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Planning Commission backs wireless facilities code updates, asks staff to research limited RF monitoring language
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Summary
The Santa Paula Planning Commission voted to recommend municipal code updates for telecommunication wireless facilities to the City Council and asked staff to research adding a provision, similar to Moorpark —ode, allowing the city to request a field RF-compliance report no more than once every 24 months.
The Santa Paula Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of proposed municipal code updates for telecommunication wireless facilities and asked staff to draft additional language to allow limited post-installation RF-compliance checks.
Staff member (Speaker 3), presenting the municipal code revisions, told the commission the update focuses on aesthetic and siting controls the city may lawfully exercise. "Federal law has taken over...there the city doesn't have just sole control over what it can and can't approve," the staff member said, noting the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards restrict local regulation of radio-frequency emissions.
Commissioners pressed staff on enforcement and monitoring once towers are operational. Commissioner (Speaker 8) said the draft lacked a way to compel operators to re-verify compliance over time and urged an option to require a report if there was cause for concern. "I'd like to ask our staff to come up with draft language for some sort of ability to monitor or request the wireless facility operators to provide some sort of compliance report no less than or no more than once every 24 months," the commissioner said.
Staff (Speaker 3) and other commissioners noted legal limits: the city cannot regulate RF levels but can request verification that an installation meets applicable federal standards. Staff identified language used by Moorpark that requires applicants to provide, at their expense, a field survey or equivalent verification and allows the city one such request in any 24-month period. "Such field surveys shall be provided to the city upon request, not to exceed 1 such request in any 24 month period," the presenter read, and said that similar language could be adapted.
After discussion about practicality, cost and enforcement limits for the city, Commissioner (Speaker 8) moved to approve staff
recommendations for Item 6A with the addition that staff return to the Council with proposed language similar to Moorpark for ongoing monitoring. Commissioner (Speaker 5) seconded the motion. The Clerk (Speaker 2) called the vote and the motion passed with five yes votes and no dissent.
The commission closed the public hearing after staff confirmed no public comments had been received. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, along with staff
research and suggested language for limited RF-compliance reporting.
