Ukiah approves public–private partnership with Vero Fiber to build grant-funded city fiber network

The Ukiah City Council on Aug. 20 approved a public–private partnership with Vero Fiber Networks to design, build and operate the city’s grant-funded “Ukiah Gigabyte” fiber project and authorized a related sole-source engineering contract. The council voted to authorize the city manager to finalize and execute a design‑build and 35‑year lease, operate and maintain agreement and to award construction engineering and inspection services to Utility Design Services LLC.

The partnership implements a California Public Utilities Commission last‑mile grant the city won in 2023. Andrea Trincato, the city’s project and grants administrator, told the council that the CPUC award totals $5,600,000, of which $3,300,000 is allocated to build the new fiber network and $1,700,000 is intended to replace utility poles that do not meet compliance. “Vero has committed to $1,300,000 in match funding to construct this project,” Trincato said. She described the first phase as 23 miles of fiber—17 miles aerial on city poles and 6 miles…