Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Approval of a Cell Tower Lease Amendment with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless for the Oly Ward Lake Tank Site
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the resolution and authorize the City Manager to sign the amendment to the Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless lease agreement for the Oly Ward Lake Tank Site.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Resolution and authorize the City Manager to sign the amendment to the Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless lease agreement for the Oly Ward Lake Tank Site.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Engineering and Planning Supervisor, Public Works Drinking Water Utility, 360.753.8321
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Cellco Partnership d/b/a Version Wireless has a lease agreement with the City of Olympia (Olympia) which allows the lessee to use a portion of the property at 2711 Log Cabin Road SE (the Oly Ward Lake site and more commonly referred to as the Boulevard Water Storage Tank) for siting antenna facilities. The existing lease was executed in November 2012 and expires in November 2036.
In 2019, the Olympia Drinking Water Utility was awarded a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to construct retrofits needed to bring the Boulevard Water Storage Tank up to current seismic codes, replace the existing access ladder and conduct interior and exterior coatings. This work requires the temporary relocation of existing antenna facilities.
Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless as lessee is requesting to amend its current lease for the Boulevard Water Storage Tank. This first amendment allows for the temporary relocation of antenna facilities at the Boulevard Water Storage Tank to a temporary tower located at the Boulevard Water Storage Tank site. This move is needed while Olympia’s Drinking Water Utility makes seismic upgrades and other improvements to the tank. Following the completion of the upgrade project, the lessee shall relocate its antenna facilities from the temporary tower to the Boulevard Water Storage Tank within 120 days of receiving notice to do so.
No other provisions of the November 2012 lease agreement are modified by the amendment.
Climate Analysis:
The proposed cell tower lease amendment does not have a direct effect on greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
The revenue received from the lessee goes into the Drinking Water Utility’s annual operating budget thereby helping to reduce rates that are charged to water customers. People who live by or frequent the area surrounding the Boulevard Water Storage Tank site may be disproportionately impacted by the temporary tower and/or the existing antenna facilities at the site for aesthetic reasons while the general greater Olympia community benefits from the telecommunications technology supported by the temporary tower and existing antenna facilities.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
No known neighborhood concerns.
Financial Impact:
None. The Drinking Water Utility receives annual lease revenue for this site from the lessee (currently $23,214.97 with a 4 percent annual cost increase). This revenue goes into the Drinking Water Utility’s annual operating budget thereby helping to reduce rates that are charged to water customers.
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution and authorize the City Manager to sign the amendment to the Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless lease agreement for the Oly Ward Lake Tank Site. Verizon Wireless will temporarily relocate its equipment while necessary improvements are made to the Boulevard Water Storage Tank.
2. Modify the Resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to change the terms and conditions for the temporary relocation of its antenna facilities which allows for improvements to be made to the Boulevard Water Storage Tank. Additional negotiations with Verizon Wireless would be required, delaying improvements to the Boulevard Water Storage Tank and putting our Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan in jeopardy.
3. Do not approve the Resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless. The Drinking Water Utility will not be able to proceed with needed improvements to the Boulevard Water Storage Tank. This would jeopardize our Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement