Show Low council approves three-year Sparklight internet contract; approves consent calendar including DOT safety grant and easements

The Show Low City Council approved a three-year service agreement with Sparklight to upgrade the city—s primary internet circuit to 10 gigabits and passed the consent calendar, which included acceptance of federal grant funds and multiple resolutions concerning licenses and utility easements.

City staff reported that the city currently uses a 1-gigabit Frontier connection as its primary internet service and a 150-megabit Sparklight line as backup. A staff presenter identified as Tewalt said the upgrade to a 10-gigabit circuit would connect city hall and external city sites and recommended a three-year contract with Sparklight not to exceed $118,044 over 36 months. Councilman Clark moved to approve the Sparklight agreement; Councilman Judd seconded the motion, and the council approved it unanimously.

The consent calendar included multiple routine items the council approved as presented, among them proclamations (Navajo County Fair Week and Patriot Day), acceptance of grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration (office of safety), a purchase of police department vehicles, a first amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the Show Low School District, a lease with the Show Low Historical Society, and resolutions approving a license agreement with Arizona Game and Fish and granting utility easements at specified addresses. A motion to approve the consent calendar passed.

Why it matters: Upgrading to a 10-gigabit circuit is intended to increase bandwidth and connectivity across city facilities and support video and other data needs for municipal operations. Acceptance of federal highway safety grant funds signals continued use of outside grant funding for traffic and safety work the mayor said staff are pursuing.

Council comments and other business: Council members and the mayor also commented on the recent League of Arizona Cities and Towns conference and praised city staff and the local government access channel (SLTV) for recent work. The city manager announced a community Shred-a-Thon scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, and provided brief updates that the new public works building is under construction, a downtown parking lot paving is pending weather, and the waterline project is progressing.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve three-year Sparklight service agreement (10 Gbps) not to exceed $118,044 over 36 months. Mover: Councilman Clark. Second: Councilman Judd. Outcome: Approved unanimously (individual roll-call votes not recorded in the transcript). - Motion: Approve consent calendar as presented (includes proclamations, acceptance of U.S. Department of Transportation/FHWA safety grant and associated budget transfer, purchase of police vehicles, first amendment to intergovernmental agreement with Show Low School District, lease with Show Low Historical Society, Resolution R202536 (license agreement with Arizona Game and Fish), Resolution R202537 (first amendment to IGA with Show Low School District), Resolution R202538 (utility easement), Resolution R202539 (utility easement at 1480 E. Lumberland Loop and 760 E. McNeal), and approval of minutes). Mover/Second: not specified in the transcript. Outcome: Approved.

What the record shows and what it does not: The approved Sparklight contract cap ($118,044 over 36 months) and the city—s current monthly charges for its internet services (Frontier: $2,526 per month; Sparklight backup: about $150 per month) were reported on the record. The transcript records the consent-calendar motion passing but does not provide a roll-call list of individual yes/no votes for that motion; it records the Sparklight motion as passing unanimously.

The council adjourned with reminders about upcoming meetings and community events.