Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
CLP
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving an Agreement between the Village of Oak Park and Wireless Bridge Partners, LLC and Authorizing Its Execution.
End
Overview
Overview
Staff is recommending the Village enter into an agreement with Wireless Bridge Partners (WBP) for professional services related to the marketing and development of contract for the location of small cell antennas on Village owned street lights in order to improve private cellular phone and data reception within Oak Park.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
Per the agreement, the Village would retain 65% of all revenues from any lease agreement established with a carrier for placement of small cell wireless equipment on a Village street lights and VBP would retain 35% of the monthly fee, up to a maximum annual amount not to exceed $100,000.
Background
As small cell wireless communication transmission equipment has developed, staff has identified the potential to improve private cellular phone/data reception in the Village for residents/visitors and concurrently grow a new revenue stream. In order to efficiently and effectively evaluation carries, staff has reviewed the services provides by WBP to shopping malls. The proposed agreement, similar in concept to a real estate broker agreement, is limited in scope relative to the locations covered and for a two-year term which will allow the Village to evaluate the viability of this market and the professional services of WBP.
The equipment generally referred to as a small cell antenna is a compact version of the traditional cell site. It includes the radio equipment that is deployed on a cell tower in a small, transportable package which can be mounted on a utility pole. Small cell antennas are designed to augment the regular cellular network by adding capacity through increased cellular density through many overlapping low-range cells. The more cells in an area, the more users that can be supported and in densely populated locations address capacity problems of private cellular networks.
With the increase in residential developments in the downtown and the growing visitor/tourism base in the Village, staff would like to proactive and competitive in responding to private services providers considering an investment in Oak Park. Utilizing a private company to represent the Village through this process is more efficient than utilizing staff for the majority of work in this specific field.
Alternatives
The Village Board could elect to defer this item to a future date and request additional information.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A.