PC 111313 - Laserfiche WebLink

Department. He added that when realtors sell property to people wanting to locate in Pleasanton, after getting through all the deal points, the transaction eventually gets down to two questions: whether there is Comcast service and how good cellular service is. Finally, Mr. Hirst stated that, most importantly, a couple of contractors who install cell site equipment and with whom he does business, indicated that there is going to be a demand for more and more cell sites because of the move to transporting data in addition to voice. He noted that transporting data takes a lot more "surface" and, consequently, there will be a need for more broadband. He added that this is a changing, competitive society, and Pleasanton needs to compete in order to draw the businesses and to keep the ones it already has. He encouraged the Commission to adopt this staff report for positive reasons and not just for because the Federal government tells us we cannot do otherwise. Jan Batcheller stated that she is a business owner with a business Downtown since 1976 and that communication is an essential part of doing business effectively. She indicated that it would be very nice if Pleasanton could be in compliance with Federal law and if drop calls in Pleasanton could be eliminated, especially since this is the heart of Silicon Valley. Following Commissioner Ritter's comments, she stated that she was involved with the Foundation Board of Cal State East Bay, which got a great deal of lease income with every cell tower located on top of what used to be its eight- or eleven -story building. She further stated that she loves the idea of the City leasing cell sites and getting an income from it and added that if she had her way, every school would have it too because she believes there is no health risk to a cell tower. Christine Gibney signed a speaker card but did not speak as she had already left the meeting. Angie Summers apologized that she did not have a written statement because she received her copy of the packet just 28 hours ago and was still reading the staff report before she came to this meeting. She stated that she was at the meeting when the park tower was mentioned and said that when they were talking about feet, they were saying that about 300 feet would be six houses away at the standard lot size of 50 feet wide. She indicated that she would like to see it stay at 500 feet, a difference of four more houses. She added that she does not know what has been proven with radio frequency emission, but she knows that she would not want to live near a cell phone tower. She indicated that she has never seen the word "collocation" before and inquired if seven antennas with several carriers on them is what collocation means. She added that when new carriers come to town and are not sharing antennas, there would be able to go through town and place antennas wherever they wanted to avoid a significant gap. Regarding the gap, she asked if any carrier has enough antennas within an area such that there is no gap. She added that what she has in mind is "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." Ms. Summers stated that with technology, like cigarettes, people are smoking and people are dying. She added that she would like to save children, and antennas should not be put up in areas where there are no houses at this present time, and if the antennas are already there now, then that homeowner should have to disclose that information, and the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 13, 2013 Page 44 of 50