Label
Council Member Komives
Title
Authorizing the City of Toledo to fund $20,000 towards the Greater Toledo Digital Equity Coalitions (GTDEC) analysis of resident's broadband access and affordability throughout Lucas County; partnering with Bowling Green State University's Center for Regional Development for a full analysis and report of findings; with full oversight of the program by Toledo Lucas County Public Library; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Since the fall of 2021, Toledo Lucas County Public Library has been convening the "Greater Toledo Digital Equity Coalition," a cross-sector alliance composed of individuals representing entities such as the City of Toledo, Lucas County Board of Commissioners, Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Authority, Bitwise Industries, the Office of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and numerous others. The intent of the Coalition is to further understand the specific hardships community members must continuously overcome when accessing or using basic technological services. The Coalition now looks to formally engage Bowling Green State University's Center for Regional Development to conduct a digital equity gap analysis-ensuring that Lucas County entities are prepared to receive unprecedented investments from the federal government for broadband connectivity and to close the digital gap; across the U.S.
The Greater Toledo Digital Equity Coalition is seeking $20,000 from the City of Toledo to finance the mentioned digital equity analysis/scan across Lucas County, allowing the Coalition to harness concrete data about where dollars should be applied to remedy inequities around access and cost. Furthermore, the Coalition hopes that initial funding and additional community investments will create a reserve to quickly develop and mobilize responsive programs that address the issues uncovered by the analysis. Lastly, a formal digital equity scan analysis will make Lucas County a stronger competitor for future state and federal grants to connect our community to information resources that support education, employment, healthy living, and entertainment.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to contribute up to $20,000 to the GTDEC program, with oversight by the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, for the analysis of digital disparities in Lucas county.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to authorize the expenditure of $20,000 towards the digital equity analysis.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the citizens of Toledo to partner with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library to further understand digital hardships while also ensuring that Lucas County entities have a clear plan to receive unprecedented investments from the federal government for broadband connectivity and to close the digital gap across the U.S.
SECTION 4. That subject to approval, the expenditure in the amount of $20,000 authorized in Section 1 is authorized from the following account: 7084-17500-1144006HWMAIN.
SECTION 5. That the Finance Director is authorized to draw warrant or warrants against the Account Codes in Section 4 in an amount not to exceed $20,000 in payment of the above authorized obligations.
SECTION 6. That this Ordinance be an emergency measure and shall take and be in force and effect after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate analysis of digital inequities, which allows digital gaps to be filled as soon as possible.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 12, nays 0.
Passed: June 7, 2022, as an emergency measure: yeas 12, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: June 8, 2022
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor