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Trustees tell staff to negotiate on Crown Castle cell tower at Meadows after service concerns
Summary
Trustees discussed the Crown Castle lease for a cell tower on Meadows School property and instructed staff to negotiate further rather than accept a proposal for $0 monthly rent with a 50% revenue share. The board emphasized improving service at Meadows or removing the tower if a satisfactory commercial solution cannot be secured.
The Millbrae Elementary School District held a discussion Dec. 17 over a cell‑tower lease on district land at Meadows School and directed staff to pursue negotiations rather than accept the carrier’s proposed zero‑rent revenue‑share deal.
District staff summarized the current lease: it expires April 23, 2025; the district had previously received roughly $2,908 per month (about $35,000 annually) with CPI annual increases; Crown Castle has proposed changing terms to $0 monthly rent with a 50% revenue share if third‑party carriers are placed on the tower.
Trustees and school staff told the board they have long observed poor cell service in the Meadows neighborhood and on campus. A Meadows school principal said staff relied on radios for emergency communications and that cell reception remained inconsistent for many users. Trustees expressed concern that a $0‑rent proposal would leave Crown Castle with little incentive to market the site and argued the district should not accept terms that remove financial incentives for the company to pursue carriers.
The board directed staff to open negotiations with Crown Castle, asking for terms that preserve district revenue (at or above current rent) and demonstrate a plan to secure multiple carriers or otherwise materially improve service at Meadows. Trustees said if Crown Castle will not agree to commercially reasonable terms, the district should consider terminating the lease and requiring removal of the tower. Superintendent Lisa Hickey said she would contact Crown Castle to request a meeting and report back to the board with options; no final decision or formal vote was taken at the Dec. 17 meeting.
