04/07/2009: "Cell Phone Regs Update Sent To CD&PD"

With five votes for, and one vote against, the County Council forwarded the work product of a citizen's Cell Phone Task Force to CD&P (Community Development & Planning) to begin the process of public hearings, and possible adoption of a new set of regulations on the permitting of cell phone installations, maintenance, replacement, and installation of new sites.

The meeting was ostensible scheduled to determine if the Interim Draft Ordinance drafted by the Task Force, with staff support from CD&PD, should be moved forward for full public review and comment, or rejected.

Councilman Bob Myhr, who had first abstained from voting on the issue in the past, argued against sending the draft ordinance forward for review and public comment, insisting that changes were not needed.

Myhr found himself arguing against the draft ordinance, while voicing his support for improved cell phone coverage; improvements that were strongly supported at the Tuesday meeting by representatives of first responders, including Sheriff Bill Cumming and the county fire chiefs and EMTs.

Myhr objected to the draft ordinance because it was new, and questioned why the existing ordinance could not be modified, and said even if changes are made, there is no guarantee that county wide coverage can be provided.

Members of the task force said the goal was to increase coverage, and while full coverage was an ideal, improvement was the goal. Myhr was told the Task Force had considered a modification to the existing regulations, but determined that it would be quicker and cleaner to write a new one.

Councilman Howard Rosenfeld said that he was concerned that any new ordinance address the concerns expressed for the protection of our citizens, but that technology has changed, and there is a need to address that as well.

Councilman Richard Fralick said there were concerns that needed to be addressed, but that the question was "do we move forward and try and get it on the docket for this year", noting that "there will be plenty of opportunities to make changes."

Councilmember Lovel Pratt had not been a member of the Council when the Task Force was formed, and she questioned the makeup of the Task Force membership, stating it should be more balanced.

Her comment seemed to surprise Council Chair Rich Peterson, who asked "Do you mean you want to have some members on the committee who are against making changes?"

Unlike Pratt, Councilman Gene Knapp was on the council when improving cell phone coverage was made a council priority, and he referred to the Task Force members as a "blue ribbon panel," and said "I would like to see [cell phone] coverage increased;" and added it would be a mistake to not move forward into the public process with the draft ordinance.

After two attempts to craft a motion to approve, Councilman Richard Fralick was successful in getting a motion on the table for a vote, and after a prolonged discussion period that included a full repeat by Myhr of his complaints and questions.doc he wanted answers to before, and if, allowing the draft to proceed for formal review, the motion to move the draft ordinance forward for a full review, with public and Planning Commission input, was passed, 5 to 1.