HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-26-2012 transfer cell towers TOWN OF
163o WATERTOWN
Office of the Town Manager
r .
.J -1!'- Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown;MA 02472
Phone:617-972-6465
Michael J. Driscoll Fax: 617-972-6404
Town Manager www•watertown-ma.gov
townie er(a'�va tertow n-m a.nov
To: Honorable Town Council
From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager '
Date: June 21, 2012
RE: Agenda Item—Transfer of Funds Request
As you recall, at the September 13, 2011 Town Council Meeting the Honorable Town
Council adopted a motion to retain a consultant to assess the coverage of the major cellular carriers
throughout the Town; and identify potential Town-owned locations that would be appropriate for the
location of cellular antennas, at a cost not to exceed $10,000. (See excerpt of September 13, 2011
Town Council minutes)
Attached please find correspondence from Steven Magoon, Director of Community
Development & Planning regarding a proposal that meets the above mentioned tasks for a fee of
$5,860.
Therefore, in order to move forward with an evaluation of wireless coverage in the Town, I
respectfully request the attached transfer be placed on the June 26, 2012 Town Council Agenda.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
cc: Steven Magoon, Director of Community Development&Planning regarding
Gerald S. Mee, Jr., Superintendent of Public Works
Raeleen Parsons, Purchasing Agent
Thomas J. Tracy, Town Auditor
Phyllis L. Marshall, Town Treasurer/Collector
I
TRANSFER AMOUNT $6,860
FROM: FY 12 Town Council Reserve $ 5,860
0111152-570780
TO: FY 12 Comm. Dev. & Planning - Contracted Services $ 5,860
0118152-530303
1 hereby certify to the availability, authority of funding source, mathematical accuracy
and appropriate fiscal year.
4a"/ Ali
DATE TOWN AUDITOR
Excerpts from September 13, 2011 Town Council Minutes
8. MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
a)Action on the cell tower recommendations per the joint Public Works and Economic
Development and Planning committee report.
MOTION: Vice President moved that the Town Council approve the development of an RFP to
retain a consultant to assess the coverage of the major cell carrier throughout the town and
identify potential town owned locations for cell towers at a cost not to exceed $10,000, seconded
by Councilor Donohue.
Councilor Kounelis asked if by accepting this motion; would it open us up to accepting cell
locations at the Brigham House, Coolidge School Apartments? Mr. Magoon stated that it would
not be the intent of the study to identify or eliminate any town properties but to look at the scope
of where service needs are and where that coincides with town property.
Councilor Palomba asked if this motion ties the hands of Mr. Magoon in finding a consultant
who is within the bidding laws. Mr. Magoon stated that if a single company could be found
within the confines of the laws, than an RFP would not be needed.
Councilor Lawn spoke in support of the motion indicating that it is a worthwhile study to
conduct on our own and not rely on studies put forth by cell companies.
Councilor Piccirilli stated that health issues have been studied regarding cell towers and antennas
which show no risk to the public. Councilor Piccirilli also stated that towers should be
camouflaged so that they are hidden from view and by offering municipal properties, we can
prevent less desirable placement of antennas.
Councilor Leak stated that in order to get the best use of our monies we should make sure that
we get a very detailed map.
Mr. Magoon concurred and stated that it would be beyond what is made available by carriers and
more detailed that what is available on the internet.
Councilor Falkoff stated that she is in favor of going forward with the study but not necessarily
in favor of the town placing antennas on town owned buildings.
Councilor Kounelis concurred with Councilor Falkoff.
The Chair stated that the town gathering its own information on where cell coverage is needed is
very beneficial and prevents the town from relying on information gathered by cell carriers.
The motion was adopted by voice vote with Councilors John A. Donohue, Susan G. Falkoff,
Anthony Palomba, Angeline B. Kounelis, Cecilia Leak, Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.,John J. Lawn,
Jr., Vice President Stephen P. Corbett, and Council President Mark S. Sideris voting in the
affirmative.
Town of Watertown
Department of
1630 Community Development and Planning
Administration Building
!' ! 149 Main Street
y Watertown,MA 02472
(617) 972-6417
FAX(617) 972-6484
To: Michael J. Driscoll,Town Manager
From: Steve Magoon, DCDP Directofr-
Date: June 21, 2012
Subject: Cellular Service Study
At the request of Honorable Town Council, staff has pursued a consultant to perform the
analysis of the coverage of the various wireless service providers in Town, and further, to
compare that coverage with Town owned properties to determine if there is a potential
market for service on Town property. The analysis will also allow the Town to
independently assess individual applications that come before the Town as to the level of
coverage and what alternatives exist.
I have attached the minutes from the joint meeting of the Committee on Public Works and
the Committee on Economic Development and Planning from September 13, 2011 with the
relevant direction. I have also attached the proposal from Isotrope Wireless from Medfield
Massachusetts. The proposal meets the required tasks for a fee of$5860. Although this is
somewhat dated, I have contacted Mr. Maxson and confirmed that the proposal is still valid.
1 also received proposals from two additional firms, but their price well exceeded the
Council limit of$10,000. One bid was for$14,950, and one bid required an exclusive
business clause or an exorbitant fee. I also have been in contact with colleagues who have
utilized the services of Isotrope and Mr. Maxson, and they gave very positive reviews of his
work. I would therefore request that this be placed on the honorable Town Council's next
available agenda for a funding request.
Please let me]snow if there are any questions or concerns.
Town Council
Town of Watertown
Joint Meeting of the Committee on Public Works
and the Committee on Economic Development and Planning
Meeting: September 13, 2011
Written Report Submitted: September 27, 2011
The two committees met Tuesday September 13'h at 5:00 pm in the Council Chambers to continue
discussion on the possibility of locating cellular antennas on public property.
Present were: Stephen Corbett, EDP Chair and PW Vice-chair; Susan Falkoff, PW Chair and EDP
Secretary; John Donohue, EDP Vice-chair; and Vincent Piccirilli, PW Secretary. Also present were
Director of Community Development& Planning Steven Magoon, DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee,
DPW Clerk Mary Haley; Councilors Cecilia Lenk and Anthony Palomba; Kenneth Woodland, and Kate
Coyne. Councilor Corbett chaired the meeting.
Mr. Magoon indicated that he spoke with several consultants regarding providing expertise with respect
to cellular communications needs and opportunities, as well as the Town's wireless emergency
communications needs.
After considerable discussion, the Joint Committees arrived at two recommendations for the Council:
1. For the Town's wireless emergencv communications needs: Direct Mr. Magoon to convene a
meeting of the involved departments— police, fire, and public works to:
a. begin to assess their emergency communications needs,
b. develop a scope of work for an integrated wireless communications system, and
c. identify the cost for hiring a consultant to design such a system.
This information would be brought back to the Joint Committees to develop a recommendation for the
Town Council. Voted 4 to 0.
2. For cellular communications needs: Recommend that the Town Council approve the development of
a Request for Proposal to hire a consultant to assess the coverage of the major cellular carriers
throughout the Town, and also identify potential Town-owned locations that would be appropriate for
the location of cellular antennas, for a total cost not to exceed $10,000. Voted 4 to 0.
Other Business:
For the Public Works Committee, Mr. Mee discussed the project to improve the traffic signal and
pavement markings at the intersection of Orchard St, Channing Rd, and the entrance to Victory Field.
He indicated that the DPW will be installing some traffic calming measures at this location, including a
sidewalk bump-out to narrow the road and shorten the crosswalk distance.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.
Report submitted by: Vincent Piccirilli
Page 1 of 1
a.. o:=a
o rope
WIRELESS
Thinking outside the sphere
Steve Magoon, Director March 16,2012
Community Development and Planning
Town of Watertown
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Dear Mr. Magoon,
Thanks for inquiring about Isotrope's services in evaluating wireless coverage in the Town of
Watertown. As you know, Isotrope is fully equipped and experienced in assisting municipalities,
especially in Massachusetts,with wireless facility planning matters.
As I understand it, Watertown wants 1) to be prepared to address present and future wireless
coverage needs within the boundaries of the community and 2) to identify possible locations on
Town property from which wireless facilities could provide improved coverage while generating
revenue to the Town.
Typically,we start by collecting information from the public record regarding the placement and
coverage of the wireless service providers' existing wireless facilities. In planning potential
future facility locations, it is important to have identified as many current facility locations as
possible. We then develop coverage analysis using computer modeling similar to the modeling
the wireless providers submit to permit application hearings. These coverage models provide a
thorough picture of each carrier's coverage in Town.
In support of such computer modeling, we can also perform a drive test ("scan test") of the
existing coverage of the carriers along selected streets. Scan test data is helpful in several ways.
First, it serves as a double check on the computer modeling of each carrier's coverage, and if
necessary, the computer modeling can be "tuned" to be more consistent with the scan test.'
Second, scan tests can report performance measurements such as call drop/block data or
wireless data service throughput speeds. This provides a richer picture of wireless service
performance than just signal strength measurements or computer predictions.
The demand for wireless service has grown to the point that it is not merely telephone calling
capability, but more importantly, data connectivity that drives new facility construction. Recent
statistics indicate there are more cell phone subscribing households without a land line than
there are land line homes without cell phone subscriptions. Similarly, published reports
'Where computer modeling is essentially two dimensional, projecting the coverage across a Cartesian
plane of land, scan tests are essentially one-dimensional assessments of coverage along individual roads
and streets,only approximating the two-dimensional nature of the computer models.
www.isotrope.im Isotrope, LLC • 505 Main Street- Medfield, MA^ 02052 508 359 8833
Isotrope, LLC
demonstrate that over 70% of wireless data traffic originates or terminates indoors. The need
for increased data capacity at every cell site is projected to grow tenfold in the next four years.
Based on the foregoing observations, simple measurement of wireless telephone coverage may
not suffice for planning purposes. To obtain broadband wireless data services indoors,
subscribers need stronger signals and ultimately closer cell sites. Computer coverage modeling
can be scaled to perform "what-if"scenarios with existing as well as hypothetical cell sites. Scan
tests are harder to interpret that way. Where scan testing can excel (in addition to acting as a
"sanity check" on computer modeling) is in performing throughput speed measurements. Last
year Isotrope completed a throughput speed test on the major wireless carriers in Utah on a
9000 mile scan test with data throughput testing.
litto://bloa.broadband.utah.eov/2011/10/13/utah-mobile-broadband-%E2%80%98drive-
test%E2%80%99-data-ava i la ble-for-download/
Finally, based on whatever data is ultimately collected about existing coverage, we can help the
Town identify likely Town-owned sites to consider offering for lease to wireless providers. While
the most obvious choices will be in locations with the worst existing coverage, there may be
locations that are within existing service areas but that may offer capacity or signal quality
improvements over otherwise passable existing service.
We propose two basic services, computer mapping and drive testing. To the extent the
proposals stand alone, the Town is welcome to select what it finds will work best for the needs.
We suggest that the most holistic approach would include both sets of computer mapping
services and both sets of drive test services,described below.
Computer Mapping Services
A. Existing Coverage
Town will provide relevant coverage and facility location information from the public record.
Isotrope will review materials. Existing facility sites, by carrier, will be tabulated and marked on
a map.
Option A.1
With existing facility information marked on a map,develop a composite coverage map of each
wireless service provider's coverage, based on public information provided by Town. Each map
will include signal strength tiers reflecting carriers'target signal strengths for various levels of
performance. Included with maps will be a discussion of the"pressure points"where wireless
providers are most likely to look to improve coverage.
2
www.isotrope.im
Isotrope, LLC
B. Town Facility Coverage
Employing the existing coverage maps from A.1 above, and/or from drive testing (if conducted),
work with the client to identify possible facility locations and types on Town parcels and
structures. Prepare coverage maps for selected heights at selected sites.
Option B.1
If Option A.1 is performed,then also provide composite coverage maps showing coverage from
optional Town sites overlaid on existing coverage maps generated in A.1.
Drive Testing Services
C. Conduct a Scan Test
Drive as much of the 74 miles of streets as is practicable in one day, collecting signal strength
information on each major carrier:AT&T,Verizon,T-Mobile, Sprint and MetroPCS. Prepare scan
test maps showing gradations of signal strength based on carrier specifications along all streets
driven.
Option C.Z
Conduct data throughput testing of each carrier's service during scan test. Prepare throughput
test maps showing current realized data speeds for each carrier along the streets tested. (If
preferred, call testing can be preformed instead of data testing, and blocked/dropped calls can
be logged and mapped instead of data rates.)
3
www.isotrope.im
Isotrope, LLC
Fee Proposal
A. Existing Sites Tabulation and Map $160
AA Existing Sites Coverage Analysis and Mapping (5 maps) $1200
B.Town Sites Selection and Coverage Mapping—Up to 10 Town sites $1000
B.1 Also overlay Town Sites Coverage on Existing Coverage Maps(from A.1) $500
One or two maps per Town site,showing services that benefit the most
C. Drive Testing Services—Conduct Scan Test—5 maps scan data (signal strength) $2100
C.2 Also conduct Data Throughput Test (or call continuity test)—5 maps $900
D. Combined services include one meeting to present results and discuss with client at no
additional charge. Maps will be accompanied by brief explanatory narrative.
Total fees, if all services are requested: $5860
We look forward to being of service to the Town as needed.
Yours truly,
4NAZson, CP
Isotrope, LLC
505 Main Street
Medfield,MA 02052
4
www.isotrope.im