TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Meg Ragan, Chief Technology Officer
REPORT BY: Mark Revis, Broadband Project Manager
SUBJECT: Accept a grant from California Public Utilities Commission and approve the related budget amendment
RECOMMENDATION
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Accept a grant for $28,977 from the California Public Utilities Commission; and approve the related Budget Amendment. (Fiscal Impact: $28,977 Revenue and Expense, Information Technology Systems Fund, Not Budgeted, Discretionary)
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
The California Public Utilities Commission has awarded Napa County a grant in the amount of $28,977 to support the installation of a Wi-Fi network at the county-owned Calistoga Farmworker Center. A required match of $18,350 over five years for operations and maintenance of the network will be required. The costs for ongoing operations and maintenance of the network will be the responsibility of the Napa County Housing Authority (NCHA). Acceptance of this funding will allow the Calistoga Farmworker Center to expand and improve Wi-Fi, and provide residents with access to online services including education, healthcare, banking, transportation, social services, and civic engagement.
On March 14, 2025, ITS issued an informal Request for Quotation (RFQ) on behalf of the NCHA for a pilot project to procure, install, maintain and manage a new Wi-Fi network with high-speed internet access for the Calistoga Farmworker Center. The lowest responsive bid was submitted by Personal Computing, Inc. d/b/a Valley Internet, in the amount of $47,463. Of that amount, $29,113 is for the purchase and installation of the new network, and the remainder, $18,350, is for the maintenance and management of the network for five years following the acceptance of the grant. On July 1, 2025, the division of Information Technology Services (ITS) submitted an application for a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission to fund the project.
The notification of the grant award in the amount of $28,977 was received from the CPUC on December 19, 2025. After consultation with the Auditor-Controller’s Office, it was decided that ITS should accept the grant, then transfer the funds to the Napa County Housing Authority (NCHA). A separate item is being presented to the NCHA Board of Commissioners to accept the transfer of funds and to amend their budget for the costs of construction and the ongoing operations and maintenance of the network, and to execute the contract with Personal Computing, Inc. d/b/a/ Valley Internet.
Requested Action:
1. Accept grant from California Public Utilities Commission in the amount of $28,977; and
2. Approve a Budget Amendment increasing appropriations of $28,977 in Fund 4200 Subdivision 4200000 ITS Admin, Account 54800 -Contributions, offset by Account 43790 - ST Other Funding. (4/5 vote required)
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approval will improve living conditions for farmworkers in Napa County and help maintain an adequate pool of skilled workers. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
A required match of $18,350 over five years for operations and maintenance of the network will be required. The costs for ongoing operations and maintenance of the network will be the responsibility of the Napa County Housing Authority (NCHA). |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Limited access to online resources including education, finances, transportation. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at 14 CCR §15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.]