Politics & Government

Council Extends Cell Tower Moratorium

The City Council voted to extend a moratorium on cell phone antennas in Burlingame.

The City Council voted Monday night to extend a moratorium on cell phone antenna construction for 90 days, during which time the council and city staff plan on crafting an ordinance regulating wireless telecommunication facilities for Burlingame.

 “The council really wants to address this issue in a timely fashion,” said Councilwoman Ann Keighran. “We can come up with something that incorporates the concerns of our community.”

Although the moratorium extension originally excluded current applicants ExteNet and T-Mobile, the council voted Monday to include them.

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ExteNet recently against Burlingame for retroactively including it in the original moratorium passed Sept. 6 even though it already had an application submitted with the city. Councilmembers said they believed their case was strong enough against ExteNet as to not be harmed by its further inclusion in the moratorium.

The vote came after members of the public expressed concern that the City Council was acting less aggressively against wireless companies than they had hoped.

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“I feel like we’re spinning our wheels,” said resident Steve Lamont. “I’m not sure we’ve made progress since September 6.”

Others commented on a desire for clear direction from the council and a point person they can contact.

“Residents are behind the City Council and the city in this,” said resident Doug Luftman. “If we know the direction the city is going, we can help support it in ways that are productive.”

Councilmembers pointed out that the Brown Act prohibits them from speaking in more than groups of two outside of public meetings concerning city issues, which may appear as a shortage of action by council.

However, they noted that did not signify a lack of interest.

“I hear very clearly what the public is saying about this issue and the perception that perhaps we’re not jumping on it fast enough,” Mayor Terry Nagel said. “I want to assure you, all of us are deeply concerned about what might happen to our city if these antennas…were allowed to proliferate without regulation.”

Although the moratorium can be extended for a maximum of 10 months and 15 days, Burlingame officials sought a 90-day extension.

“Staff believes that draft regulations can be prepared and adopted in that time frame,” said City Attorney Gus Guinan.

The council members agreed to form a committee including Councilmember Cathy Baylock and Councilmember Michael Brownrigg to create a draft ordinance. Brownrigg suggested they aim for completion of a draft within the first half of November.

The on Sept. 6 after months of discussion on the necessity of an ordinance governing antenna construction and backlash against cell tower applications issued by Extenet and T-Mobile.

When ExteNet and T-Mobile applied with the Public Works Department to install cell phone antennas within the city in October 2010, only regulations existed regarding satellite dishes and other antennae attached to roofs--not those used for cell phones. Residents asked for a moratorium until more information on the antennas and installation process was made clear and Burlingame developed an ordinance regulating such antennas. 


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