Cell Antenna Moratorium Passed Early This Morning
Local residents Paul Kuroda and Simon Waddington were the only ones to stay awake through the night and into the wee hours of the morning to hear City Council discuss the proposed moratorium on cell phone antenna sites. Just after midnight the item finally came up on the agenda and of course many representatives from T-Mobile to speak as well as a few others from the cell phone industry.

But Kuroda and Waddington made their points and City Council passed the moratorium unanimously - despite some concern from Council President De la Fuente that anything more than 45 days would be unfair. The cell phone industry speakers all spoke to the issue of emergency services, but I failed to make the connection as to how cell towers would help in the event of a major catastrophe and major power outages. But I'm blonde, so I'm sure I just missed that connection.

The good thing about the moratorium is that it allows City Staff to figure out how other cities regulate cell towers and it allows proper measures to be put into place. The issue with one site in Larry Reid's district was in regards to residents merely wanting the site properly fenced. The good/bad news is that this hearing got the cell company to acquiesce and they put up a fence. Why didn't they just do the right thing in the first place?! Oh yeah, that costs MONEY...

There were other fun tidbits watching the Council Meeting all those hours last night. Did you know that you can watch online (I listen while playing Spider Solitaire) at http://oaklandnet.com/government/streaming-video/city-council-new.cfm. I can hiss as loud as I want while watching the circus play out without fear of removal for bad behavior. :)
Posted 6/28/2006