|
DATE: |
December 10, 2024 |
25 |
SUBJECT
Title
GENERAL SERVICES - APPROVAL OF LICENSE AMENDMENT FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE OTAY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM SITE AND NOTICE OF EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 1)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County-Imperial County Regional Communications System (RCS), managed and operated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) Wireless Services Division, provides numerous public safety agencies with day-to-day public safety and emergency responder communication support.
Otay Mountain is a Sheriff’s Office RCS communications site located in Jamul, a census-designated place in California, which has been operated by the Sheriff’s Office since 1996. An amendment to the current license agreement for this site is needed to clarify terms and conditions and to extend the term. The current license expires on December 31, 2024, and the Sheriff’s Office needs to continue occupancy of the site.
Staff from the Department of General Services have negotiated a sixth amendment to the license agreement for the Otay Mountain site. The proposed amendment extends the term of the license for an additional ten years and includes two five-year options to extend the term. Today’s request is for Board of Supervisors approval of the license amendment.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find the proposed license amendment for the Otay Mountain Regional Communications System site is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
2. Approve and authorize the Director, Department of General Services, to execute the proposed sixth amendment to a license agreement with Pinnacle Towers, LLC for a Regional Communications Site located at Otay Mountain, San Diego County, California.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Sheriff’s Office Wireless Services Division operates and maintains all public safety wireless communications systems used by the County of San Diego, including mobile and portable radios. The division also manages the San Diego County-Imperial County Regional Communications System (RCS) radio network that serves most law enforcement, fire, and public service, including transportation and school users in this region. It is anticipated that the proposed amendment for the RCS site will have a positive impact on the community by ensuring equitable access to public safety services across the region.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Implementing effective sustainability objectives is crucial to ensuring safe and healthy communities and contributing to the overall success of the region. The approval of this amendment supports the County’s Strategic Initiative of Sustainability to ensure the capability to respond to the immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operational Plan for the Sheriff’s Office. If approved, this request will result in current fiscal year costs of approximately $51,855 based on a commencement date of January 1, 2025. Fiscal Year 2025-26 costs are estimated at $105,265 which includes a 3% rent adjustment to go into effect January 2026. Funds for the remaining term and for each option year (if exercised), will be included in future years’ operational plans for the Sheriff’s Office. The funding source is revenue from Network Operating Cost fees collected from public safety agencies participating in the Regional Communications System. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The San Diego County - Imperial County Regional Communications System (RCS), managed and operated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) Wireless Services Division, provides public safety voice and data communications to over 116 local, State, and federal agencies in San Diego and Imperial Counties. A high degree of coverage throughout both Counties is provided through the RCS network of communications sites. Otay Mountain is one such site that requires a license amendment to continue operations.
The Sheriff’s Office has operated the Otay Mountain RCS site since 1996 and it provides critical public safety radio communications in south San Diego County to the Otay Mesa and U.S. border regions. The site has operated under a series of licenses and the current license expires on December 31, 2024.
Staff from the Department of General Services have negotiated a sixth amendment to license agreement for the Otay Mountain site. The proposed amendment extends the term of the license for an additional ten years and includes two five-year options to further extend the term.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed license amendment is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines because it involves a license amendment to extend use of an existing communications facility with negligible or no expansion of the existing use.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to approve the amendment for the Sheriff’s Office communications site supports the Community Initiative in the County’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by providing services that support safe communities.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: Notice of Exemption