The City leases tower space from American Tower Corporation for placement of communications equipment on a private tower located south of the Truman Parkway near Whitefield Avenue.  The equipment is part of a City-County communications system that provides public safety related services. There is not a City or County tower facility in this specific area of the Southside, so space is leased from American Tower.

The lease originated in 1996 at a rate of $100 per month per antenna ($300 per month). The lease was amended in 2009 to include the placement of new equipment and to adjust rents for the passage of time to a new rental amount of $800 per month. The City’s Information Technology Department is seeking to upgrade communication equipment on the tower again and add a temporary microwave dish until a permanent microwave dish can be installed later this year. The amended lease rate will increase by an additional $800 per month to facilitate the new/additional equipment and to adjust for the passage of time. Therefore, total rent will be $1,600 per month; equating to $19,200 per year. The cost will be an operating expense to the Information Technology Department.

This matter has been reviewed by Real Property Services, the Information Technology Department, and the City Attorney's Office.

Approval