Laguna Hills approves license with Cityside Fiber for conduit‑pulled backbone, city gets dedicated fiber

City staff presented a license agreement with Cityside Fiber that would permit the company to pull backbone fiber optic cable through existing traffic‑signal interconnect conduits rather than trenching arterial streets. Interim City Manager Robert Ames and staff said the approach reduces construction and pavement impacts on major corridors (Alicia Parkway, La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway and Paseo De Valencia) and used micro‑trenching in residential areas (2‑inch wide by 18‑inch deep) as a contrast.

As part of the trade, Cityside will install dedicated fiber for the city’s traffic signals and a direct link between the Civic Center and Community Center, provide free internet for the Civic Center and Community Center, and pay a $15,000 one‑time license fee. Staff valued the installed fiber at $260,000 and calculated a total city benefit of about $275,000 (license fee plus installed fiber value), and said avoiding street trenching would save approximately $260,000 in grant funding otherwise needed for fiber upgrades.

Council members asked about aesthetics and restorative options for patches in residential streets; staff said they are exploring less conspicuous restoration alternatives but emphasized the structural superiority of a 2‑inch grind and asphalt overlay. Council Member Mathis moved approval; the council voted unanimously to authorize the interim city manager to sign the agreement and to allow use of the city seal for a tentative Nov. 20 ribbon‑cutting event with the Chamber of Commerce.

The agreement also assigns dig‑alert responsibilities to Cityside for the segments they use to protect the city’s interconnect conduits and includes minor technical revisions to maps and attachments prior to final signature.