City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 19, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
JOANNA C. ANDERSON, CITY ATTORNEY /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing and Consideration of a Five-Year Telecommunications Facility License Agreement with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to Permit Cellco Partnership to install Small Cell Facilities on Approved Third-Party owned Poles in the City of Alexandria’s Public Rights-of-Ways.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a five-year Telecommunications Facility License Agreement with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to Permit Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to install Small Cell Facilities on Approved Third-Party owned Poles in the City of Alexandria’s Public Rights-of-ways.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council hold a public hearing on October 19, 2019, and after hearing public testimony approve the attached five year license agreement with Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon Wireless”), and authorize the City Manager to execute the license agreement and to take any other actions that are necessary to implement the agreement.
BACKGROUND: As you aware in 2017, the General Assembly enacted legislation to address the growing demand for wireless service and to facilitate telecommunications companies to efficiently deploy small cell communication facilities throughout the Commonwealth. (City Council meeting 2/26/2019, item #10 <https://alexandria.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3868166&GUID=2851081A-A56E-4D0D-BD60-6117592C0657>) Since this time, the City has been working closely with telecommunication providers and Dominion Virginia Power (the owner of poles in the City) to comply with recently enacted federal and state laws and to collaboratively reach an agreement that meets federal and state legal requirements for companies to deploy small cell facilities. In addition, as required by federal law, the City adopted Interim Wireless Facility Aesthetic Guidelines to govern the placement and general design of wireless infrastructure and associated facilities within the City. <https://www.alexandriava.gov/>
DISCUSSION: The significant provisions of the proposed agreement are summarized below.
1. Term of Agreement: The term of the agreement is for five years and will run from the date that the parties sign the agreement. Under state law, Verizon Wireless is entitled to obtain an agreement for a term of ten (10) years, however, for City Council to grant any agreement with a term greater than five (5) years would require the initiation of the franchise process under Virginia Code §15.2-2100, et. seq. This process is more involved than the granting of a license agreement and Verizon Wireless intends to seek a franchise in early 2020. In other words, the terms of the proposed license agreement will be replaced by a franchise agreement with a term of ten years.
2. Equipment/Poles Governed by Proposed Agreement: This agreement grants Verizon Wireless the right to attach to Dominion poles that are listed on Exhibit A to agreement. These poles and equipment have been reviewed and approved by City staff. The approved facilities’ design is also set forth on Exhibit A to the agreement.
3. Compensation: Under state law the City will receive a one time administrative fee of $750 for staff time in reviewing applications. With regard to the approved poles and equipment Verizon Wireless submitted 36 applications, the City received a total fee of $2,850.
4. Removal/Relocation of Facilities: The City has the ability to require Verizon Wireless to remove, relocate or reconfigure its facilities in order to protect the public health safety and welfare. If this determination is made, Verizon Wireless is require to make any such changes at its expense. In addition, if Verizon Wireless determines that it no longer using the facilities it is to remove the facilities from the City’s rights-of-ways at its own expense.
5. Insurance: is required to maintain adequate insurance to protect the City and its residents against claims arising from the installation and deployment of the facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT: A one-time administrative fee of $750 and total application fees of $2,850.
ATTACHMENT: Cellco d/b/a Verizon Wireless Telecommunications Facility License
Agreement
STAFF:
Joanna C. Anderson, City Attorney
Karen S. Snow, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Richard Lawrence, Urban Planner III, Planning & Zoning
William Skrabak, Deputy Director, T&ES/Infrastructure/Env. Quality
Shaun Smith, Urban Planner III, Planning & Zoning