Palo Alto staff outline mobile amateur-radio emergency network at Fire Station 8; commissioners ask for bird, visual and CEQA details

City staff presented a proposal to place a mobile Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (ARDIN) node — including a repurposed ambulance outfitted with servers and a 60-foot trailer-mounted communications tower — adjacent to Fire Station 8 in the Foothills as a redundancy for communications during large-scale emergencies.

The ARDIN node would use unencrypted amateur radio frequencies (around 5.8 GHz) and be operated by licensed amateur-radio operators; staff said the system is intended as a contingency if other communications fail in an earthquake, wildfire or other disaster. "The emergency radio, data network is a redundancy for communications in the event that there is an earthquake or some kind of large scale event," said Andres Orazoco, Emergency Services coordinator, describing the proposal and its planned location near the Foothills Nature Preserve entrance.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the benefit of additional, resilient communications. "Having data communications when there's no more cell phone ... overload of systems is super important to us," said Ken Duker, one of Palo Alto's public safety chiefs, adding that the network would help the Emergency Operations Center prioritize limited resources.

But commissioners pressed for more design and environmental detail before any installation. Commissioner Kleinhaus said the packet did not include visual renderings and asked for information on "bird-friendly" tower design and lighting, citing U.S. Fish and Wildlife guidance on tower collisions. Kleinhaus told staff to "look at" guidance and either avoid guy wires or take measures to make them visible to birds.

Staff and presenters said they would provide the requested materials. "Of course, we will get all that information in mitigation and come back to you with that," Orazoco said when asked whether bird-safety mitigation and tower renderings would be provided. Commissioners also asked whether any CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review would be required; staff said they expected the unit to qualify for an exemption as a mobile unit but agreed to verify permitting and whether a park-improvement ordinance or council approval would be necessary.

Other technical and operational points discussed included: the mobile unit would be powered by a 110-volt, 20-amp run from Fire Station 8; wiring would be buried; the trailer would not exceed the height of the existing tower on the hill; and the system leverages licensed amateur (ham) radio operators so users are identifiable by call sign. "It is above board for the FCC," Orazoco said, noting licensed operators must identify themselves on the network.

Commissioners also asked about ownership, security, and operations. Staff said Dr. Bob Iannucci (identified in the staff report) would retain and maintain the donated equipment at his cost; staff said that arrangement and the unit's mobility were intended to reduce city capital costs. "Doctor Iannucci is donating this, he owns it. He's going to maintain it at his cost," Duker said when commissioners asked about budget implications.

No formal action was taken; the commission provided direction to staff to return with visual mock-ups, bird-safety mitigation measures and clarity on environmental review and any required council approvals. "Yes, absolutely," Orazoco said when asked whether staff had enough direction to proceed with follow-up work.

Ending: Staff said they would return with the additional design, mitigation and permitting details and bring any required environmental review or permitting determinations back to the commission for an action item. The item remains a discussion item pending those materials and any formal permitting steps.