Title
Approval & Recommendation to Council of Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 730 An Ordinance Ratifying and Authorizing Amendment of a Lease with Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless for Replacement of Existing Antenna Collocation and Facilities at 280 North Mesa Road, Los Alamos, on the North Mesa Water Tower
Recommended Action
I move that the Board of Public Utilities approve and recommend to Council that the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Ordinance No. 730 be adopted and ratified to amend the real property lease with Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless for Replacement of Existing Antenna Collocation and Facilities at 280 North Mesa Road, Los Alamos, on the North Mesa Water Tower.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Manager recommends that the Board approve this Ordinance and forward to Council for introduction, adoption and ratification.
Body
Verizon Wireless has been a tenant operating cellular telephone equipment attached to the North Mesa Tank since 2005. In 2022, Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, approached Los Alamos County to coordinate upgrading their equipment on the tank. The County attorney's office and Department of Public Utilities staff have been working with Cellco to draft Amendment No. 3 to the lease which authorizes the replacement of the existing 9 antennas and accessory equipment. Ordinance No. 730 is scheduled for approval in a public hearing of the County Council on March 26, 2024 and will become effective May 6, 2024 if approved. Once approved, the Verizon contractor will apply for a building permit to complete the work. DPU water production staff will work closely with the contractor to grant access to the tank and to observe the work to ensure there are no impacts to the tank and associated facilities.
Proposed Schedule
Council Introduction: February 27, 2024
Public Hearing: March 26, 2024
Alternatives
If the Ordinance is not forwarded to Council for adoption and ratification the amendment and associated facility upgrades will not be permitted.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The tenant will be assessed a one time fee of $15,000 for the cost of the County to review the proposed upgrades and administrative work associate with preparation of the amendment.
Attachments
A - LAC Ordinance No. 730 - Verizon Wireless
B - Amendment No. 3 to Lease with Verizon Wireless