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In response to Council questions, Senior Planner Jany said the process for approval of monopoles was the same for all applications for antenna systems, with an emphasis on height requirements. He said monopoles were requested by PCS companies only when there were no other alternatives. He added that the poles were very expensive. Jany said that conditions could be put on the use of monopoles, and the decision to approve a monopole could be appealed to the Council within the normal appeal process period (within 7 days after approval.) Notice of the public hearing on the application is sent to property owners within 300 feet of the site, but anyone can appeal. Councilman Ruskin said he believed the proposed ordinance was too weak in regard to monopoles and wanted design features included. He said he did not want to see anymore of these poles in Redwood City unless "it would really place us in a situation where we were obstructing commerce in a way that would be deleterious to our City." In answer to Council questions, Senior Planner Jany said monopoles would be appropriate in IR Zones, and asked Council to consider: "To disallow monopoles in such zones could be a disservice to the City. These carriers provide services citywide to police and other agencies." He said the purpose of the "ordinance was to locate antennas that were appropriate to their setting.... We do have a double design review process in place. One is the Zoning Administrator and the other one is the Architectural Advisory Committee. They do take a close look at all applications." Senior Planner Jany said there will continue to be public easements for utility poles in Redwood City far out into the future, and in "that forest of telephone poles, one of them might be a monopole.... The intent (of the ordinance) is to locate them in areas where it doesn't really cause a clash to the eye." Vice Mayor Howard said the emphasis should be on screening. She said the City is working hard to eliminate blight and it was important not to add to it. City Manager Everett said the City would only approve monopoles "when it is in fact appropriate and we need to get coverage in any area for our residents to have that coverage... I don't think we need to write really heavy regulations when we have a design review and a zoning review... where we can.... develop more conditions that are specific to that site." Councilman Ruskin said he wanted current blighted areas to be improved not made worse by monopoles. He asked for more information regarding how the design process that is now is in effect will protect the City ITom what is not explicitly in the proposed ordinance. MEMO 2/11197 In response to Councilman Leipzig's questions, Planning Intern Erlich said that there were a total of three installed monopoles in Redwood City, and the first PCS antenna facility was installed in 1994. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 FEBRUARY 10, 1997 MINUTES PAGE 9 Page No. 156