DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1
SUBJECT: Disposition: ROW closure (an improved portion of Arden Grove)
SUMMARY:
Consideration of an ordinance authorizing the closure, vacation and abandonment of a 0.110 acre (4,807 square feet) of an improved portion of Arden Grove, in Council District 1.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s current radio communications equipment environment provides public safety grade two-way radio communications for the City of San Antonio and surrounding Bexar County participating agencies. The radio system currently manages an average of 400,000 calls per day from approximately 7,100 radios, which includes thirty-five (35) external multijurisdictional agencies. The radio system is available in over 1,200 square miles of Bexar County and provides the single source of communications to dispatch all Police and Fire/EMS in the City and County in response to any emergency. This vital radio communications equipment, including radio antennas and radio ground shelter, is currently located on a tower and ground space owned by CPS Energy located at 326 West Jones Avenue.
CPS Energy notified the City of San Antonio of its intent to decommission the West Jones Avenue tower and related ground space and vacate the premises as part of the continuing development of areas along the San Antonio River Walk. In the interim, CPS has extended the City’s use of the tower and ground shelter while a plan and budget were formulated for a move that would provide minimal disruption to the City’s Public Safety Radio System.
On August 4, 2016, the City Council approved a lease agreement with KSAT that would allow the city to locate its transmitting and receiving radio antennas to the KSAT Tower located at 1408 N. St. Mary’s Street. On August 4, 2016, the City Council also approved an agreement with the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) to place the radio communications ground shelter and related equipment (Base Station) which supports the radio antennas on the adjoining property owned by SAMA at 317 Arden Grove.
The City of San Antonio’s ITSD Department requests the city close, vacate and abandon its interest in a portion of Arden Grove. The San Antonio Museum of Art owns the abutting property surrounding the closure, and consents to the closure. If approved, SAMA intends to incorporate the right-of-way into its campus to extend its footprint and install a security fence to block pedestrian traffic from trespassing onto its property. The closure of this right-of-way will improve security for the city’s proposed radio shelter and KSAT radio tower sites.
ISSUE:
Consideration of an ordinance authorizing the closure, vacation and abandonment of a 0.110 acre (4,807 square feet) of an improved portion of Arden Grove, in Council District 1.
The City of San Antonio’s ITSD Department requests the city close, vacate and abandon its interest in a portion of Arden Grove. The San Antonio Museum of Art owns the abutting property surrounding the closure, and consents to the closure. If approved, SAMA intends to incorporate the right-of-way into its campus to extend its footprint and install a security fence to block pedestrian traffic from trespassing onto its property. The closure of this right-of-way will improve security for the city’s proposed radio shelter and KSAT radio tower sites.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve this request; however, if not approved, the city’s ITSD Department will need to find another location to place its equipment that supports the radio antennas for the City Public Safety Radio System.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fees associated with this closure since the request was initiated by the City’s ITSD Department, Municipal Code Sec. 37-11(c).
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Commission reviewed this request at its regular meeting on July 27, 2016. Staff recommends approval of this request to close, vacate and abandon its interest in a portion of Arden Grove.