Title
Consider Directing Staff to Provide an Update on a Previously Approved Referral regarding Free Public WiFi throughout the City. (Councilmember Spencer) [Not heard on February 2, 16, or March 2, 2021; continued from March 16 to March 30, 2021]
Body
COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item.
3) Take dispositive action if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.
Name of Councilmember requesting referral: Councilmember Spencer
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): 1/18/2021
Council Meeting date: 2/2/2021
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Request an update from Staff of my referral of July 31, 2017 (while Mayor), which was approved by Council on September 19, 2017. Per the Minutes, Council’s direction was: “motion to approve directing staff to follow the points within the referral regarding no charge WiFi as non-urgent and non-important.” Please note my referral was “Not urgent, important,” and Council changed it to “Not urgent, not important.”
My referral of July 31, 2017 requested: “Ask Council to consider giving staff direction to explore offering free public WiFi throughout the City of Alameda including but not limited to working with our business districts, shopping centers, business partners, the Alameda Unified School District, the Alameda Free Library, and non-profits (Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary), as well as seeking grants. Other cities have made progress in this area. Free public WiFi reduces or eliminates the “digital divide” and “mobility gap” so that everyone (or at least more people) has access to the internet. It can also help in emergency situations.”
As of today, the City of Alameda does not have free public WiFi in public parts of the City, such as business districts. During this pandemic, libraries, Mastick Senior Center, schools, businesses, where many in the past had access to free WiFi, have greatly reduced their hours or closed indefinitely, thus greatly reducing internet access, increasing the “digital divide.” Also, more services have turned to online, thus increasing the need for free WiFi; e.g., doctor’s appointments, are now held via Zoom, as well as community meetings (Council, non-profits) and events, but not in-person. Thus, those without internet are excluded from participation. This has always been an important issue but is heightened now. Thank you.
Priority Ranking:
|
↑ Urgent |
2 |
3 |
|
|
1 |
4 |
|
|
Important → |
____ 1 = Not urgent, not important
____ 2 = Urgent, not important
__X_ 3 = Urgent and important
____ 4 = Not urgent, important