HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11d - Maintenance of Cellular Equipment
DATE: May 2, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director
Kevin Merrill, City Engineer
SUBJECT: MUNICIPAL RIGHT-OF-WAY FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT WITH
CROWN CASTLE FIBER, LLC., FOR USE OF CITY FACILITIES FOR THE
INSTALLATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF CELLULAR
EQUIPMENT
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) adopted a Small Cell
Order that limits local government authority to collect “fair and reasonable compensation”
for use of its facilities in the public right-of-way. Specifically, the order established a “safe
harbor” fee for use of minor City property, such as streetlights, in the amount of $270 per
year. Crown Castle Fiber, LLC., previously had a Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use
Agreement (“Agreement”) at a rate that exceeded the current limits. Crown Castle Fiber,
LLC has requested to enter into a new Agreement based on the reduced fee allowed by
the Order.
It is recommended that the City Council approve, authorize and direct the City Manager
to execute a Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement with Crown Castle Fiber,
LLC., for use of City facilities for installation, operation, and maintenance of cellular
equipment.
BACKGROUND
Cellular service providers are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, but
under state law, have the right to use City public rights-of-way for their facilities, provided
their facilities do not inconvenience public use of the right-of-way. In order to manage
these installations to the greatest extent, the City has developed a Wireless Facilities in
Public Right-of-Way Application permit, which provides requirements and guidance to
cellular providers for installations.
Municipal Facilities Right-of-Way Agreement with
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC.
May 2, 2023
Page 2 of 4
As part of the permit review process, wireless providers are asked to locate their facilities
on existing facilities such as streetlights or utility poles, to minimize the impact on the City.
For the use of utility poles, the cellular provider needs the authorization of the pole owner.
For the use of City facilities, the City Attorney prepared a standard agreement, entitled a
Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement, to allow cellular providers to use City
facilities for the installation, operation, and maintenance of their cellular equipment. The
Agreement requires City Council approval and is intended to be a master document for
any and all installations on City-owned facilities by a cellular provider. Subsequently, each
location is administratively approved with the issuance of the Site License Authorization
Form, attached to the Agreement as an exhibit. This change simplifies and streamlines
the process for both the provider and the City.
The City currently has three (3) cellular providers under agreement for use of City
facilities. Verizon Wireless and Extenet Systems entered into the initial Municipal Right-
of-Way Facilities Use Agreement in 2016, with an annual streetlight use fee of $1,500.
AT&T Wireless entered into the agreement in 2022 and will be paying a reduced fee per
facility as described in the next paragraph. NextG Networks/Crown Castle entered into
an older, different agreement in November 2009 for a term of 10 years, with an annual
streetlight fee of $500; they currently have three small cell facilities in operation.
In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) adopted an order (FCC
18-133) pertaining to the deployment of small wireless facilities, including the use of
municipal facilities by cellular providers. The Order, referred to as the Small Cell Order,
determined that failing to allow use of municipal facilities for cellular equipment could be
an “effective prohibition” of wireless service under federal law. Further, the Order limited
local government authority to collect “fair and reasonable compensation” for use and
established an annual “safe harbor” fee in the amount of $270, for use of a City facility
like a streetlight pole. A higher fee may be justified if it complies with the Order’s
requirements, it reflects a reasonable approximation of actual costs and is non-
discriminatory. Regarding existing agreements, the FCC Order did not preempt fees but,
rather stated the Order’s effect on any existing agreement would depend upon all the
facts and circumstances of that specific case, and with no guarantee it would impact any
agreement in place before the Order took effect.
Prior to November 2019, Crown Castle Fiber, LLC., requested to enter into a new
agreement with the City for the use of Arcadia’s right-of-way facilities for the installation,
operation, and maintenance of their small cell equipment. Crown Castle requested that
the annual streetlight use fee be set at $270, per the Small Cell Order. Because the Order
was under appeal at the time, the City prepared an agreement that set the annual fee at
$1,500 and offering an exception for denial of the appeal, which would reduce the annual
fee to $270. The City Council approved the agreement, but Crown Castle refused to sign
it. The City has allowed Crown Castle to continue under their old agreement, paying the
$500 pole fee until the present time.
Municipal Facilities Right-of-Way Agreement with
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC.
May 2, 2023
Page 3 of 4
In May 2021, the FCC rejected the appeal and by July 2021, all other appeal efforts as
high as the United States Supreme Court were rejected, leaving the Small Cell Order as
the governing directive. The Order does not allow local agencies to reject the use of City
facilities as a blanket policy. Cities must make streetlights and traffic lights available as
well as accept and consider applications within specific timelines set forth in the statute.
Cities may approve or deny access to streetlight or traffic signal poles on a case-by-case
basis, including any other reasonable terms and conditions that may consist of aesthetic
and safety standards, among other criteria.
DISCUSSION
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC., requested the use of City right-of-way facilities for the
installation, operation, and maintenance of small cell equipment, with primary interest in
City streetlight poles at an annual fee of $270.
The City’s Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement has been revised to reflect
the FCC’s Small Cell Order. The City Attorney has added language to reflect the pole use
amount of $270 and has also added alternatives based on any future changes to the FCC
Order.
The Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement includes the following key
elements:
• The Agreement has a term of 10 years, with one 5-year extension.
• The City must approve each location with a Site License Authorization form in
advance of each installation.
• The City will receive an annual fee of $270 per street light installation, with an
annual increase of 4% in leu of an annual CPI adjustment.
• The Agreement allows for the use of other City facilities, like conduit, if requested.
• Additional fees for the use of other facilities are to be determined upon request and
agreed upon by both parties.
• Electricity is not provided by the City.
• The Agreement requires the Facility to be relocated, if requested by the City.
• Equipment must be removed upon abandonment of service or termination of
Agreement, or it becomes the sole property of the City.
• Carrier to post a Performance Bond in the amount of $50,000 for up to 50 locations
and $100,000 for more than 50.
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC., has indicated that the company concurs with this latest
Agreement.
Municipal Facilities Right-of-Way Agreement with
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC.
May 2, 2023
Page 4 of 4
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
With the City’s standard agreement, the City would receive $270 per year for each
installation on a streetlight. At this time, it is not known how many City facilities may be
utilized by Crown Castle Fiber, LLC., under this Agreement, but it could reasonably reach
a number in the dozens over time. Given the three current small cell facilities operated by
Crown Castle, $810 would be collected annually under the Agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action is exempt under the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve, authorize and direct the City
Manager to execute a Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement with Crown
Castle Fiber, LLC., for use of City facilities for the installation, operation, and maintenance
of cellular equipment.
Attachment: City’s Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use Agreement
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CITY OF ARCADIA
MUNICIPAL RIGHT-OF-WAY FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT
THIS MUNICIPAL RIGHT-OF-WAY FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT
(“Agreement”) is entered into on __________________, 2023 (“Effective Date”), by the
CITY OF ARCADIA, a California municipal corporation (“City”), and CROWN CASTLE
FIBER LLC a New York, limited liability company (“Licensee”). City and Licensee are
at times collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Parties” or individually as the “Party.”
RECITALS
A. City is the owner of certain Municipal Facilities (as defined in Sec. 1.4
below) located in the Public Way (as defined in Sec. 1.5 below).
B. Licensee desires to use space on certain Municipal Facilities in the Public
Way for installation, operation and maintenance of its Equipment (as defined in Sec. 1.1
below) for the transmission and reception of wireless, cellular telephone and/or data
communications, and is willing to compensate the City in exchange for a license to use
portions of particular Municipal Facilities in the Public Way.
AGREEMENT
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree to the following covenants, terms, and conditions:
1 DEFINITIONS. The following definitions apply generally to the
provisions of this Agreement:
1.1 “Equipment” means antennas, fiber optic cables, wires, and
related equipment, whether referred to singly or collectively, to be installed and operated
by Licensee pursuant to an approved Site License Authorization (as hereinafter defined).
Any Equipment must receive prior written approval from the City before it may be installed
on any Municipal Facility or placed on or in the Public Way.
1.2 “Installation Date” means the earlier of the installation date
listed on the Site License Authorization or the date that any Equipment is first installed by
Licensee pursuant to a Site License Authorization issued by the City in accordance with
this Agreement and is inspected and approved by City in accordance with its customary
permitting procedures. The Installation Date shall be documented in writing following
such determination.
1.3 “Laws” means applicable statutes, constitutions, ordinances,
resolutions, regulations, judicial decisions, rules, tariffs, administrative orders, certificates,
orders, or other requirements of the City or other governmental agency having joint or
several jurisdiction over the Parties to this Agreement.
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1.4 “Municipal Facilities” means City-owned Streetlight Poles,
traffic light poles, lighting fixtures, electroliers, fiber-optic strands and conduit, or other
City-owned structures located within the Public Way. These facilities may be referred to
in the singular or plural, as appropriate to the context in which used.
1.5 “Public Way” or “Public Rights-of-Way” means the space
in, upon, above, along, across, and over the public streets, roads, lanes, courts, ways, alleys,
boulevards, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and places, including all public utility easements and
public service easements as the same now or may hereafter exist, that are under the
jurisdiction of the City. This term does not include county, state, or federal rights-of-way
or any property owned by any person or entity other than the City, except as provided by
applicable laws or pursuant to an agreement between the City and any such person or entity.
1.6 “PUC” means the California Public Utilities Commission.
1.7 “Services” means the services specified in the applicable
Site License Authorization.
1.8 “Site License Authorization” means an authorization
granted by City to Licensee pursuant to this Agreement to install Equipment on a specified
Municipal Facility, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
1.9 “Streetlight Pole” means any standard-design concrete,
fiberglass, metal, or wooden pole that has a mast arm for electrolier or traffic control
equipment support and is used for street lighting purposes.
2 TERM. This Agreement is effective on the Effective Date as
specified in Section 12.11 and will be for a term of ten (10) years commencing on the
Effective Date, unless earlier terminated by either party in accordance with the provisions
of Section 10. Within six months prior to the expiration of the initial 10-year term, and
upon Licensee’s written request, the parties will meet and confer with regard to a five-year
renewal or extension of this Agreement, and the terms and conditions applicable to any
such renewal or extension. Any holding over after the expiration of the term shall constitute
a default by Licensee, notwithstanding that City may elect to accept one or more payments
of fees from Licensee.
3 SCOPE OF USE. All rights expressly granted to Licensee under
this Agreement, which will be exercised at Licensee’s sole cost and expense, are subject to
the prior and continuing right of the City under applicable laws to use all parts of the Public
Way exclusively or concurrently with any other person or entity. Use of the Municipal
Facilities is further subject to all deeds, easements, dedications, conditions, covenants,
restrictions, encumbrances, and claims of title of record that may affect the Public Way.
Nothing in this Agreement may be deemed to grant, convey, create, or vest in Licensee a
real property interest in land, including any fee, leasehold interest, or easement. No
reference herein to a “Public Way” shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty by
City that its interest or other rights to control the use of the Public Way is sufficient to
permit its use for Licensee’s purposes, and Licensee shall be deemed to gain only those
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rights to use as are properly in City and as City may have the undisputed right and power
to give. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit in any way Licensee’s obligation to obtain
any required regulatory approvals from any City department, board or commission or other
governmental agency that has regulatory authority over the Licensee’s proposed activities
involving use of the Municipal Facilities in the Public Way. All work performed pursuant
to the rights granted by this Agreement is subject to the prior review and approval of the
City in accordance with its customary permitting procedures (see, Section 5.1 below).
Licensee shall have the right to terminate any Site License Authorization at any time during
the term. Notice of Licensee’s exercise of its right to terminate shall be given to City in
accordance with the notice provisions set forth in Paragraph 9 and shall be effective upon
the mailing of such notice by Licensee, or upon such later date as designated by Licensee.
All Annual Fees paid to said termination date shall be retained by City. The Licensee shall
have no further obligations for the payment of Annual Fees to City for the terminated Site
License Authorization for the period after the termination date.
3.1 Attachment to Municipal Facilities. The City authorizes
Licensee to locate, place, attach, install, operate, maintain, control, remove, reattach,
reinstall, relocate, and replace Equipment in or on Municipal Facilities subject to the terms
of this Agreement. Licensee may only use Municipal Facilities pursuant to an approved
Site License Authorization, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
3.2 No Interference. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that the
primary purpose of the Municipal Facilities is to serve the City and the public. City is
willing to permit the installation of Licensee’s Equipment in or on Municipal Facilities
only where such use will not interfere with City’s own existing (as of the Installation Date)
and future primary service requirements and facilities, or the primary service requirements
of others authorized to use the Municipal Facilities of City existing as of the Installation
Date. In the performance and exercise of its rights and obligations under this Agreement,
Licensee must not interfere in any manner with the existence and operation of any existing
(as of the Installation Date) public or private rights-of-way, sanitary sewers, water mains,
storm drains, gas mains, poles, aerial and underground electrical and telephone wires,
electroliers, cable television and telecommunications facilities, utilities, existing and future
licensed municipal communication frequencies, or existing and future Municipal Facilities,
without the express approval of the owner or owners of the affected property or properties,
except as authorized by applicable laws or this Agreement. If such interference should
occur, Licensee shall discontinue using the Equipment, methodology or technology that
causes the interference until Licensee takes corrective measures to eliminate such
interference.
In the event that such interference does not cease promptly, Licensee acknowledges
that continuing interference may cause irreparable injury and harm, and therefore, in
addition to any other remedies, and without limitation of any other remedy, City shall be
entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctions against the breach of this Subsection.
Further, Licensee shall install a disconnect device at each Municipal Facility on which it
installs Equipment pursuant to a Site License Authorization so that in case of emergency,
the City may disconnect such Equipment from its power source and safely shut it down.
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3.3 Compliance with Laws. Licensee will comply with all
applicable laws, including regulations and PUC General Orders, in the exercise of its rights
and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
3.4 No Authorization to Install Unauthorized Equipment or
Provide Other Services. Licensee represents that its Equipment installed pursuant to this
Agreement will be used solely for the purpose of providing the Services identified in the
applicable Site License Authorization and that Licensee will not install unauthorized
Equipment for any purpose or use its authorized Equipment to offer or provide any other
services. Licensee’s failure to comply with these limitations will constitute a material
breach of this Agreement. For unauthorized Equipment City, after providing written notice
to Licensee, may impose liquidated damages in an amount not to exceed $1,000, and in
addition, Licensee shall from the date of such written notice be obligated to pay for such
unauthorized Equipment an amount which is five times the applicable fee in Section 4.1
until the breach is cured by Licensee by applying for and obtaining a Site License
Authorization for such unauthorized Equipment. For unauthorized Services, City, after
providing written notice to Licensee, may impose liquidated damages in an amount not to
exceed $1,000, and in addition, Licensee shall from the date of such written notice be
obligated to pay fees for the Site License Authorization(s) for Equipment being used to
provide services not identified in the applicable Site License Authorization(s) in an amount
which is five times the applicable fee in Section 4.1 until the breach is cured by Licensee
by ceasing to provide such unauthorized services or obtaining the City’s consent to provide
such services in amended Site License Authorization(s).
4 COMPENSATION; UTILITY CHARGES. Licensee is solely
responsible for the payment of all fees in connection with Licensee’s performance under
this Agreement, including those set forth below.
4.1 Annual Fee. In order to compensate City for Licensee’s
entry upon and deployment within the Public Way, and as compensation for the use of
Municipal Facilities, Licensee will pay to the City an annual fee (collectively the
“Aggregate Annual Fee”) that consists of the following:
(i) Pole Fee. A fee in the amount of Two Hundred
Seventy Dollars ($270.00) (“Pole Fee”), One
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00)
(“Alternate Pole Fee”), or a future amount set by
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
(“New Pole Fee”), as applicable pursuant to
Section 4 of this Agreement, for the use of each
Streetlight Pole or other similar Municipal Facility
located within the City’s Right-of-Way used by
Licensee;
(ii) Non-Pole Municipal Facility Fee. A fee (“Non-
Pole Fee”) in an amount to be agreed by the parties
and specified in the applicable Site License
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Authorization for use of other Municipal Facilities
such as conduit.
The Aggregate Annual Fee to be paid with respect to each year of the term will be
based on an amount calculated as of the anniversary of the Effective Date equal to (i) the
sum of the number of (a) Streetlight Poles or other similar Municipal Facility upon which
Equipment was installed for the entire preceding 12 months, and (b) Streetlight Poles or
Municipal Facilities which were not initially installed but contained Equipment, during the
preceding 12 months (prorated as appropriate based on Installation Date set forth in the
Site License Authorization to the anniversary of the Effective Date and based on 365 days)
multiplied by (c) the annual Pole Fee, Alternate Pole Fee, or New Pole Fee, as applicable;
and (ii) collectively, the annual Non-Pole Fee calculated as agreed by the Parties and shown
in the Site License Authorization (and prorated as appropriate based on the Installation
Date set forth in the Site License Authorization to the anniversary of the Effective Date
and based on 365 days). The Aggregate Annual Fee is due and payable in arrears and not
later than 45 days after each anniversary of the Effective Date. If Licensee discovers any
error in the amount of compensation due, the City shall be paid within 30 days after
discovery of the error or determination of the correct amount, including interest at the rate
specified in Section 4.4. Any overpayment to the City through error or otherwise will be
offset against the next payment due, except that adjustments to the Pole Fee in the
circumstances covered by Section 4.1.1, 4.1.2, and 4.1.3 shall be prospective and not
entitled to any offset.
Acceptance by City of any payment of the Aggregate Annual Fee shall not be
deemed a waiver by City of any breach of this Agreement occurring prior thereto, nor will
the acceptance by City of any such payment preclude City from later establishing that a
greater amount was actually due or from collecting any balance that is due.
4.1.1 Alternate Pole Fee. Notwithstanding Section 4.1, in the event
that provisions limiting the amount of the recurring fees that can be charged
for use of City’s Streetlight Poles or other similar Municipal Facilities set
forth in the FCC Declaratory Ruling (FCC 18-133) cease to be effective, the
Licensee shall automatically and immediately be obligated to pay the
Alternate Pole Fee. In such an instance, the Licensee shall pay the Alternate
Pole Fee to the City in the amount described in this paragraph and paragraph
4.1(i) and calculated in accordance with paragraphs 4.1.3 and 4.2. The
Alternate Pole Fee shall be subject to an annual adjustment pursuant to
Section 4.2 below.
4.1.2 New Pole Fee. Notwithstanding Sections 4.1 and 4.1.1, in the
event that provisions limiting the amount of the recurring fees that can be
charged for use of City’s Streetlight Poles or other similar Municipal
Facilities set forth in the FCC Declaratory Ruling (FCC 18-133) are still in
effect but the FCC establishes a new safe harbor recurring fee (“New Pole
Fee”), any new Site License Authorization entered into thereafter shall
commence at the New Pole Fee, subject to annual adjustment under Section
4.2, unless and until an alternate pole fee is applicable under Section 4.1.3.
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4.1.3 If Licensee has paid the Pole Fee or New Pole Fee pursuant
to the provisions of Sections 4.1 and 4.1.2 above for a calendar year, and
the relevant provisions of the FCC Declaratory Ruling subsequently cease
to be effective during the same calendar year, the Licensee shall pay the
difference between the Pole Fee or New Pole Fee, as applicable, and the
Alternate Pole Fee for the period from the date the relevant provisions of
the FCC Declaratory Ruling ceased to be effective, until the next
anniversary of Effective Date of the Agreement (“Pole Fee
Adjustment”). Such Pole Fee Adjustment shall be paid to City along with
the next Aggregate Annual Fee payment.
4.1.4 Receipt of any Pole Fee, New Pole Fee, or Alternate Pole Fee
by the City, with knowledge of any breach of this Agreement by Licensee,
or of any default on the part of Licensee in the observance or performance
of any of the conditions or covenants of this Agreement, shall not be deemed
a waiver of any provision of this Agreement.
4.2 Annual Adjustment. Commencing on the first anniversary
of the Effective Date and continuing on each anniversary thereafter during the term, the
Pole Fee, New Pole Fee, or Alternate Pole Fee, as applicable, and Non-Pole Fee for the
ensuing year will be increased by four percent (4%).
4.3 Electricity Charges. The Equipment must have an
independent source of electricity and may not draw electricity from the power associated
with the Municipal Facility to which it is attached or installed. Licensee is solely
responsible for the payment to the utility service provider of all electrical utility charges
that are attributable to the Equipment’s usage of electricity, including the cost of installing
meters for any item of Equipment.
4.4 Delinquent Payment. If Licensee fails to pay any amounts
due to City under this Section 4 within 30 days from the specified due date, Licensee must
pay, in addition to the unpaid fees, a sum of money equal to two percent (2%) of the amount
due for each month or fraction thereof during which the payment is due and unpaid.
5 CONSTRUCTION. Licensee must comply with all applicable
federal, state, and City technical specifications and requirements and all applicable state
and local codes related to the construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and control
of Licensee’s Equipment installed in or on Municipal Facilities in the City. Licensee may
not attach, install, maintain, or operate any Equipment in or on Municipal Facilities
without the City’s prior written approval for each location. Licensee shall keep the
Municipal Facilities free and clear from any liens arising out of any work performed,
material furnished or obligations incurred by or for Licensee.
5.1 Obtaining Required Permits. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Sections 3.1and 5.2, Licensee acknowledges that any installation of
Equipment shall also be subject to a City encroachment permit (as set forth in Arcadia
Municipal Code, Sections 7300 et 5e a.). Licensee agrees to comply with the City’s current
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ordinances regarding such installations as well as any future regulations that may be
adopted by the City respecting such installations that are consistent with the City’s rights
under applicable law.
5.2 Location of Equipment. The proposed locations of
Licensee’s planned initial installation of Equipment will be provided to the City promptly
after Licensee’s review of available Municipal Facilities maps and prior to any deployment
of the Equipment. Prior to installation of the Equipment in or on any Municipal Facility,
Licensee must obtain the City’s prior written approval. Licensee will submit an application
to the authorized representative of the City for a Site License Authorization showing the
proposed design for any proposed installations including Equipment in or on Municipal
Facilities which Licensee desires to use. The City may approve, approve with conditions,
or disapprove a location and installation, in its sole discretion. Any approved Equipment
shall be included as part of an applicable Site License Authorization. If Licensee selects a
Municipal Facility that is structurally inadequate to accommodate Equipment, Licensee
may at its sole cost and expense replace the Municipal Facility with one that is acceptable
to and approved by the City as part of the Site License Authorization, and dedicate such
replacement Municipal Facility to City. Upon the completion of each installation, Licensee
must promptly furnish to the City a current list and map that identifies the exact location
of the Equipment in or on the Municipal Facility. That information must be provided in a
format that is compatible with City’s information technology, including but not limited to
ESRI compatible GIS shapefiles. Licensee may replace its approved Equipment with like-
kind or similar Equipment without prior written approval of City hereunder. However, if
Licensee proposes to install Equipment which is different in any material way from the
then-existing and approved Equipment, then Licensee shall first obtain the written approval
for the use and installation of the unauthorized Equipment from the City. Any such
approval shall take the form of an amendment to the applicable Site License Authorization.
5.3 Relocation and Displacement of Equipment. This
Agreement creates no right in Licensee to receive any relocation assistance or payment for
any reason under the Relocation Assistance Act, the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act
or under any existing or future law upon any termination of tenancy. Licensee
acknowledges that City may require Licensee to relocate one or more of its Equipment
installations. Licensee will at City’s direction relocate that Equipment, at Licensee’s sole
cost and expense, whenever City reasonably determines that the relocation is needed for
any of the following purposes: (a) if required for the construction, completion, repair,
relocation, or maintenance of a City project; (b) because the Equipment is interfering with
or adversely affecting proper operation of City-owned Streetlight Poles, traffic signals, or
other Municipal Facilities; or (c) to protect or preserve the public health or safety. Within
sixty (60) days after receipt of notice from the CITY, Licensee shall relocate the
Equipment. If Licensee fails to relocate any Equipment as requested by the City in sixty
(60) days under the circumstances described above, City is entitled to relocate the
Equipment at Licensee’s sole cost and expense, without further notice to Licensee. To the
extent City has actual knowledge thereof, the City will endeavor promptly to inform
Licensee of the displacement or removal of any Municipal Facility on which any
Equipment is located. Licensee’s obligations to reimburse the City for relocation of
Equipment under this section shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
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5.4 Relocations at Licensee’s Request. If Licensee desires to
relocate any Equipment from one Municipal Facility to another, Licensee must so advise
City by submitting an application for a Site License Authorization for the new location.
City will use reasonable efforts to accommodate Licensee by making another reasonably
equivalent Municipal Facility available for use in accordance with and subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
5.5 Damage to Municipal Facilities or Public Way. Whenever
the removal or relocation of Equipment is required or permitted under this Agreement, and
that removal or relocation causes the Municipal Facilities or Public Way to be damaged,
Licensee, at its sole cost and expense, must promptly repair and return the Municipal
Facilities or Public Way to a safe and satisfactory condition as directed by, and to the
reasonable satisfaction of, the City Engineer. If Licensee does not repair the site as required
above, then City will have the option, upon 15 days’ prior written notice to Licensee, to
perform or cause to be performed all reasonable and necessary work on behalf of Licensee.
City may charge Licensee for all actual and reasonable costs incurred by City, in the
manner that City customarily determines costs if the work is performed by City, or at actual
cost if the work is performed by a third party. Upon receipt of a demand for payment by
City, Licensee must promptly reimburse City for those costs, which obligation shall survive
the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
5.6 Removal of Equipment. Licensee shall remove the
Equipment within 60 days after abandonment of the Municipal Facility or termination of
this Agreement or the applicable Site License Authorization, at Licensee’s sole cost and
expense. If Licensee fails to remove the Equipment, City is entitled to remove and dispose
of the Equipment at Licensee’s sole cost and expense, upon 30 days written notice to
Licensee. In lieu of removal at Licensee’s sole cost and expense, any Equipment that is
abandoned and not removed by Licensee within the time frames set forth in this section
may be declared by the City (by providing written notice to Licensee after expiration of
the 60-day period) to have become its sole and exclusive property, after which the City
may utilize or dispose of the Equipment as it sees fit. Licensee’s obligations to reimburse
the City for removal and disposal of Equipment under this section shall survive the
expiration or termination of this Agreement.
5.7 Risk of Loss. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that
Licensee bears all risks of loss or damage of its Equipment and materials installed in or on
Municipal Facilities pursuant to this Agreement from any cause, and the City shall not be
liable for any cost of repair to damaged Equipment, including, without limitation, damage
caused by the City’s removal of the Equipment, except to the extent that such loss or
damage was solely caused by the willful misconduct or negligence of the City, including,
without limitation, each of its elected officials, department directors, managers, officers,
agents, employees, and contractors, subject to the limitation of liability provided in Section
6.2 below.
6 INDEMNIFICATION AND WAIVER. Licensee will indemnify,
defend, protect, and hold harmless the City, its councilmembers, officers, employees,
agents, and contractors, from and against liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, fines,
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charges, penalties, administrative and judicial proceedings and orders, judgments, and all
costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ fees
and costs of defense (collectively, the “Losses”) arising from, resulting from or caused by
Licensee’s activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement including activities undertaken
by its employees, officers, agents and contractors, except to the extent arising from or
caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the City, its councilmembers, officers,
employees, agents, or contractors.
6.1 Waiver of Claims. Licensee waives all claims, demands,
causes of action, and rights it may assert against City on account of any loss, damage, or
injury to any Equipment, or any loss or degradation of the Services, resulting from any
event or occurrence that is beyond the City’s reasonable control.
6.2 Limitation of City’s Liability. City will be liable only for
the cost of repair to damaged Equipment arising from the sole negligence or willful
misconduct of City, its employees, agents, or contractors, and will in no event be liable for
indirect or consequential damages.
7 INSURANCE. Licensee shall carry and maintain during the term
of this Agreement Commercial General Liability insurance in the amount of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage, and in an
amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) general aggregate including personal and
advertising injury and products-completed operations, and Commercial Automobile
Liability in the amount of One Millions Dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit each
accident for bodily injury and property damage. The Commercial General Liability
insurance policy shall include the City, its councilmembers, officers, and employees as an
additional insured as their interest may appear under this Agreement as respects any
covered liability arising out of Licensee’s performance of work under this Agreement.
Coverage must be in an occurrence form and in accordance with the limits and provisions
specified herein. Claims-made policies are not acceptable. Upon receipt of notice from its
insurer, Licensee will use its best efforts to provide the City with thirty (30) days prior
written notice of cancellation
7.1 Filing of Certificates and Endorsements. Prior to the
commencement of any work pursuant to this Agreement, Licensee must file with City the
required original certificates of insurance with blanket additional insured endorsements,
which must state the following:
(a) The policy number; name of insurance company;
name and address of the agent or authorized
representative; name and address of insured; project
name; policy expiration date; and specific coverage
amounts; and
(b) That Licensee’s Commercial General Liability
insurance policy is primary as respects any other
valid or collectible insurance that City may possess,
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including any self insured retentions that City may
have; and that any other insurance the City possesses
will be considered excess insurance only and will not
be required to contribute with this insurance.
The certificates of insurance with blanket additional insured endorsements and
notices must be emailed to the City at the address specified below in Section 9.
7.2 Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Licensee shall obtain
and maintain at all times during the term of this Agreement statutory workers’
compensation and employer’s liability insurance in an amount of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) each accident/disease/policy limit, and must furnish to City a certificate
showing proof of that coverage.
7.3 Insurer Criteria. All insurance policies obtained by
Licensee must be issued by companies that are admitted and licensed or authorized to do
business in the State of California and that have a minimum rating assigned by A.M. Best
& Company’s Key Rating Guide of “A” Overall and a Financial Size Category of “X” (i.e.,
a size of $500,000,000 to $750,000,000 based on capital, surplus, and conditional reserves).
Insurance policies and certificates issued by non-admitted insurance companies are not
acceptable.
7.4 Severability of Interest. All deductibles or self-insured
retentions must be stated on the certificates of insurance, which must be sent to and
approved by City, provided however, this sentence shall not apply to Tenant provided
Tenant reasonably demonstrates to the City’s satisfaction that it has a net worth in excess
of $100 million. City may request proof of Tenant’s net worth at any time(s) during the
term of this Agreement. In no event shall Tenant be required to provide information the
disclosure of which could be interpreted to be in breach of any state or federal securities
regulations. Tenant acknowledges that City is a public agency subject to the California
Public Records Act, and therefore the parties agree that should Tenant provide any
information pursuant to this Section 7.4 which Tenant claims to be confidential and/or
proprietary (“Confidential Information”), then City shall use reasonable efforts not to
disclose, reproduce, or disseminate the Confidential Information without the prior express
written consent of Tenant; provided however that City may, upon request and if deemed
legally necessary to comply with the California Public Records Act or other applicable law,
release such Confidential Information without first obtaining Tenant’s consent and without
any liability to Tenant. “Severability of interest” or “separation of insureds” clauses shall
be made a part of the Commercial General Liability and Commercial Automobile Liability
policies.
8 PERFORMANCE BOND. In order to secure the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement, Licensee will provide the following security
instrument to the City:
8.1 Performance Bond. Prior to the commencement of any
work under this Agreement, Licensee must provide a performance bond running to the
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City, in the sum of: (i) for 1-25 Site License Authorizations, a total sum of Twenty-Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000); (ii) for 25-50 Site License Authorizations, a total sum of Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($50,000); and 51 or more Site License Authorizations, a total sum of
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). If Licensee expands the number of Site
License Authorizations during the term of this Agreement, Licensee shall adjust its
performance security in accordance with the scale identified above. The performance bond
is conditioned upon the performance by Licensee of all the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and upon the further condition that if Licensee fails to comply with any terms
or conditions governing this Agreement, there shall be recoverable jointly and severally
from the principal and surety of the bond any damage or loss suffered by the City as a
result, including the full amount of any compensation, or costs of removal or abandonment
of Licensee’s property, plus costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees up to the full amount of
the performance bond. Licensee will keep the performance bond in place during the term
of this Agreement.
8.2 Assessment of the Bond. Upon Licensee’s failure to pay the
City any amount owing under this Agreement, the performance bond may be assessed by
the City for purposes including, but not limited to:
(a) Reimbursement of costs borne by the City to correct
violations of the Agreement not corrected by
Licensee, after City provides notice and a reasonable
opportunity to cure such violations.
(b) To provide monetary remedies or to satisfy damages
assessed against Licensee due to a material breach of
this Agreement.
8.3 Restoration of the Bond. Licensee must deposit a sum of
money or a replacement instrument sufficient to restore the performance bond to its original
amount within 30 days after written notice from the City that any amount has been
recovered from the performance bond. Failure to restore the bond to its full amount within
30 days will constitute a material breach of this Agreement. Licensee will be relieved of
the foregoing requirement to replenish the bond during the pendency of an appeal from the
City’s decision to draw on the performance bond.
8.4 Costs of Collection. If the performance bond is drawn upon,
all of City’s costs of collection and enforcement of the provisions relating to the bond that
are specified in this section, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, will be paid by
Licensee.
8.5 Required Endorsement. The performance bond is subject
to the approval of the City Attorney and must contain the following endorsement:
“This bond may not be canceled until sixty (60) days after
receipt by the City Attorney, by registered mail, return
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receipt requested, of a written notice of intent to cancel or
not to renew.”
8.6 Reservation of City Rights. The rights reserved by the City
with respect to the performance bond are in addition to all other rights and remedies the
City may have under this Agreement or any other law.
8.7 Admitted Surety Insurer. The surety supplying the bond
shall be an “admitted surety insurer”, as defined in Code of Civil Procedure §995.120 and
authorized to do business in the State of California.
9 NOTICES. All notices to be given pursuant to this Agreement must
be in writing and delivered personally or transmitted (a) through the United States mail, by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; or (b) by means of prepaid overnight delivery
addressed as follows:
If to City:
CITY OF ARCADIA
Attn: Jason Kruckeberg
Assist. City Manager
240 West Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91066 If to Licensee:
If to Licensee:
CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC
c/o Crown Castle
Attn: Ken Simon, General Counsel, with a copy sent to
Contracts Management
2000 Corporate Drive
Canonsburg, PA 15317
9.1 Date of Notices; Changing Notice Recipient or Address.
Notices will be deemed given upon receipt in the case of personal delivery, three days after
deposit in the mail, or the next business day in the case of facsimile, email, or overnight
delivery. Either Party may from time to time designate any other recipient or address for
this purpose by written notice to the other Party delivered in the manner set forth above.
10 TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT. Upon a default by the other
Party of any material covenant or term of this Agreement, or of a Site License
Authorization, which default is not cured within 45 days of receipt of written notice of
default (or, if such default is not curable within 45 days, if the defaulting party fails to
commence that cure within 45 days or fails thereafter diligently to prosecute such cure to
completion) the non-defaulting Party may terminate the Agreement, if such failure is in
relation to the Agreement as whole, or may terminate any individual Site License
Authorization, if such failure is in connection solely with such Site License Authorization,
upon 45 days’ prior written notice to the other Party; provided, that the grace period for
any monetary default will be 10 days from receipt of notice.
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11 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and each Site License
Authorization under it may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Licensee with notice to
City but without any approval or consent of the City to any entity that controls or is
controlled by Licensee, or is under common control with Licensee. For purposes of this
section, an entity shall be deemed to control another entity if it owns or controls, directly
or indirectly, at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting equity of another entity (or other
comparable interest for an entity other than a corporation). Any permitted assignee, buyer,
or transferee shall assume all obligations of its assignor under the Agreement and be bound
by all the terms and conditions, and it shall provide a written acknowledgement of such to
the City within thirty (30) days after the assignment. Further, notice of such an assignment
must be provided by Licensee to the City within thirty (30) days after the assignment. This
Agreement may not otherwise be assigned by Licensee without the express written consent
of City, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed.
12 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. The following provisions
apply generally to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement.
12.1 Nonexclusive Use. Licensee acknowledges that this
Agreement does not provide Licensee with exclusive use of any Municipal Facility and
that City retains the right to install and to permit others to install equipment or devices in
or on Municipal Facilities provided the same does not interfere with Licensee’s use of the
Municipal Facility (unless required to serve City’s own primary service requirements).
12.2 Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either Party of any breach
or violation of any provision of this Agreement will not be deemed to be a waiver or a
continuing waiver of any subsequent breach or violation of the same or any other provision
of this Agreement.
12.3 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this
Agreement is held by court of competent jurisdiction in a final judicial action to be void,
voidable, or unenforceable, that provision will be deemed to be severable from the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and will not affect the legality, validity, or
constitutionality of the remaining portions of this Agreement. Each Party represents that it
would have entered into this Agreement, and each of its provisions, regardless of whether
any one or more provisions may be declared illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional.
12.4 Contacting Licensee. Licensee will be available to the
employees of any City department having jurisdiction over Licensee’s activities 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, regarding problems or complaints resulting from the attachment,
installation, operation, maintenance, or removal of the Equipment. City may contact by
telephone the Licensee at telephone number 888-632-0931 regarding these problems or
complaints.
12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be
governed and construed by and in accordance with the laws of the State of California,
without reference to its conflicts of law principles. If suit is brought by a party to this
Agreement, the parties agree that trial of that action will be vested exclusively in the state
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courts of California, County of Los Angeles, or in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California.
12.6 Attorneys’ Fees. If any dispute arising out of this
Agreement results in litigation, the prevailing Party will be entitled to recover its costs of
suit, including (without limitation) reasonable attorneys’ fees.
12.7 AS IS CONDITION OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES.
Municipal Facilities licensed to Licensee pursuant to this Agreement are licensed to and
accepted by Licensee “as is” and with all faults. The City makes no representation or
warranty of any kind as to the present or future condition of or suitability of the Municipal
Facilities for Licensee’s use and disclaims any and all warranties express or implied with
respect to the physical, structural, or environmental condition of the Municipal Facilities
and the merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Licensee is solely responsible
for investigation and determination of the condition and suitability of any Municipal
Facility for Licensee’s intended use.
12.8 Representations and Warranties. Each of the Parties
represents and warrants that it has the full right, power, legal capacity, and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations hereunder and that those obligations will be binding
upon that Party without the approval or consent of any other person or entity. Licensee
represents that it has a franchise or other authorization to use the Public Ways for purposes
contemplated in this Agreement. City represents that City owns all Municipal Facilities
for the use of which it is collecting from Licensee the Annual Fee pursuant to this
Agreement.
12.9 Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may be
amended only by a written instrument signed by both Parties.
12.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the Parties with respect to its subject matter. There are no
representations, agreements, or understandings (whether oral or written) between or among
the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that are not fully expressed
herein.
12.11 Effective Date. It is the intention of the parties that Licensee
will first execute this Agreement and then submit it to the City. The effective date will be
the date on which this Agreement is executed on behalf of the City. The City Clerk will
insert the effective date in the introductory paragraph of all counterparts of this Agreement,
attest to their execution by a duly authorized officer of the City, and transmit one or more
fully executed counterparts to Licensee.
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TO EFFECTUATE THIS AGREEMENT, each of the Parties has caused this
Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth
below the authorized signature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: _________________________________
CITY OF ARCADIA
By: _____________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
ATTEST:
_________________________________
City Clerk
LICENSEE
CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC
By: _____________________________
Name: ________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
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Exhibit “A”
Site License Authorization
1. Licensee has submitted an application for a Site License Authorization
("Authorization") pursuant to that certain Municipal Right-of-Way Facilities Use
Agreement between the City of Arcadia and Licensee dated _______________ 2023
("Agreement").
2. City has reviewed the application and grants approval subject to the terms of this
Authorization.
3. All of the terms and conditions of the Agreement are incorporated hereby by
reference and made a part hereof without the necessity of repeating or attaching the
Agreement. In the event of a contradiction, modification or inconsistency between the
terms of the Agreement and this Authorization, the terms of this Authorization shall
govern. Capitalized terms used in this Authorization shall have the same meaning described
for them in the Agreement unless otherwise indicated herein.
4. Project Description and Locations. Licensee shall have the right to attach the
Equipment described in Attachment 1 to the specific space on or in the specific Municipal
Facility identified in Attachment 2.
5. Services. The Equipment shall be used for constructing, maintaining, repairing
and operating a communications facility and uses incidental thereto.
6. Term. The term of this Authorization shall be as set forth in Section 2 of the
Agreement.
7. Annual Fees. Pole Fee [insert applicable starting amount per Section 4]
Non-Pole Fee [ if applicable, insert negotiated amount per Sec. 4.1]
Annual Fees are subject to 4% annual increase as provided in Section 4.2 of
the Agreement
8. Installation Date. The earlier of _____________________________ or the date that
any Equipment is first installed by Licensee pursuant to a Site License Authorization
issued by the City in accordance with the Agreement and is inspected and approved by
City in accordance with its customary permitting procedures. The Installation Date shall
be documented in writing following such determination.
9. Additional Conditions.
a. If this site license authorization is not counter-signed by Licensee and returned
Licensor within 30 days after receipt of the authorization by the Licensee, it shall
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be void and of no legal effect. If Licensee still wants to use the Municipal Facility,
Licensee will be required to submit a new permit application and associated fees.
CITY OF ARCADIA
By: _____________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
ACCEPTED BY LICENSEE: LICENSEE
CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC
By: _____________________________
Name: ___________________________
Title: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________