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Environmental board urges bird-safety measures as city negotiates cell tower on golf course
Summary
Members recommended staff and council consider bird-safe lighting and other safeguards while the city negotiates a cell-tower lease on the country club golf course; discussion included alternatives and whether code changes would help with future sites.
Board members and a council representative discussed an ongoing negotiation to site a cell tower on the country club golf course and urged the inclusion of bird-safety design elements in any agreement.
Councilman Justin Bochette, speaking to the board, raised neighborhood environmental-health concerns and asked for staff engagement: "Dean Park, we need to look in some environmental issues that may cause the residents problems, whether it's standing water, mold, and mildew," he said when urging closer attention to nearby flooding issues as background for tower siting discussions. Several members argued the negotiating staff should consider simple, low-cost mitigations—such as altering lighting color and blink frequency—to reduce bird collisions.
Members recommended bringing best-practice guidance to the negotiating team and, if feasible, building protective standards into city code so future tower approvals would incorporate safeguards. Staff said they could ask negotiators to include no-cost or low-cost mitigations and to buy time if necessary for the board to produce formal recommendations.
