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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />March 26, 2019 <br />Page 3 <br />1 wireless services (called 5G) will require wireless providers to install a large amount of lower <br />2 hanging antennas that are connected to fiber optic cable allowing wireless providers to provide <br />3 significantly higher internet speeds. The facilities needed to provide 5G service are called small <br />4 wireless facilities. <br />5 <br />6 City Manager Casey provided a high -level summary of the small wireless facility ordinance. He <br />7 noted that items D and E on the agenda are also related to this and suggested talking about them <br />8 together but taking action separately. <br />9 <br />10 Councilmember Gray stated his understanding that most of this is covered under State Statute <br />11 that was passed a few years ago. <br />12 <br />13 City Manager Casey stated that was correct and was also overseen by Federal regulations. <br />14 <br />15 Councilmember Gray confirmed that the goal of this then is to manage it the best way possible <br />16 within the City's rules. <br />17 <br />18 Councilmember Stille stated that he does not want the public to be surprised when this rolls out. <br />19 He noted there could be more antennas seen around town than there are currently. He stated that <br />20 the upside of more antennas is access to 5G service, but the downside is that in some cases, it <br />21 won't just be an antenna and there will be a refrigerator -sized box at the base located within the <br />22 right -of -way. <br />23 <br />24 City Manager Casey stated this was correct and noted that the size of the nodes that are not <br />25 attached will be disbursed throughout the City. He stated that there are still many "unknowns" <br />26 but the City does not have the authority to have the nodes buried so they will need to be above <br />27 ground. <br />28 <br />29 Councilmember Stille explained this is in reaction to an FCC ruling and State law which means <br />30 the City cannot do anything about it. He asked when this would take effect. <br />31 <br />32 City Manager Casey stated the FCC ruling takes effect beginning April 15, 2019. <br />33 <br />34 Councilmember Stille noted that the third reading of the ordinance is scheduled for April 23, <br />35 2019 and asked about the possibility of waiving the third reading in order to meet the April 15, <br />36 2019 deadline. <br />37 <br />38 City Manager Casey stated that staff's recommendation is to waive the second reading and go <br />39 straight into the third reading for action because of that reason. <br />40 <br />41 Councilmember Stille stated this is a very in -depth ordinance and confirmed that the City worked <br />42 in conjunction with the League of Minnesota Cities to draft the ordinance. <br />43 <br />44 City Manager Casey stated the City did work with the League of Minnesota Cities as well as a <br />45 variety of resources that provided guidance. <br />46 <br />