HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2010-009 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2010 - 144
CLEARANCES Initial , Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: Mann 3/10/2010 3/16/2010 Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head: • / 0 ' /O
Prosecutor:
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT::
Resolution of support for COB Google Fiber submittal
ATTACHMENTS:
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
In early 2010, Google announced plans to launch an experiment to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the
country. The networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today (over 1 gigabit per
second, fiber-to-the-home connections) and Google plans to offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000
people. Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike announced in February that the City of Bellingham will ask Google to consider Bellingham as a location for its
"Fiber For Communities" initiative.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
3 / 16 / 2010 : Council Approved 7 - 0
Res . 2010- 009
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution
Number: Res . 2010-009
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County 's website at: www. co. whatcom. wa. us/council.
1 Res. Supporting COB Fiber for Communities SPONSORED BY: Consent
2 PROPOSED BY: Mann
3 INTRODUCTION DATE : March 12 , 2010
4
5 RESOLUTION NO . 2010-009
6
7 SUPPORTING THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM 'S GOOGLE FIBER
8 FOR COMMUNITIES SUBMITTAL
9
10 WHEREAS, Google recently announced plans to test ultra - high speed broadband networks in
11 one or more trial locations across the country ; and
12
13 WHEREAS, technology entrepreneurs, business development experts, and hundreds of
14 community members have encouraged local leaders to promote Bellingham for this opportunity ;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, ultra - high -speed Internet service could create tremendous opportunities for
17 Bellingham and Whatcom County, including economic development and job creation , increased
18 technology capacity for public and private uses, and innovative , sustainable ideas spurred by the
19 availability of ultra - high speed networking ; and
20 WHEREAS, Bellingham and Whatcom County have many features that should be very
21 attractive to Google, such as a strong higher education network and progressive K- 12 schools, the
22 presence of specific business types such as technology and health care , commitment to green
23 initiatives and industries, active, hard - working engaged residents, and a beautiful natural
24 environment ; and
25 WHEREAS, Bellingham is a small city with entrepreneurial spirit, vision , and an appreciation
26 for technology - an ideal testing ground for Google's fiber installation ; and
27 WHEREAS, Bellingham and Whatcom County are uniquely positioned between Seattle and
28 Vancouver BC, with complementary interstate highway, marine, air, and rail infrastructure ; and
29 WHEREAS, Bellingham and Whatcom County offer a progressive and innovative community
30 that will welcome Google .
31 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council :
32
33 • Endorses the City of Bellingham 's Google Fiber for Communities submittal ; and
34
35 • Offers to help and support in the future , should the City be selected for Google 's project ; and
36
37 • `, Wcgg, community residents to show their support by nominating Bellingham using the Google
38 39 ````,N "D r /'Q p�mmunities " Nominate Your Community" website .
41 40 �J�' n ti : 16th day of March , 2010 .
42 ` V • O .CO O •• o % WHATCOM COUNTY CO NCI
43 _ :VIM WHA COM CO NTY ASHIIGTON
44E . �_45 ` ? WAlia. �lfsL� Oa
46 Dan . Nit C elk of the Council Sa "' rawford , Counci : Chair
47 %. NG • • •
48 VP '44 V "ts T R :
49 11.1. / * N
50 i
51 ivil Deputy Prosecutor