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ground equipment at Town Hall. CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301 (Staff: D. Pedro) Consultant Planner Cynthia Richardson introduced the item to Council. The application before Council was a request by Verizon Wireless for a new wireless communications facility to be co-located on the existing monopine at Town Hall. The proposal called for the installation of six new, four foot tall panel type antennas to be flush mounted on the monopine at approximately 58 feet from the ground. The new antenna location would necessitate the relocation of two existing town emergency antennas on the monopine. The Town owned cutting/storage shed would be used for the facilities ground equipment. The Planning Commission had reviewed the project and voted 4-1 with Commissioner Partridge recusing himself to recommend approval of the proposed Site Development and Conditional Use Permit for a period of 10 years. Richardson proceeded with a PowerPoint Presentation that included an aerial of the site and existing monopine constructed by AT&T, photo simulations of the proposed project, views of the relocated Emergency Communications Committee's antennas and the Verizon coverage plans before and after the proposed installation. Richardson advised the Council that a comment letter had been received by resident Mark Breier, Esperanza Drive. A letter from Mr. Brier had also been received prior to the Planning Commission hearing. Mr. Breier's concerns pertained to the health risks of exposure to radio frequency. The correspondence was included in the staff report before • Council. Richardson reviewed the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 with Council. Pursuant to the Act, the Town could not deny the application based on health concerns. It was noted that Verizon had filed an RF exposure report for the application. The report, included in the Council packet, had evaluated the site and found that the proposal was in compliance with .the appropriate guidelines for limiting human exposure to radio frequency and the combined emissions from the Verizon and AT&T antennas was below FCC standards. Bill Hammett, Hammett& Edison Consulting Engineers, addressed Council. In response to a Councilmember inquiry regarding standards of emission and differences between the effect on adults and children, he noted that there was no difference. The standards incorporate a 50x safety factor to provide a prudent margin of safety for all people. The regulation is based on a 24 hour use. Mr. Hammett was the applicant's consultant. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING Gabriella Barr, Verizon representative, addressed Council. She noted that the project had been "stealth" designed to be co-located within the existing monopine located at Town Hall. The goal was to make the new antennas as "invisible" as possible. Copies of the project drawings had been included in the Council packet. • CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING 6 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 14,2010