05-27-1997 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCLMEETINQ MAY 2T 1997 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITYOFORONO DATE: May 21, 1997 ITEM NO. Department Approval: Name Elizabeth Van Zomeren Title Building & Zoning Administrator Administrator Reviewed:Agenda Section: Zoning Item Description: #Telecominunications Ordinance Batkgrownd This issue was on the April 21, 1997 Planning Commission meeting. They continued the public hearing to allow for the City Attorney to advise them on this matter. His memo is included in the attachments. The industry representatives have raised several issues and concerns regarding the proposed ordinance amendment. These are as follows: 1. 2. The two water tower sites will not be sufficient to provide adequate coverage. The two towers cannot accommodate the number of vendors currently in or expected to be in the market. 3.There has been no structural analysis of the towers to assure they are capable of supporting the antennas. 4.US West owns a building in a business zone in Navarre in which it conducts its telephone-related business. US West believes it has a right to a telecommunications tower as an extension of this business. The City has contracted vvith John DuBois, an engineer and telecommunications consultant, to provide technical assistance to the City in drafting and implementing the proposed ordinance. Mr. DuBois has indicated the two towers in Orono do provide adequate sites for PCS coverage. Each of the towers will accommodate up to three vendors. The water tower option is being used by many cities for PCS antennas. The concerns regarding the structural capabilities of the water towers and the number of vendors the towers can accommodate can be ad ’ressed during the implementation phase of the ordinance amendment. It is not clear how many PCS vendors will be in the market in the short term or in the longer term. If it is found that the water towers are not adequate to accommodate all of the vendors, the City will address this issue at that time.