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Council reviews MOU with Kinetic Broadband for locating services as staff warns of right-of-way crowding
Summary
The council considered a memorandum of understanding to reimburse locating services for a citywide fiber install by Kinetic Broadband at $55/hour; staff and council raised concerns about cumulative underground infrastructure, pedestal proliferation and limited local authority due to state franchise preemption.
Staff presented a memorandum of understanding to reimburse the city’s locating services for a planned communitywide fiber installation by Kinetic Broadband at a proposed $55 per hour rate. The MOU covers locating work and invoicing procedures and would apply once franchise and permit work proceeds.
Councilmembers and staff used the discussion to flag broader concerns: multiple recent and proposed communitywide fiber installs have congested the right-of-way with utilities installed at similar shallow depths, which complicates future public projects and increases potential conflicts. Staff said many fiber companies follow a 36-inch installation depth for cost reasons, leaving utilities stacked within the same vertical zone. The council noted the city’s authority is constrained by a 2012 state franchise law that limits local ordinance options, and recommended robust resident communications and strict permit enforcement during construction.
Staff said waterworks will be included in the reimbursement arrangement and that construction is anticipated to be invasive and lengthy. The transcript records no final vote on the MOU during the excerpt.
Next steps: staff will advance locating reimbursement paperwork and permit oversight, issue press releases to notify residents, and continue coordinating with Kinetic and other utilities on installation standards where feasible.
