Cell Towers on Campus IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

Transcription

1 Cell Towers on Campus IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

2 Overview Pasco County Case Study Self-management of towers Hillsborough County Case Study Management company management of towers Stake-holder engagement Expected opposition Impact of local development regulations on site availability

3 Pasco Public Schools

4 Pasco County History Telecommunications companies began contacting the district regarding cell towers back in 2007 The Planning Department was tasked with overseeing this process Two companies, Collier Enterprises and Tech Tower, submitted proposals for two different sites, one an elementary school and the other a middle school Tech Tower was awarded the contract for Dr. John Long Middle and Collier Enterprises was awarded the contract for Seven Oaks Elementary The tower was constructed at Dr. John Long Middle but due to some siting issues, the tower was not constructed at Seven Oaks Elementary

5 Pasco County History (continued) Since that time: 2 existing towers have been acquired through land purchases 3 additional towers have been constructed 2 additional towers have been contracted one is in the permitting process and the other on hold due to the carrier 2 towers recently had their contracts renegotiated

6 Pasco County Process Vendor contacts Planning about the feasibility of a particular school site Planning contacts the school principal to discuss Yes Planning works with Purchasing to send out a bid to known vendors (tower companies) Bids are reviewed and a vendor is selected. A contract is prepared. Tower built Vendor begins approval/permitting process, may include public hearing School Board meeting is held to consider the contract. Opportunity for parent/community input. Principal schedules informational meeting with school community

7 Pasco County Community Engagement School holds an Open House / Parent Night for information and questions Attended by representatives of the planning department and administration Also, representatives from the tower company and perhaps the carrier attend School parents are notified of the pending school board meeting where public comment and feedback are taken Pasco County approval process Tier process based on certain location and design standards Tier Two requires public notice Tier Three requires a neighborhood meeting and public hearing

8 Pasco County Typical Terms in Bid Document Length of time for lease - typically 30 years Base rent Varies on location but our most recent towers have a starting base rent of $24,000 and $27,000 annually (about $15,000 when first started) Base rent increases for each new tenant typically $9,000 - $12,000 annually Escalation 3.5% to 4.0 % Capital fee Receive this fee for completion of tower and/or for each additional tenant Typically $20,000 - $25,000 Length of time to construct tower usually about 4 years

9 Pasco County Revenue $70,000 Revenue by Tower $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $ Fivay High Long Middle Smith Adams Sunlake Gulf Trace District Cypress Seven Oaks

10 Pasco County Revenue Total Revenue by Year $160,000 $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $ Total

11 Pasco County Revenue Revenue is split 50% to the school and 50% to the district Revenue to the schools tends to be used for technology (such as ipads), materials and supplies, and equipment. Monitoring currently done by the Planning Department. Revenue data is pulled from our finance system and we confirm payment as well as appropriate timing of escalation Have discussed giving that to the Finance Department to oversee

12 Pasco County Final Points County review process Renegotiation Helped to renegotiate two towers at same time Had an appraisal done Steel in the Air (Florida based company) Marketing of Sites as opposed to waiting for vendor to contact us Monetizing / Buy-out of leases

13 Hillsborough Public Schools

14 Hillsborough County History First tower in 2000 was approved to fund the cost of lighting for joint use soccer fields with City of Tampa, HCPS & Soccer Club Telecommunications companies began contacting the district regarding cell towers in Towers were negotiated by HCPS at two sites in 2005 In 1999 and 2005 District acquired 2 sites with towers in place In 2006 District went out to bid for Site Management Company There were no staff resources in place to handle negotiations/monitor payment 2016 total of 20 sites and 21 towers

15 Hillsborough County History (continued) RFP issued 2006 Collier Enterprises selected as vendor agreement can be renewed for 20 years Vendor markets District Sites and goes through local government approval process Rent is split 50/50 between District and Vendor Vendor absorbs cost of tower construction Front loaded $25,000 to District to be repaid via rents

16 Hillsborough County Cell Tower Siting Process Vendor requests eligibility of site from Chief Operating Officer 15 days NO; Process ends 15 days YES, Chief Facilities Officer Directs Vendor to contact Principal Vendor confers with Principal and Principal confers with Area Superintendent NO, Process ends YES, Principal schedules informational meeting with school community Meeting held with at least 2 weeks notice to parents using standard school notification procedures. i.e. Friday folder, Parent Link, Marquee After school community input, principal decides NO, Process Ends YES, Vendor begins any process required by local government, may include public hearing Outcome of government process negative, Process Ends Outcome of government process positive Principal/Chief Operating Officer/Vendor Collaboration Agreement Reached Tower Built

17 Hillsborough County Community Engagement Tampa pre-approved Sites 2001 County has standards that were revisited in 2009 & more liberal 2011 more restrictive Temple Terrace & Plant City allow in Commercial/Industrial Areas Temple Terrace Requires conditional use School District public engagement process was formalized after much controversy from community about adequate notice prior to towers appearing at schools

18 Hillsborough County Typical Terms Length of time for lease - typically 30 years Base rent Varies on location but District share on recent towers $13,ooo annually per carrier Many sites have multiple carriers with annual rents received up to $55K. Base rent increases for each new tenant typically $12K-13K annually (District s share) Escalation 3.0% to 6.5 % Capital fee Fee paid by carriers to Vendor for tower infrastructure (not rent) rent may be abated to pay this fee Length of time from selection of site to revenue usually about 2-3 years

19 Hillsborough County Revenue Practice has been School Sites receives 90% of revenue and Administration receives 10% 5 Sites outside Collier contract 100% to School sites Revenue $13.5K to $32K annually per site Recently split was changed to 70/30 split for all sites Expected revenue for 2016 $600K to the Schools/District

20 Hillsborough County Revenue Total Revenue by Year $600, $500, $400, $300, $200, $100, $

21 Hillsborough County Final Points Renegotiation 2 Towers not under Vendor contract seeking to renegotiate terms Minimal work effort from District staff Monetizing / Buy-out of leases requests weekly

22 Other School Districts from earlier survey Osceola staff- no new ones - has a couple negotiated by school site administrator Orange staff --allows but not at Elementary Marion - staff and vendor houses school equipment Hernando - staff Lee staff/vendor Palm Beach staff Miami Dade staff (looking for vendor at time of survey)

23 Opposition to Cell Towers Typical arguments Cell tower radiation health concerns Appearance Public schools should not be pursuing revenue this way Responses Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure Survey Articles from FCC and American Cancer Society, etc. Towers have to be sited in relatively specific areas if they aren t located on campus they will be more than likely sited nearby

24 Questions and Discussion

25 Contact Information HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS Lorraine Duffy Suarez, AICP General Manager of Growth Management & Planning 901 E. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL (813) Lorraine.Duffy- PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS Chris Williams Director, Planning Services Tree Breeze Drive New Port Richey, FL (813)