Millbrae trustees reject zero‑rent proposal from Crown Castle, direct staff to negotiate or seek removal of Meadows cell tower

The Millbrae Elementary School District Board discussed the Crown Castle cell tower sited on the Meadows school property and directed staff on Dec. 17 to open negotiations rather than accept a proposed zero‑rent revenue‑share arrangement.

The lease for the tower expires April 23, 2025. Under current terms, Crown Castle pays about $2,908.06 per month (roughly $35,000 annually) plus $250 a month in utilities; the company escalates rent each year by CPI. Crown Castle proposed a new arrangement in which monthly rent would be reduced to $0 and the district would receive 50% of any revenue Crown Castle earns from leasing space to carriers. District staff told trustees that this structure would leave Crown Castle with little incentive to market the site aggressively while placing the district in a revenue‑share position dependent on who Crown Castle signs as tenants.

Trustees and staff discussed three broad options: accept Crown Castle’s revenue‑share proposal, renegotiate for a higher fixed rent or other guaranteed terms, or terminate the lease and require removal of the tower. Trustees signaled that a continued $0‑rent/50% revenue share (option 1) was unacceptable because it creates no downside for Crown Castle and may not improve local reception for staff and students.

A principal from Meadows stressed safety and daily operational impacts of poor cell reception, saying she feels “strongly about being able to have cell service,” and noting staff rely on radios and phones for communications. District staff explained that T‑Mobile coverage in the area is better than other carriers because of differences in frequency bands and that the Crown Castle site is currently unoccupied (no tenants paying Crown Castle). Staff told trustees that carriers have been reluctant to invest while the lease is near expiry, which complicates immediate improvements.

Trustees instructed staff to meet with Crown Castle promptly, to gather additional technical and leasing information (including the tower’s last active tenancy and what carriers would realistically attach antennas), and to return to the board with bargaining options. Board members expressed two nonnegotiable preferences: they will not accept the zero‑rent revenue‑share as presented, and they want either a meaningful revenue or service outcome — or removal of the tower.

Ending: Staff will initiate talks with Crown Castle, report findings to the board and return with recommendations; if Crown Castle will not provide acceptable guarantees or commercial tenants, trustees indicated they will consider termination and removal of the structure.