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Approve a lease agreement with Contra Costa County for the use of equipment shelter space and radio tower facilities at Cummings Peak in Contra Costa County in support of Solano County’s South Simulcast P25 Public Safety Radio System for $91,860 from September 15, 2025 through October 31, 2030; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the lease agreement and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to 10% of the contract amount within available annual appropriations
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Information Technology recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a lease agreement with Contra Costa County for the use of equipment shelter space and radio tower facilities at Cummings Peak in Contra Costa County in support of Solano County’s South Simulcast P25 Public Safety Radio System for $91,860 from September 15, 2025 through October 31, 2030; and
2. Authorize the County Administrator to execute the lease agreement and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to 10% of the contract amount within available annual appropriations
SUMMARY / DISCUSSION:
The Department of Information Technology is currently implementing the Solano South Simulcast P25 Radio System through a contract with Motorola Solutions. This phase of the implementation will enhance public safety radio coverage in the Vallejo and Benicia regions. A critical requirement of the project is access to a suitable equipment shelter and tower sites to house and support P25 radio infrastructure. One such site is the Cummings Peak site, located in and owned by Contra Costa County. This site offers existing infrastructure suitable for immediate deployment of radio equipment and avoids the need for Solano County to construct a new facility, which would result in significant delays and added expense.
Under the proposed lease agreement, Solano County will have access to one full rack (42RU) in Vault #1 and four rack units in Vault #2, two receiver antennas, one transmitter antenna, and one microwave dish installed on Contra Costa County’s Tower #2. Power will be provided by Contra Costa County at no cost to Solano County and there will be non-exclusive ingress and egress via the access road.
The lease agreement (Attachment A) is for an initial five-year term beginning September 15, 2025, and ending October 31, 2030, with up to four successive five-year extension options for a total possible lease term of 25 years.
This site was strategically selected due to its elevation, line-of-sight connectivity, and role in the overall network design. Timely execution of this lease is critical to meeting project milestones under the Motorola Solutions contract. Contra Costa County is scheduled to consider approval of the lease at their Board meeting on September 9, 2025.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The lease agreement totals $91,860 over the initial five-year term, which equates to a monthly license fee of $1,531, inclusive of rack space and antenna access. The license fee may be adjusted annually, but not more than once per year and only in accordance with the rate structure used for other agencies utilizing the site, per the terms of the agreement.
Funding for the FY2025/26 portion of the lease is included in the current Public Safety Communications Division budget. Future years’ lease costs will be offset by revenue received from the Cities of Vallejo and Benicia for their participation in and usage of the County’s public safety radio communications system. There is no additional impact on the County General Fund at this time.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the lease agreement. This is not recommended, as it would delay or jeopardize the implementation of the South Simulcast P25 system, requiring significant redesign and possibly increased cost. Alternatively, the Board could choose to direct staff to renegotiate lease terms. This may delay the project timeline and affect public safety service enhancements planned for the Vallejo-Benicia region.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the license agreement as to form and General Services was consulted for technical review and lease negotiation support.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION