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New Red Mountain lease approved for Riverside County's emergency communications system

Red Mountain is in San Diego County, but the County of Riverside leases a site on Red Mountain for that county's Public Safety Enterprise Communications radio system and on June 29 the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a new lease.

The supervisors' 5-0 vote extended the lease agreement with American Tower, LLC, to 2026. Although the lease is only for five years, two additional five-year options will allow for renewal without subsequent Board of Supervisors approval should the county's Information Technology department and American Tower approve those extensions for 2026 to 2031 and 2031 to 2036.

The Public Safety Enterprise Communications radio system began operating in January 2014. Riverside County's Sheriff's Department and various fire departments were the original partners, and incorporated cities subsequently joined the PSEC system. The system currently includes 75 sites both in Riverside County and in neighboring counties. The Red Mountain site in the 3600 block of East Mission Road provides coverage to southwestern Riverside County, and that site also enhances interaction with the County of San Diego's Sheriff's Department.

If the purchase of small parcels is not feasible, the county may enter into long-term ground lease agreements. The Red Mountain site was deemed not practical to purchase, but American Tower had existing communications infrastructure and in 2011 the Riverside County supervisors approved the initial lease. That lease was for five years and allowed for one five-year option. The option was exercised in 2016, and the lease would have expired on September 19 had the new lease not been approved. The initial new lease runs from September 20, 2021, to September 19, 2026.

Under the existing lease the county pays $925.15 each month, and that lease had a 4 percent annual escalator. For the first year of the new lease the county will pay $962.16 each month, and the new lease also includes a 4 percent annual escalator. The county is responsible for utilities costs and maintenance expenses, which was also the case under the previous lease agreement.

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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