have the know -how, does not have the ability or the finances to do the project. Jabbour stated that people continuously say that the franchises are paying for it. Jabbour pointed out that when a government agency or cities receive money, it becomes taxpayer money.. That argument was heard during the discussion of Old Crystal Bay Road. When that money is used, a certain resource is depleted and other revenue streams need to make up for those dollars spent. Jabbour reiterated he would like the City Council to pass a resolution taking the City of Orono off of Tonka Connect or asking the City's LMCC representative to aggressively and passionately do what they can do to stop it. Jabbour stated the other thing that frustrates him is that the members of the Council are elected officials, and while there are lots of opportunities for volunteerism and partnerships between agencies, the Council should not abandon its responsibility to a nonelected committee. Jabbour noted the City of Shorewood removed their representative because he did not represent their point of view but that the LMCC decided to keep him as-.chairman of Tonka Connect. Jabbour indicated he has started getting a -mails from Chanhassen from a group called Tonka Disconnect. Jabbour commented fiber optic should be provided by the private sector and that the City should be • entering into partnerships with departments and agencies such as the police and fire departments. Page 3 of 21