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with the FCC regulations. GTE has no plans within the next two years to build a facility in <br />Pleasanton within 300 feet of a daycare center, private school, residence or senior care facility. <br />She believed the ordinance was sending out a wrong message that personal wireless facilities <br />pose a health threat. GTE's representative that participated in the workshops was concerned <br />about the discussions regarding perceived health effects. She wrote a letter on October 28 to <br />the City Attorney and City Manager expressing GTE's concerns with the direction the <br />workshops were going. She said the Planning Commission did recognize that the <br />Telecommunications Act restricted its ability to site the facilities based on health effects and for <br />that reason the buffer restriction was deleted in regards to private schools, daycare centers and <br />senior care facilities. GTE can accept this compromise. She said the staff report tonight deleted <br />all reference to health effects but instead lists other reasons to support the restrictions against <br />day care centers, private schools, senior care centers. But she felt these restrictions are still <br />based on health effects. There is no safety, security, noise, or property value issue in regards <br />to these specific uses. These facilities are secured, fenced and locked. In the ten years that she <br />has been GTE's real property attorney she has never experienced a problem regarding damage <br />or liability from a facility. The sites are visited once or twice a month to be maintained. She <br />believed there was no validation for property value loss. The reasons for the restrictions are for <br />the perceived health effects. Another portion of the ordinance refers to antennae pattern overlap. <br />There is a restriction on antennae pattern overlap and the reasoning is control pattern densities <br />based on health effects. GTE asks that Council follow the Planning Commissions <br />recommendations. She believed the City did not want to pass an ordinance subject to challenge <br />under the Telecommunications Act. <br /> <br /> Mark den Broeder, 4279 Barbara Court, believed the process that the Council set forth <br />was a success. He said many compromises were made in order to come up with something <br />everyone could live with. He was comfortable with making the non-substantive changes that the <br />Planning Commission recommended but was not comfortable with removing the prohibitions that <br />are being suggested. The ordinance as presented strikes a delicate balance and to remove a <br />portion would be damaging. There are other health and safety concerns besides RF exposure. <br />For example having barbed wire on the top of the fences is a safety hazard. The property value <br />concern is very real and is supported by a number of real estate agents. The visual aesthetics <br />and noise issues are also a concern. The prohibitions are consistent with the General Plan, the <br />Zoning Ordinance, and the Municipal Code. He stated that at the February 18 meeting the <br />carriers stated that it would be okay with them not to allow antennae on senior care facilities if <br />they were permitted on hospitals. The representative from GTE stated GTE would be willing <br />to make a compromise on schools. The issue on overlapping antennae patterns is also a concern <br />because if a number of antennae are added in one spot it will be difficult to mitigate the visual <br />effect. In closing he asked Council to honor the process that was set in motion and support the <br />ordinance. He appreciated being on the Committee. He asked if the removal of the tower in <br />McKinley Park could be expedited. <br /> <br /> Brad Hirst, 1811 Santa Rita, representing Sprint PCS, requested the adoption of the <br />Planning Commission's recommendation. The goal of the wireless service providers is to serve <br />optimally the 30-40,000 wireless accounts in Pleasanton. On September 2 Council directed staff <br />to come up with a siting policy. During this process it was learned that there will be many <br />antennas of all different shapes and sizes located throughout the United States. He believed the <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 12 4/21/98 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />