Council talks on cell phone policy

June Casagrande

Council members on Tuesday debated whether to approve a new policy

that would allow the city to get into the profitable business of

leasing space for cellular antennas.

A vote had not been taken as of press time.

Deals with phone companies could be lucrative: The city could earn

about $20,000 or $30,000 per year per site it leases to phone

companies.

Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said before the meeting that a

supportive council vote would make good sense from a government

standpoint as well as from a financial standpoint.

“They’re coming anyway,” Kiff said, noting federal regulations

that override a city’s power to prevent the antennas from being

installed within their borders. Under these laws, cellular companies

can rent space from commercial property owners to house their

equipment. “Shouldn’t we do our best to make sure they blend in with

surrounding buildings, that they are collocated with existing

structures and that we can protect our public safety communications

from interference?”

As part of Tuesday night’s discussion, the council also talked

over an ordinance to accompany the new policy. The ordinance would

set guidelines and standards for cellular antennas in the city,

regardless of whose land they’re on.

Among the protections the ordinance is designed to offer are

requirements that only the best and least intrusive equipment be

permitted and that the company’s commercial antennas can’t be put on

residential property.

If approved, the ordinance could come back for final approval in

early October.

In the meantime, the city will likely begin working on contracts

with AT&T; and Cingular, which have already approached the city.

Possible sites for the equipment, which often resemble 3-foot-long

black metal boxes with slim metal antennas several feet long sticking

out the top, include parks, police headquarters, lifeguard

headquarters, piers, medians and parkways.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].