Council OKs New Cell Tower in Park

Manhattan Beach residents with Verizon Wireless service may soon have fewer dropped calls around town, as the city has given the company the green light to build a telecommunication tower in Live Oak Park.

"Cell phone coverage hasn't always been perfect in the city," said interim City Manager Richard Thompson on Friday. "The area's topography has presented big challenges, and there has been more demand for cell coverage."

To meet that demand, Verizon will remove an existing 20-foot right field foul pole from Dorsey Field and replace it with a nearly 70-foot pole containing panel antennae. To help it blend in with the park's landscape, the structure will be painted yellow and flush-mounted.

The lease payment for year one is $39,000—or $3,250 per month—with the amount increasing by 5 percent per year for the term of the lease, said Bruce Moe, the city's finance director. Verizon will also pay the city $15,000 at the beginning of the lease for the purchase and installation of new netting at the ball field.

"The price is consistent with other cell tower lease agreements we have," said Thompson. Nearby cities' rates are reportedly between $1,700 and $2,300 a month.

"This is well in excess of what we normally pay," Verizon Representative Justin Robbins told City Council at last Tuesday's meeting. "Obviously, this is an important site for us. We actually got a ton of complaints [about coverage in the area]. That's why we're here."

City Council unanimously approved the telecommunication permit needed to build the tower and authorized the ground lease agreement with Verizon Wireless.

Don McPherson, a Manhattan Beach resident, urged the council to shop around before signing with Verizon to ensure the best possible rate. He added that there is extra revenue to be had in subleasing space on the tower to other carriers.

"The cell phone tower will have two tiers, each with three antennae placed at 120 degree intervals," explained McPherson. "I believe that one tier will meet the needs for [Verizon], and the company is planning on subleasing the second tier."

McPherson, who has been involved with various cell phone negotiations since 1999, said it is fairly common for a cell company to build a tower with more capability than is necessary, then offset their costs through subletting.

"It is my opinion that [Verizon] will do this, and if they do, the city should get a share of the lease costs," he said.

Councilman Wayne Powell agreed and also called for requiring Verizon to make space on the tower for other carriers as a way to limit the potential number of structures going up in the future.

Verizon is not opposed to making the space, Robbins said, "but we're not going to solicit other carriers."

Mayor Pro Tem Richard Montgomery resisted making the extra pole space a requirement on the part of the cell company. "Our residents want more coverage," he said, "... but I'm not comfortable telling Verizon they must make room for other carriers."

Ultimately, Thompson said any lease the city drafts with Verizon would have built-in flexibility.

"We are providing a service to our residents, and the option to approve more carriers on towers is always available to us in our agreements," said Thompson. "However, every company has different needs, as their coverage is different, so they may not need this tower."