Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Broadband Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves ~$19.5M work order to begin citywide fiber build; escrow arrangement included
Summary
Placerville approved work order No. 1 under a November 2024 master services agreement to begin underground construction and installation for a broadband fiber project. The work order is about $19.52 million and includes an escrow arrangement to allow state grant reimbursement to flow to the contractor without harming city cash flow.
Placerville City Council on April 8 authorized the city to move forward with work order No. 1 under its existing master services agreement for a broadband fiber project, authorizing underground construction, splicing, testing, and cabinet installation with Entry Point Networks, Inc. for approximately $19.52 million.
Why it matters: The project is funded by a CPUC/state broadband grant and is intended to create core fiber infrastructure to enable expanded, higher‑quality internet service across Placerville. City staff said the work is time‑sensitive because grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2026.
City staff described this vote as the first major construction authorization in a multi‑phase project begun under a November 2024 master services agreement. Staff noted some remaining contractual wording issues that city staff and the contractor continued to resolve; those were described as minor and not affecting costs or schedule. The council voted to approve the work order and associated procedural items that enable payment through an escrow arrangement.
City staff said that because the state grants normally reimburse the city after the city pays contractors, the city negotiated a mechanism with Entry Point and FiberTel and a joint escrow arrangement with US Bank so the contractor can provide notice that payment has been made and the city can receive prompt reimbursement before releasing funds. The work order covers engineering, underground construction, parcel drops, splicing/testing, and hut/cabinet installation;
City staff emphasized the project’s future‑facing role for local communications infrastructure. “This is truly an investment in the future for the city,” staff told the council during the presentation, and the council voted unanimously to approve the measure. Staff said the contractor expected major progress by the end of the year and the city must complete the grant project by 2026‑06‑30.
The council approved the staff recommendation and authorized the city manager to open a joint escrow account and to finalize deposit agreements with US Bank on forms acceptable to city legal staff. Contractor representatives were present at the meeting and available to answer technical questions.
