Item 6-F

City Council Meeting: 03-23-99 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Recommendation to Lease Rooftop Space at 100 Wilshire Boulevard for Public Safety Radio Transmission Equipment

Introduction

This report recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to negotiate and execute a lease with 100 Wilshire Associates, the owners of the building at 100 Wilshire Boulevard, for the purpose of continuing to use rooftop space for City-owned public safety radio transmission equipment.

Background

In1986, the Santa Monica Police Department obtained permission to use rooftop space on top of the office building at 100 Wilshire Boulevard for its main radio transmitter and microwave relay equipment. Since that time, the location has proven to be a most reliable location, due to its building height and internally generated emergency power capability. Prior to equipment installation at 100 Wilshire, the department experienced a variety of radio-dead spots in and around the City. Once equipment was moved to the site in 1986, almost all of the radio-dead spots within the City were eliminated.

In 1987, a five-year lease was entered into with the building owners at 100 Wilshire Boulevard for use of the space. When the lease expired in 1992, the building owners agreed to rent the space to the City on a month-by-month basis. In July1998, the Police Department received notification from 100 Wilshire Associates that they wanted to negotiate a five-year lease. Tentative agreement on terms and conditions for such a lease has been reached. The agreement includes access to the building roof top on a twenty four-hour, seven-day-a-week basis, continued access and use of a room built in 1986 specifically for Santa Monica Police radio equipment, and a guarantee that no other radio equipment will be allowed on the roof top location without a study showing that there will be no interference with existing Police radio equipment. Police and City Attorney staff have determined that there are no other viable options which offer the same building height and emergency power options. Other options may be considered once the new Public Safety Facility is complete.

Budget/Financial Impact

Adequate funds ($14,400) are budgeted in Police budget account 01-300-304-00000-2262-00000 for the FY1998/99 rental of this space. Funds necessary to support the lease for additional years will be requested each year as part of the annual budget process.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to negotiate and execute a lease with 100 Wilshire Associates, the owners of the building at 100 Wilshire Boulevard, for the purpose of continuing to use rooftop space for City-owned public safety radio transmission equipment.

Prepared by: James T. Butts, Jr., Chief of Police