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amendment to take effect immediately (on March 11.) This requires a minimum 4/5 vote of the Councilmembers for the ordinance to take effect immediately. If there are not enough votes to meet the 4/5 requirement, then staff recommends that the Council introduce the ordinance at the March 11 meeting. Under this scenario, the second reading of the ordinance would take place on March 19 and the ordinance would go into effect thirty days thereafter, or on April 18, 2019. On February 20, 2019, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on this matter. After hearing staff's presentation and public comment, the Commission voted to recommend that the City Council amend the PMC and adopt the Council Policy as proposed but requested that staff further consider the following three issues before the item is heard by the Council: 1) removing the requirement for carriers to post a performance bond; 2) reviewing the language related to concealment of equipment to provide greater flexibility to carriers; and 3) reviewing the requirement that an applicant must demonstrate that a proposed project is on the most preferred structure within a 750 foot radius. (These three items issues are discussed in greater detail below.) Following the Planning Commission meeting on February 20, staff and/or the City's outside legal counsel, Tripp May, conferred with industry stakeholders to discuss flexibility in the Council Policy's aesthetic regulations to better anticipate reasonable changes in future wireless technology. As a result, staff recommends changes to the Council Policy based on these discussions in order to balance technical feasibility issues with the need to preserve the City's aesthetic characteristics. DISCUSSION Amendment of the City's Wireless Ordinance Because small cell wireless technology is relatively new, the City's existing wireless ordinance (Chapter 18.110) does not explicitly address small wireless facilities. Accordingly, staff seeks to amend section 18.11.0.010.B of the Pleasanton Municipal Code to recognize small wireless facilities and regulate those facilities by adopting a City Council Policy overseeing the permitting of these facilities. Adoption of Council Policy Regulating Small Wireless Facilities The purpose of the Council's Small Wireless Facilities Policy (Policy) is to establish reasonable and comprehensive standards and procedures for the permitting of small wireless facilities within the City, including but not limited to the siting of facilities, aesthetics, construction, operation, modification, and removal. The Policy is intended to promote the community interest of protecting the City's visual character from potential adverse impacts from facilities while providing access to high quality advanced wireless technology for the City's residents, businesses, and visitors. The Council should note that, as a policy rather than an Ordinance, the City may amend or revoke the provisions more quickly. This approach is recommended by the City's outside counsel due to the rapid and sometimes unpredictable changes in the federal law. Page 3of7