Consider Recommendation of Support for Telecommuter Forward! Certification

Purpose:

The City has received a request from Ramsey Resident Matt Woestehoeff to present this opportunity to EDA. To learn about Telecommuter Forward Certification and determine if the EDA would like to formulate a recommendation. Matt Woestehoeff has forwarded the attached materials and will be presenting information relating to Telecommuter Forward! Program and Certification.

N/A

Staff has done some preliminary research on this program. As of August 2020, there were 23 Telecommuter Forward! Communities. The closest communities to Ramsey include: Big Lake, Monticello, North Branch, Chisago County and Sherburne County. It should be noted that no communities in Anoka County are currently members of this program and most participating communities are located in rural underserved areas. The 2020 Provider Broadband Service Inventory Map is attached.  Upon review of the map, aside from a few small areas, the City of Ramsey is considered to to be well served with Wireline Broadband of least 100M/20M. Staff has reached out to staff at Monticello, Chisago County and Big Lake to get a better understanding on how the program operates and the level of the time commitment for staff.  The time commitment varies from City or County, but is much higher in underserved areas like Chisago County.   

Below is a summary of the actions required by the City of Ramsey if Certification is obtained:
 
Ramsey hereby appoints a Staff Member as the single point of contact for coordinating telecommuting opportunities within Ramsey including the following responsibilities:

1. Coordination and partnership with broadband providers, realtors, economic development professionals, employers, employees, and other telecommuting stakeholders.
2. Collaboration with broadband providers and employers to identify, develop, and market telecommuter-capable broadband packages.
3. Communication and partnership with broadband providers and economic development professionals to develop common goals.
4. Promotion of telecommuter-friendly workspaces, such as business incubators with telecommuting spaces, if such a workspace has been established in the political subdivision at the time the political subdivision adopts the resolution.
5. Familiarity with broadband mapping tools and other state-level resources.
6. Maintaining regular communication with the state broadband office.
7. Making regular reports to the City Council of the City of Ramsey.

Staff is generally supportive of the Telecommuter Forward! program, but would like to better research Staff commitment and resources. Before Staff researches this first step, Staff desires to allow this presentation for comment. 

Alternatives include:

1. Recommend that the City Council enter the program.
2. Recommend that the City Council NOT enter the program.
3. Direct Staff to conduct additional research and bring this item back to EDA for future consideration. 
4. Something else.

Based on discussion. 

Based on discussion.

Based on discussion.