 City Council Approves Citywide Fiber Optic Master Plan
On Tuesday, July 19, the Fremont City Council adopted the Citywide Fiber Optic Master Plan, which was created to guide the implementation of a City-owned fiber-optic network that will serve as a critical investment in our community’s future.
Jointly developed by Magellan Advisors and the City, the approved plan outlines how the City will facilitate increased robust broadband infrastructure in the community, enabling economic development and ‘smart city’ initiatives, such as high-speed connectivity, sensors, and automated devices. It also strategizes the use and deployment of broadband infrastructure for government facilities and commercial and industrial corridors, as well as examines options for expanding broadband assets to City residents. The plan incorporates findings from interviews that Magellan conducted with City departments, a market assessment, and responses from a community survey.
With this plan, our City aims to transform Fremont into a broadband-rich environment, which will attract and retain businesses, as well as promote digital equity in underserved areas of the community.
 Council Selects New Vice Mayor
The Fremont City Council selected a new Vice Mayor at its regularly scheduled July 19, 2022, Council meeting. Vice Mayor Teresa Keng will serve in this capacity from July 2022 through March 2023.
 New Information on the City’s Homekey Application to the State
In January 2022, staff recommended and Council unanimously approved an application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for Homekey Round 2 funding to convert the Motel 6 on Research Ave. into 156 units of permanent supportive housing. The City partnered with Shangri-La Industries (SLI) and their service partner, Step Up on the project application.
On July 18, 2022, HCD communicated with the City of Fremont stating that the financial information submitted as part of the application by the City’s co-applicant, Shangri-La Industries (SLI), did not meet their requirements. The response provided the City and its co-applicants five days to appeal the decision. Many of HCD’s reasons for denying the project are technical in nature and while staff remain confident that Motel 6 was a good project to put forth, the City is not intending to appeal the HCD decision. Staff’s view is that a new application for a future Round of Homekey funding that demonstrates clear financial capacity and commitments from the City and its co-applicants is more likely to be successful than an appeal. The State is expected to issue a new Notice of Funding Availability for Round 3 Homekey projects in the next few months. Staff will continue to provide community updates on Homekey related activities on Fremont.gov and via the Fremont Connection Newsletter.
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