Board members raise concerns about utility vegetation management and pole attachments ahead of franchise renewals

Several board members used the franchise-agreement review to press utilities and staff on vegetation management and pole-attachment maintenance. Director Hines described examples where utility contractors used herbicide or defoliation on trees in rights-of-way rather than trimming, producing unsightly results in areas across the city. He asked whether franchise agreements allow the city to require trimming rather than defoliation and whether franchise terms cover non-telephone and non-cable fiber attachments by newer providers. City staff noted some authority is limited by federal law governing pole attachments and by state preemption but said they will research current regulatory constraints and franchise language. City legal staff and the police department also discussed a recent criminal investigation for which staff sought tower information under warrant; staff said multiple companies responded but only one charged a fee for the records. Staff suggested adding franchise language to prohibit fees when the city seeks records pursuant to a lawful police warrant. The board asked staff to gather photos and specific locations, to meet with utility leadership as needed, and to return with suggested franchise-language changes for the upcoming franchise-review process.