A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE (FCWPC) REGARDING A PROPOSAL TO SUBSIDIZE AND/OR EXPAND THE BIGBELLY PROGRAM TO ALLOW FOR THE ADDITION OF A "TELEBELLY" COMPONENT TO THE EXISTING BIGBELLY UNITS; AND TO BRING SUCH PROPOSAL BACK TO THE FCWPC FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY, THROUGH ITS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, TO DISCUSS WITH BIGBELLY SOLAR, INC., THE CITY'S VENDOR FOR CERTAIN SOLAR POWERED TRASH COMPACTORS (66 CURRENTLY) LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY THE ESSENTIAL TERMS FOR A PROPOSAL.

The Administration is not supportive of approving the resolution for the reasons listed below.

At its July 8, 2015 City Commission meeting, the Commission accepted the recommendation of the May 27, 2015 Sustainability and Resilience Committee, via Resolution 2015-29067, to proceed with a 12-month pilot program that would allow for the lease of twenty-four (24) Bigbelly + Smartbelly Double Stations under a service contract.

On March 1, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission approved, in substantial form, the agreement with Big Belly Solar, Inc., for an initial term of three (3) years with one (1) two-year renewal term, for a blended annual service fee, which over a five (5) year term will not exceed $99,000 a year, excluding the shipping fee, relocation fee, annual equipment insurance (or self-insurance), deductibles, and equipment repair/replacement costs.

At its November 30, 2018 meeting, the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) was presented an item by BigBelly, where its lobbyist, Mr. Ralph Andrade discussed potential ways to subsidize the cost of the program and expansion opportunities, through either limited advertisement or through a small cell siting program (5G node), while creating revenue opportunities for the City. At the completion of the discussion, the Committee directed Public Works staff to further negotiate these options with Mr. Andrade and BigBelly and for BigBelly to come back with a proposal at a future meeting.

The City of Miami Beach is in the initial 3-year term of a 5-year contract with BigBelly, Inc which provides 66 solar powered trash compacters throughout the City. The Term of the contract commences from the acceptance date of February 5, 2018, which is the date the units were installed and functioning.

The makers of Bigbelly have develop a "Telebelly" platform which is a multi-purpose infrastructure of similar form to the Bigbelly units installed.  The "Telebelly" station features a smart waste unit coupled with a telecom cabinet that conceals Small Cell (5G) radio equipment. It includes a modest height integrated mast that supports a discreet multi-band antenna and is connected with permanent fiber and power.

At its September 20, 2019 meeting, the FCWPC made a motion to have a representative of the proposed technology at the public meeting on October 1, 2019 where 5G will be discussed and subsequently bring to the City Commission an item to allow for the addition of a "Telebelly" component to reduce the expense of the Bigbelly units installed in the City by amending the current contract as a means to subsidize maintenance and operational program costs.

The Administration is not supportive of approving the resolution for the following reasons:

• Currently there are a number of challenges with the 5G deployment both with regard to destruction and obstruction of the public right-of-way as well as the City not having specific rights or controls due to the State of Florida's preemption laws regarding this utility.
• The Bigbelly contract was identified, during the FCWPC Zero Based Budget Exercise and subsequently analyzed for possible termination as a cost savings measure.  The vendor has not provided any significant cost savings proposal that would minimize the City's financial obligation under the contract.