Residents press Milpitas council on 5G siting and notification; staff to supply memo

Milpitas — Multiple residents used the public forum Feb. 3 to raise concerns about the siting and health effects of small‑cell (5G) wireless equipment and to urge the council to consider stricter notice or siting rules.

Residents from neighborhoods where small‑cell antennas have been proposed told the council they want technical specifications, clear distance standards and public notice before installations. "I do not refuse 5G — I do not want to embrace the technology — but it needs to be placed in a safer place," one speaker said during public comment.

Staff response and next steps: Assistant city staff and the acting city manager said there are limits under federal and state law on what a city can ban, but Public Works is developing administrative guidelines to improve neighborhood notification and to require staff to negotiate siting with providers when feasible. Acting City Manager and public works staff said those administrative steps could roll out in February and that staff would provide a council briefing memo explaining the permitting process and any gaps in local authority.

What was not decided: No ordinance or formal code change was adopted at the meeting. Several councilmembers asked staff for an informational memo explaining the current permitting timeline and thresholds for automatic approval, and to return to council if further policy work appears necessary.

Community context: Speakers also raised other public concerns at the meeting (unverified reports about ICE activity and hotel use), which staff said they would address separately via informational memos about law‑enforcement procedures and interagency coordination.

Staff committed to preparing an informational memo describing the small‑cell permitting process and the administrative notification changes for Council review; councilmembers said they will review that memo before deciding whether to pursue ordinance changes or additional policy work.