Commission reviews proposed lease to Vogue Towers for communication tower at police headquarters

S1 (Chair) presented a proposed lease agreement with Vogue Towers 2, LLC to locate a communications monopole and related facilities on city property at 910 Heritage Way, the police headquarters.

S1 said the city's ordinance creates a tier‑4 review for towers meant to fill coverage gaps, and the proposed lease would still require land‑use approval by the planning commission. "The height can't be more than 160, and it really can't be more than what's necessary to solve the signal problem," S1 said, describing ordinance limits and engineering requirements. The agreement calls for certified‑mail notice within 1,000 feet of any planning‑commission application.

Commissioners pressed legal and operational points. S8 asked whether the city owner role could supersede planning commission review; S1 and legal staff (S7) said state law and practice make the planning commission the primary land‑use reviewer and that the agreement is set up to require planning approval for applications on city property. Commissioners discussed whether the city should accept the first complete applicant (S1 called it "first in, first out") or open a formal request‑for‑proposal process. S1 estimated a competitive RFP would take about 12 weeks to run and would require staff time and scoring criteria.

Lease economics and terms were described on the dais: the footprint is about 1,760 square feet, the initial financial terms include a $1,500 initial fee and a $1,000 monthly base rent (plus $200 per month for each additional carrier), and a five‑year initial term with four automatic five‑year renewals unless parties choose otherwise or the tenant is out of compliance. S1 said Vogue has two primary carriers committed; Galaxy has also expressed interest and may offer higher rent, which prompted discussion about whether to pursue a bidding process.

S1 said the lease would require tenants to comply with federal, state and municipal regulations, indemnify the city, and remove facilities on termination. The commission did not vote; staff said they will verify whether any deed or transfer restrictions could legally constrain leasing the parcel and will bring back a recommendation after that check and further legal review.