Commission approves AT&T lease amendment to site permanent backup generator at city water-tower site

The City Commission approved an amendment to the AT&T lease to allow a permanent natural-gas backup generator at the city’s Woodlawn and Norfolk water-tower site, which hosts cellular antennas used by AT&T and other partners. Staff said the generator would improve reliability during extended power outages and be quieter than diesel trailer units.

Deputy City Manager Lefebvre explained the generator would be permanently sited and connected to natural gas so AT&T would not need to bring in trailer units during extended outages. He described comparable arrangements used by neighboring jurisdictions and said the lease amendment’s additional compensation would be folded into the First Amendment compensation terms already in place.

Commissioners asked about the frequency of outages and whether trailer units had been used locally; staff said battery backups are common but can be limited during extended outages and that trailer units have been used in the past in extreme situations. Lefebvre also said the city’s existing screening requirements and quieter natural-gas units should reduce the noise impact on neighbors compared with diesel trailers.

A resident, Erica Dunton, offered an alternative technology in public comment: "I work for a company that provides solar generators that actually are quiet, fume free, and safe to use inside. So, if that might be something you guys are interested in learning more about, I'd be more than happy to help facilitate that conversation." Commissioners voted to approve the lease amendment.

Staff said the amendment aligns with lease terms used regionally and will improve cellular reliability for the city service area. The additional compensation and final terms will be incorporated into the existing First Amendment and returned to staff files when executed.