HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2987
City of Palo Alto (ID # 2987)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Action ItemsMeeting Date: 7/2/2012
July 02, 2012 Page 1 of 3
(ID # 2987)
Council Priority: Land Use and Transportation Planning
Summary Title: Wireless Telecomm Towers at Utility Substation - contd.
Title: Public Hearing: Discussion and Direction Regarding City Policy for the Use
of Utility Substation Sites, City Hall and Other City Property for Siting Wireless
Communications Facilities (continued from June 25, 20, Public Hearing Closed)
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
At the Council meeting on June 25, 2012, following a public hearing and
discussion, Council continued this item. Council directed staff to revise the
recommendation to encompass a broader scope of the request for proposal, and
asked that the revised recommendation return at the July 2, 2012 meeting.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council direct staff to issue a request for proposal (RFP)
for services to develop a citywide proposal to provide for wireless communication
facilities, including the potential use of City electric utility substations, City Hall
and other city-owned properties by wireless communications providers, to better
meet the community’s need for a City-wide wireless network. Council should
specifically direct staff to:
1. Initiate the request for proposal process, including preparing the RFP,
seeking bidders and selecting a vendor.
2. Evaluate zoning ordinance amendments to address height and site
development standards for such facilities, and to provide for expeditious
review of projects and subsequent collocations.
3. Explore and develop City actions to encourage the use of collocation
facilities, including but not limited to approaches such as a ministerial
July 02, 2012 Page 2 of 3
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permit review process and streamlined utility and encroachment permit
reviews.
4. Within 6 months of Council action, report back to Council with the citywide
service proposal and study, as well as initiate proposed code modifications
and any recommended incentives to use the City’s proposed network.
Discussion
At the meeting on June 25, the Council held a public hearing and discussed a
number of issues related to developing a citywide wireless communications
facilities network, to be considered and include in either the RFP or in subsequent
actions for Council review. These issues should include, but not be limited to, the
following:
1. Evaluation of coverage and capacity gaps and strategies for the most
effective community-wide service;
2. Identification of the potential for use of City-owned sites, including electric
utility substations, City Hall and other city owned properties, to be used to
achieve the most effective community-wide service;
3. Identification of recent or emergent technology that could also be
deployed;
4. Evaluation of trade-offs between height, antenna type and service levels at
different locations;
5. Providing visual simulations of proposed facilities, including towers,
antenna, and support infrastructure at each location;
6. Potential costs and estimated revenues to the City for any proposed
program;
7. A description of how the system would be integrated with and enhance the
City’s emergency service communications capabilities;
8. How the proposed program would use the City’s existing fiber optic
network or a future City-sponsored wi-fi network and what benefits that
might provide to the community and City;
9. What incentives a proposed system would include to encourage collocation
of wireless service providers rather than carriers pursuing individual
installations;
10. Generation of current intensity of data demand and future data needs; and
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11. Clear definitions of the roles of the City and of wireless communications
providers in creating and operating the wireless communications
infrastructure.
Staff does not believe the above issues need to be incorporated into the
recommendation, but are understood to be addressed in the RFP and subsequent
proposals. Staff proposes to report back to Council in 6 months on the study, on
potential code amendments, and on possible incentives. Staff’s role will primarily
be to provide information to and coordinate with the consultant and to address
the ordinance ramifications and potential incentives in the list above.
For further information, the staff report for the June 25, 2012 Council meeting
is available at:
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/29953
Prepared By: Margaret Monroe, Mgmt Specialist
Department Head: Curtis Williams, Director
City Manager Approval: ____________________________________
James Keene, City Manager