Related item #10 coming before City Council, January 15, 4 - 5:30 p.m. meeting: Update on the Status of Litigation by a Coalition of Public Entities (including the City of Monterey) to Oppose Federal Communications Commission Orders that Severely Limit Local Control of Wireless Facilities (City of San Jose, et al v. USA and FCC (10th Circuit, US Court of Appeals, Case No 18-9568) (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) (City Attorney - 703-04)
The City Council created a wireless sub-committee in August 2018 (see news release). The Subcommittee consists of five residents and two Planning Commissioners. The committee's purpose is to to review wireless regulations, ordinances, and policies and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council.
Here's the latest news about the wireless facility applications into the City of Monterey. Information is posted newest (most recent) to oldest.
For questions, please contact the Planning Office at 646-3885.
Monterey Seeking Applications for Wireless Subcommittee - Deadline August 1, 2018: The Monterey City Council is seeking applications from Monterey residents to serve on the Wireless Telecommunications Subcommittee. The Subcommittee will consist of two residents and two Planning Commissioners, and will review regulations, ordinances, and policies and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council.
If you are a resident of the City of Monterey and are interested in this volunteer position, you are encouraged to apply. Please deliver a signed letter outlining your key qualifications for the position by hand delivery to 580 Pacific Street, Room 6; by email to lauer@monterey.org; or by fax to 831-646-3702, before the deadline. You may attach a résumé or additional pages to fully describe your qualifications for this position.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Appointments are scheduled to be made at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.
Posted June 27, 2018: The Planning Commission held a community meeting on Tuesday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. to review policy alternatives to the City's existing regulations of wireless facilities. Joseph Van Eaton of Best Best & Krieger gave a presentation and answered questions of community members and the Planning Commission. Mr. Van Eaton's presentation can be viewed at the following link: Presentation by Best Best & Krieger in PDF
Posted June 11, 2018: Dear Neighborhood Presidents: You are invited to attend a Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. The Planning Commission will host a community meeting to review policy alternatives to the City's existing regulations of wireless facilities.
We are hoping that you will join us for the community meeting and be part of the discussion. If you are unable to attend as a neighborhood president, please feel free to appoint someone to represent your neighborhood. It would be helpful for us to know who will be representing your neighborhood in advance of the meeting. Please send your attendance confirmation to caraker@monterey.org.
Please see the news release below for more details - COMMUNITY MEETING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ON WIRELESS FACILITY REGULATIONS, Tuesday, June 26, 2018; Informal Pre-meeting with Special Counsel – 5:45 P.M.; Planning Commission Study Session – 7:00 P.M.
Posted May 22, 2018: The City has hired the law firm Best Best & Krieger to review the City's existing wireless telecommunications ordinance ( City Code §§ 38-112.4 et seq ), proposed revisions and make recommendations to the City. The objective of outside counsel's legal review is to ensure that the City’s ordinance is consistent with state and federal laws, while retaining as much local control/discretion as is legally permissible.
The City retained as lead attorney Joseph Van Eaton, with additional work that may be performed by Gail Karish and Elizabeth Barket. Mr. Van Eaton is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, and Ms. Karish and Ms. Barket are licensed in California, and they all have expertise in wireless telecommunications law.
The City's fee agreement with Best Best & Krieger was effective May 1, 2018, and the work is underway. Any ordinance revisions recommended by Mr. Van Eaton will be brought to the Planning Commission and then to the City Council.
Posted March 27, 2018: Wireless Facility Applications - ExteNet Did Not Submit an Appeal - NEWS RELEASE
Posted March 18, 2018: The Planning Commission unanimously denied the application at their March 15 special meeting. You can watch the meeting video replay by going to the Planning Commission VoD page at monterey.org/tv, ro directly here: https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/m_3HX6961GRMsvkqSCdwmGeJ8rwpRZrR/playlists/4634/media/336484?autostart=false&showtabssearch=true&fullscreen=false. Posted March 14, 2018 - Extenet Withdraws 12 of 13 Wireless Facility Applications
Posted February 23, 2018, and updated March 5, 2018 with the additional link to the news release - https://www.monterey.org/Portals/0/Newsroom/2018/18_0305-Small-Cell-Facility-PCSpecMeetingNR.pdf
Dear Monterey Neighbors,
A special meeting before the Planning Commission for all 13 proposed wireless facilities has been scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at 6 PM in the City Council Chamber, Few Memorial Hall at 580 Pacific Street. This special meeting date is in compliance with applicable timeframes for wireless applications under federal regulations. (NOTE: This date replaces the previously noted tentative hearing dates of March 27 and June 12, 2018.)
Details of each of the 13 applications:
Posted February 7, 2018:
Tentative public hearings for the 13 proposed wireless facilities have been scheduled in compliance with applicable timeframes for wireless applications under federal regulations. The following wireless Use Permit applications are tentatively scheduled for review by the Planning Commission on March 27, 2018:
The remaining eight (8) wireless Use Permit applications are tentatively scheduled for review by the Planning Commission on June 12, 2018:
The location and time of each of the two hearings will be announced prior to the meeting. Please feel free to connect with us if you have any questions.
Hans Uslar Interim City Manager
Posted January 29, 2017: CTC Technology and Energy has prepared a report on behalf of the City of Monterey in which they evaluate Verizon's existing cellular service coverage and capacity in the Monterey Vista neighborhood. If you have any questions regarding the report or the attachments, please contact the Planning office at (831) 646-3886 - Report Date: December 20, 2017 - Data Collection Date: November 15, 2017 (in PDF format)
This information is also available at monterey.org/wireless.
Posted January 10, 2018:
As an engaged community, the City is well aware of your interest in the wireless facility proposal for the Monterey Vista and Old Town neighborhoods. Therefore, we will continue to provide you with updates regarding available project information and meeting dates.
It is important that you receive this information in a timely manner, so that you may be well informed and prepared to participate in public discussions. Therefore, due to a delay in receiving necessary information from the applicant, ExteNet Systems, the City will reschedule the Planning Commission hearing for the proposed wireless facilities in Monterey neighborhoods to late February or early March, 2018. Notice will be provided as soon as a new date is identified, as well as the availability of new information on the project.
We will continue to post project information as it becomes available on this site. Information currently available includes meeting minutes and videos of past public meetings, FAQs, site maps, and plan details for each proposed wireless facility.
As always, we are available if you would like to connect with us with questions.
Hans Uslar Acting City Manager
Posted January 3, 2018:
This month we continue the discussion about the permit applications by cell carriers to put wireless facilities in Monterey neighborhoods. The next opportunity to participate in this process will be before the Planning Commission on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. (The City will reschedule the Planning Commission hearing for the proposed wireless facilities in Monterey neighborhoods to late February or early March, 2018.) We encourage you to attend this meeting and let your voice to be heard.
To accommodate what may be a large citizen audience, the meeting will take place at the new Monterey Conference Center, Serra Ballroom. The meeting will also be taped live on the Monterey Channel, and streamed live - find the link at monterey.org/TV.
We developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) that we hope will explain the issues and the legislation. Please take this time to read the FAQs to become aware of the background and related laws of wireless phone facilities. We also encourage you to read our guidelines for participating in meetings available on our website at https://www.monterey.org/City-Hall/City-Council/How-to-Participate-in-Council-Meetings.
Please feel free to connect with us if you have questions.
Posted November 20, 2017, with an original post of November 17, 2017:
Update, Monday, November 20, 2017: The City learned today that the applicant, ExteNet Systems, Inc, has agreed to postpone the Planning Commission hearing date for the 13 applications to January 23, 2018. (This date is still subject to change.)
Originally posted Friday, November 17, 2017: Applications have been submitted to the City of Monterey by ExteNet for placement of wireless facilities in the Monterey Vista and Old Town Neighborhoods. The City of Monterey hosted a public outreach meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 to bring together representatives from ExteNet Systems and the public to address the proposed installation of wireless tower technology in Monterey. The meeting was televised on AMP Channel 25, live-streamed on the Monterey Channel and is now available on demand. Please see the links below to the presentation, the video on demand replay, and application materials.
Application Materials
Current Application Materials
Correspondence Received Up to Aug., 22, 2018
Council or Planning Commission Meeting Links