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September 13, 2022 <br /> <br />22 - 264 - Adoption of an ordinance creating a budgetary fund called the <br />Portsmouth Broadband Authority Fund and appropriating the sum of $50,000 from <br />the Fund Balance of the General Fund to the FY 2023 Portsmouth Broadband <br />Authority Fund Budget. <br /> <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> By Resolution R-20-23 adopted on September 8, 2020, City Council formed the <br />Portsmouth Community Broadband Network Authority (the “Authority”). <br /> <br /> The Authority’s purpose is to leverage the Broadband Ring constructed by the City <br />to improve internet speed, availability, and alternatives for Portsmouth’s residential and <br />corporate citizens. <br /> <br /> The Authority is governed by a seven-member Board. The Board positions are <br />currently filled by the members of City Council. <br /> <br /> The Board currently meets at 4 P.M. on the second Tuesday of each month in the <br />City Council Conference Room. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> In performing its duties, the Authority will incur certain operating costs such as <br />insurance, internet connectivity fees, etc. <br /> <br /> At least initially, it will be necessary for the City to fund these costs since the <br />Authority has no current source of income. <br /> <br /> For organizational and financing purposes, staff has recommended the creation of <br />a new Fund within the City budget called the “Portsmouth Broadband Authority Fund”. <br /> <br /> The proposed ordinance creates this Fund and seeds the Fund with an <br />appropriation of $50,000 from General Fund Balance. <br /> <br /> At a future meeting, additional documents will be presented to City Council for <br />consideration. These documents, including a Cooperation Agreement and a Lease, will <br />govern the relationship between the City and the Authority. Any delivery of the $50,000 <br />in appropriated funding from the City to the Authority will be subject to and in accordance <br />with the terms of the documents ultimately approved by Council. <br /> <br />Financial impact: <br /> <br /> The ordinance provides for the expenditure of $50,000, subject to City Council’s <br />subsequent approval of documents governing the expenditure. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> City staff will present City Council (including in its capacity as Board of the <br />Authority) with draft documents governing the relationship between the City and the <br />Authority for review, revision, and ultimately approval. <br /> <br /> Once documents are approved, the $50,000 will be made available to the Authority <br />in accordance with their terms. <br /> <br />1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, voiced her concern with information not being <br /> placed in the budget book. <br /> <br />Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Woodard, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE CREATING A BUDGETARY FUND CALLED THE PORTSMOUTH <br />BROADBAND AUTHORITY FUND AND APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $50,000 <br />FROM THE FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND AND TRANSFERRING SAID <br />FUNDS TO THE FY 2023 PORTSMOUTH BROADBAND AUTHORITY FUND <br />BUDGET.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />