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Consider approving an agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for tower construction in an amount not to exceed $250,000 and a non-exclusive telecommunications license to use the tower with an initial 5 year term and five successive 5 year renewal options, for a possible term of 30 years, at the Solano County Fairgrounds located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo; and Consider delegating authority to the County Administrator, pending County Counsel concurrence, to sign the agreement and any subsequent contract modifications and/or extensions not to exceed five additional 5 year periods
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of General Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Consider approving an agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for tower construction in an amount not to exceed $250,000 and a non-exclusive telecommunications license to use the tower with an initial 5-year term and five successive 5-year renewal options, for a possible term of 30 years, at the Solano County Fairgrounds located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo; and
2. Consider delegating authority to the County Administrator, pending County Counsel concurrence, to sign the agreement and any subsequent contract modifications and/or extensions not to exceed five additional 5 year periods.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Since 1994 Cingular has had a License Agreement with the County and the Solano County Fair Association (SCFA) to locate and operate a telecommunications facility (tower and equipment room) on top of the grandstand at the Solano County Fairgrounds. Cingular is a subsidiary of AT&T. The grandstand was included in a number of structures that were demolished in accordance with the Solano 360 redevelopment project at the Fairgrounds. Since demolition, Cingular has operated a temporary tower facility on the Fairgrounds site in preparation of construction of a new permanent location
The property is owned by the County, but SCFA manages activities on the property where the permanent location for a new telecommunication facility is proposed. Since demolition of the grandstands and in order to preserve Cingular’s operations as well as the associated rental revenue to SCFA, a temporary facility is located in an agreed area adjacent to where the Grandstands stood.
In order to streamline the project, Cingular will purchase the tower utilizing their specialized knowledge of and access to the components necessary to erect and install the communications tower. Cingular will transition their temporary operations to this new tower once complete and operate in a specified area of the tower. In addition, the County will also place its communications equipment on the tower in order to further expand and shore up regional interoperability service goals for the Office of Emergency Services. The final completed tower will be 180 feet tall and will hold Cingular and County equipment including additional space on the tower for the County to lease space to other providers which will further enhance the revenue opportunities for the County and SCFA.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
In FY2018/19, the Board of Supervisors allocated $750,000 of one-time SB90 State reimbursements to Accumulated Capital Outlay Fund Budget Unit 1666 for the Law and Justice Communication Tower project. The $250,000 cost for purchase and installation of the tower will be paid from this budget unit. The remaining funds will be used for associated project costs, the equipment necessary to operate this tower and support other interoperability projects. The telecommunications license revenue will be collected by the County and distributed to the Solano County Fair Association as has been the previous practice since the inception of Cingular’s presence on the Fairgrounds.
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by Department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the proposed agreement. This action is not recommended because construction of a new telecommunications tower is necessary for implementation of the County’s interoperability goals for the Office of Emergency Services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel will review the contract as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION