06-28-11 Redevelopment Commission Minutes

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting—June 28, 2011 5. OLD BUSINESS (CONT.) A. Proposal from Radiant Networks continued... couple of locations in South Bend that they were going to fund for a pilot program to experiment with wireless laterals: the Blackthorn area, Eddy Commons and the Mishawaka Edison Lakes area were selected as equitable pilot coverage areas. Mr. Gilot didn't want downtown South Bend to be put at a competitive disadvantage and lobbied for it to be added. Other members of the Metronet board did not want to replace one of the selected entities in favor of downtown South Bend, advocating for regional balance. Mr. Gilot said he would get resources so that downtown South Bend could be included in the study. It's important for economic development for downtown South Bend to be part of this pilot program. Mr. Gilot noted that the coverage study will make sure the high-speed laterals will work in the buildings. It will take about twelve days at $1,500 per day for a total of$18,000 for Reliant Networks to design the system. He spoke from experience, saying if the city doesn't do the coverage study and it just starts guessing and putting up radios, it won't work. Mr. Gilot recommends the city pay for this study. It's a modest investment and is consistent with the city's mission in local government, particularly the Redevelopment Commission's role of supporting job retention, expansion, tax-base preservation and strengthening the tax-base of the downtown. There is probably no place with a greater concentration of small or medium-sized businesses that could use these applications if they could afford the lateral rather than $8,000 to $12,000 for each lateral. The city could cover the downtown; the engineering study is an $18,000 plus. Staff asks for a approval of a not-to-exceed amount of$22,000. 6