07-13-05 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JULY 13, 2005 Weiss stated that she could get Chis information from the RF engineers. With regard to the Cingular antennas on the City's water tower, Weiss indicated that there are currently nine panels on the water tower. She reported that most of the dropped calls that Cingular customers are experiencing in the 694/Rice Street area are due to topography or because of volume. Therefore, expanding the cun~ent system on the water tower would not help resolve these problems. Weiss reported that when companies expand their system, they do so because of demand and complaints. Weiss again reported that companies do take the need for expansion lightly, and would rather go through a permitted process (co- location) than a conditional use permit process (new tower). The City Administrator noted that in looking at the RF maps, there is nothing showing the assumptions that were used in developing the maps. Weiss indicated that a co-location on the Donovan Tower was done with an assumed height of 100 feet. The Administrator again noted that the City may be open to a variance for relocation of the existing whip antenna on the Donovan tower rather than allowing the construction of a new tower. The Administrator suggested that there is nothing limiting the installation of Cingular's antenna on the Donovan tower to a 100 foot elevation, and suggested that perhaps 120 feet would work or another elevation. Weiss indicated that the RF maps clearly show that the 3250 Spruce Street site is where they need to be to supply full coverage to Cingular's customers. Weiss pointed out that the comments of City staff reflect that Cingular has submitted all Che information necessary for the processing of the CUP application. Blesener indicated that Weiss is reading things into the RF maps that the City cannot as it does not have the assumptions used in generating these maps. Weiss indicated that the RF engineers are extremely busy and it is difficult to get them to these meetings. Blesener suggested that if these engineers are so busy, he would further question the data that was used to justify the need for a new tower. Weiss stated that she could provide the data so that it can be reviewed by a third party engineer. Keis indicated that he wanted a third party review of the information. Keis suggested that Cingular may also be motivated in wanting their own tower so that they can control future co-locations. Weiss disagreed that this was a motivator and pointed out that Cingular is offering to construct a pole that would allow a fourth co-location while the ordinance only requires three. Weiss also indicated that who will own the pole has yet to be determined.