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Doral council asks city attorney to research requiring telecom firms to fund community notice, engagement
Summary
The council unanimously directed the city attorney to research the viability of requiring telecommunication companies to meet community engagement and notice requirements — including town halls and advance notice to residents near proposed cell sites — while staff warned state and federal preemption may limit the city’s authority.
The Doral City Council unanimously approved a resolution May 14 directing the city attorney to research the city code and state statutes to determine whether the city can require telecommunication companies to post monetary bonds or take other measures to ensure community engagement and advance notice for proposed cell‑tower projects.
Councilman Rafael Pinedo said residents have raised concerns after seeing new cell equipment or towers installed near neighborhoods without prior notice. He proposed asking the city attorney to explore options such as mandatory town hall meetings and mailed notice to residents within 1,000 to 2,000 feet of proposed installations.
City Attorney Luis A. (presented as "mister attorney") and staff warned that state and federal law can preempt local regulation of telecommunications infrastructure, but said the city code and state statutes contain some options the attorney could examine. The city attorney said he would review existing code and bring potential updates back to the council.
Mayor Christie Fraga and other council members said they want to protect residents within the limits of the law; Fraga noted strong federal and state preemption but supported pursuing what could be done. The council voted in favor of instructing the city attorney to research options and return with recommendations; the resolution does not itself impose any new requirements.
