HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-07; Digital Information Network Long Term Planning; Rocha, LauraTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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Jan. 7,2021
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Via:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Ser.vices
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager {[jj_
Re: Digital Information Network Long Term Planning
{city ofCarlsbad
Memo ID# 2021004
This memorandum provides information related to the next step in planning the long-term goals
for the Carlsbad Digital Information Network.
Background
On Dec. 17, 2019, City Council approved the implementation of a new Digital Information
Network by leveraging an existing agreement with a communications infrastructure provider,
Crown Castle. Shortly after this approval, work began on building this new network.
On Sept. 22, 2020, City Council was given an update on the status of the project. During that
meeting, staff advised City Council that an item would be brought to them at a future date
relating to the next phase of the project. The concept for the next phase in the development of
the digital network is connecting more of the city's assets that are currently connected through
other standalone networks or are not currently connected. Those existing assets may include
traffic signals, the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) network for city utilities,
public safety technology, and potential future assets that will need to be connected. The goal is
to create value for the city by connecting existing city assets that are not currently connected,
consolidate the number of networks that must be maintained for city infrastructure, and provide
a cost-effective way of connecting future technology assets.
Discussion
The city currently relies on multiple networks and varying types of architecture to provide digital
information services to its departments. Over the past 15 to 20 years, the city incrementally
assembled a core operations network mostly by outsourcing these critical communications
services to third-party providers. Often, the communications network was associated with the
deployment of a certain technology to address a city need. For example, when the city began
addressing traffic management through a centralized traffic management center and connected
traffic signals, a network of wireless devices and copper communications wiring was installed for
the single purpose of providing traffic and traffic signal information to the Traffic Management
Center. The Utilities Department within the Public Works Branch also has a communications
network for its SCADA system that is used for the operation of the freshwater management
system. There are approximately six networks that serve similar functions in often times
Administrative Services Branch
Information Technology Department
1635 Faraday Ave. I Carlsbad, CA ZIP 92008 I 760-602-2450 t