Selection Process

At its June 27, 2013 meeting, the Commission adopted an update to the Yolo LAFCo Shared Services Strategic Plan to add broadband to its list of shared service areas.  LAFCo has moved forward with the process of finding a consultant to prepare the Yolo Broadband Strategic Plan working with a selection committee with the following city and County representatives:

Diane Richards, City of West Sacramento
Rob White, City of Davis
Lynn Johnson, City of Woodland
John Donlevy, Jr., City of Winters
Kevin Yarris, Yolo County
Patty Wong, Yolo County

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued by LAFCo on August 5, 2013.  Eight proposals were received by the September 9th deadline.  Three finalists were selected to interview on October 4, 2013 and Magellan Advisors, LLC was the consultant selected by a consensus decision of the entire selection committee.  Staff has checked references and reviewed work samples and staff is confident that we will enjoy a positive working relationship with Magellan Advisors, LLC and end up with a product that meets our collective expectations.

Strategic Plan Goals

• To educate the community at large on the benefits of broadband and issues for broadband improvements and expansion;
   
• To positively affect how broadband infrastructure and services are likely to develop county wide over the next 10 years;
   
• To plan for optimal adoption and deployment of broadband in Yolo County;
   
• To identify key short (3 years), mid (7 years) and long-term (10 years) broadband policies and initiatives that agencies county wide can develop to facilitate a unified technology policy direction;
   
• To positively impact the policies, actions and directions of the cities in Yolo County, the County and other agencies and stakeholders relative to technology policy direction;
   
• To identify key strategic broadband investments that could strengthen existing business capacity or attract new businesses;
   
• To identify broadband capacity, equity, access and affordability gaps with a goal of achieving consistent broadband service access for all businesses, residents and visitors; and
   
• To communicate capabilities to stakeholders and to encourage full use of their potential.

Tasks Identified in the RFP

Task 1:  Refine Project Goals and Purpose – working with Yolo Broadband Steering Committee

Task 2:  Community Profiles (i.e. Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation/Capay Valley, unincorporated areas of Yolo County) including targeted outreach to representatives from various business and other user sectors: 

     a. Inventory of Existing Broadband Assets

     b. Needs Assessment – identify Broadband Gaps

     c. Identify Broadband Demand – goals for economic development, agriculture, social justice, etc.

Task 3:  Validate/Correct CPUC Coverage Map

Task 4:  Identify Key Issues for Broadband Expansion – for each community in Yolo identified above

Task 5:  Outline and Prioritize Community Strategies: – including “middle mile” and “last mile” access

Task 6:  Organization and Network Operation Options – a comprehensive presentation of the possible organizational/ownership structures for proposed broadband infrastructure networks – including but not limited to owner/operator, public private partnerships, lease-hold agreements.

Task 7: Action Plan and Resources – Consultant will identify a “road map” for each community’s next steps for planning, funding, grants and other resources to implement identified strategies. Prioritize existing resources that can be leveraged. Provide information on the availability and relevance of potential funding sources for any future projects that arise from the recommendations in the Plan. This includes governmental sources, foundations, and private resources.

Next Steps

If the Commission approves the contract, staff will begin refining the tasks set forth in the RFP and begin organizing the community outreach process.  Once the outreach process has begun, a six month process is anticipated to complete the strategic plan.