Redwood City Municipal Code § 29.102 Definitions

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), adopted Jan. 28, 2019, repealed the former Art. VIII, §§ 29.100—29.111, and enacted a new Art. VIII as set out herein. The former Art. VIII pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 2453, § 2(Exh. A), adopted Dec. 17, 2018.

The City of Redwood City ("City") derives its authority pursuant to Section 3 of the City Charter, which provides that the City shall and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. This Article, and any rules, regulations, specifications and agreements adopted pursuant to this Article, comply with all applicable Federal and State laws.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

The purpose of this Article is to establish a process for managing, and uniform standards for acting upon, requests for the placement of wireless facilities within the public rights-of-way of the City consistent with the City's obligation to promote the public health, safety, and welfare, to manage the public rights-of-way, and to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced by the use of the public rights-of-way for the placement of wireless facilities. The City recognizes the importance of personal wireless services facilities to provide high-quality communications service to the residents and businesses within the City, and the City also recognizes its obligation to comply with applicable Federal and State law regarding the placement of personal wireless services facilities in its public rights-of-way. This Article VIII of Chapter 29 of the Redwood City Municipal Code ("City Code") shall be interpreted as consistent with those provisions.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

The terms used in this Article shall have the following meanings:

APPLICATION: A formal request, including all required and requested documentation and information, submitted by an applicant to the City for a wireless encroachment permit.

APPLICANT: A person or entity filing an application for placement or modification of a personal wireless services facility in the public rights-of-way.

BASE STATION: shall have the meaning as set forth in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.40001(b)(1), or any successor provision.

ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST: shall have the meaning as set forth in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.40001(b)(3), or any successor provision.

FCC: The Federal Communications Commission or its lawful successor.

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE: City-owned or controlled property structures, objects, and equipment in the public rights-of-way, including, but not limited to, street lights, traffic control structures, banners, street furniture, billboards, or other poles, lighting fixtures, or electroliers located within the public rights-of-way.

PERMITTEE: any entity granted a wireless encroachment permit pursuant to this Article.

PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES: shall have the same meaning as set forth in 47 U.S.C. Section 332(c)(7)(C)(i).

PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES FACILITY: means a wireless facility used for the provision of personal wireless services.

WIRELESS FACILITY, or FACILITY: The transmitters, antenna structures and other types of installations used for the provision of wireless services at a fixed location, including, without limitation, any associated tower(s), support structure(s), and base station(s).

PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY, or "ROW": shall have the same meaning as in City Code Section 29.2, but shall also include any portion of any road or public way which the City has the responsibility to maintain or manage.

SMALL CELL FACILITY: shall have the same meaning as "small wireless facility" in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6002(1), or any successor provision (which is a personal wireless services facility that meets the following conditions that, solely for convenience, have been set forth below):

1. The facility—

a. Is mounted on a structure fifty (50) feet or less in height, including antennas, as defined in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1320(d), or

b. Is mounted on structures no more than ten (10) percent taller than other adjacent structures, or

c. Does not extend existing structures on which they are located to a height of more than fifty (50) feet or by more than ten (10) percent, whichever is greater;

2. Each antenna associated with the deployment, excluding associated antenna equipment (as defined in the definition of antenna in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1320(d)), is no more than three (3) cubic feet in volume;

3. All other wireless equipment associated with the structure, including the wireless equipment associated with the antenna and any pre-existing associated equipment on the structure, is no more than twenty-eight (28) cubic feet in volume;

4. The facility does not require antenna structure registration under 47 C.F.R. Part 17;

5. The facility is not located on Tribal lands, as defined under 36 C.F.R. Section 800.16(x); and

6. The facility does not result in human exposure to radiofrequency radiation in excess of the applicable safety standards specified in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1307(b).

SUPPORT STRUCTURE: Any structure capable of supporting a base station.

TOWER: Any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities, including structures that are constructed for personal wireless services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul, and the associated site. This definition does not include utility poles.

UNDERGROUND AREAS: Those areas where there are no electrical facilities or facilities of the incumbent local exchange carrier in the right of way; or where the wires associated with the same are or are required to be located underground; or where the same are scheduled to be converted from overhead to underground. Electrical facilities are distribution facilities owned by an electric utility and do not include transmission facilities used or intended to be used to transmit electricity at nominal voltages in excess of thirty-five thousand (35,000) volts.

UTILITY POLE: A structure in the ROW designed to support electric, telephone and similar utility lines. A tower is not a utility pole.

WIRELESS ENCROACHMENT PERMIT: A permit issued pursuant to this Article authorizing the placement or modification of a wireless facility of a design specified in the permit at a particular location within the ROW; and the modification of any existing support structure to which the wireless facility is proposed to be attached.

WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDER: A person that owns, controls, operates or manages a wireless facility or portion thereof within the ROW.

WIRELESS REGULATIONS: Those regulations adopted pursuant to Section 29.104 and implementing the provisions of this Article.

WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDER: An entity that provides personal wireless services to end users.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. In General. A wireless encroachment permit shall be subject to all of the same requirements as an encroachment permit would under Chapter 29, Article II, of the City Code in addition to all of the requirements of this Article. Unless exempted, every person who desires to place a wireless facility in the public rights-of-way or modify an existing wireless facility in the public rights-of-way must obtain a wireless encroachment permit authorizing the placement or modification in accordance with this Article. Except for small cell facilities, facilities qualifying as eligible facilities requests, or any other type of facility expressly allowed in the public right-of-way by State or Federal law, no other wireless facilities shall be permitted pursuant to this Article.

B. Exemptions. This Article does not apply to:

1. The placement or modification of facilities by the City or by any other agency of the State solely for public safety purposes.

2. Installation of a "cell on wheels," "cell on truck" or a similar structure for a temporary period in connection with an emergency or event, but no longer than required for the emergency or event, provided that installation does not involve excavation, movement, or removal of existing facilities.

C. Other Applicable Requirements. In addition to the wireless encroachment permit required herein, the placement of a wireless facility in the ROW requires the persons who will own or control those facilities to obtain all permits required by applicable law, and to comply with applicable law, including, but not limited, applicable law governing radio frequency (RF) emissions.

D. Pre-existing Facilities in the ROW. Any wireless facility already existing in the ROW as of the date of this Article's adoption shall remain subject to the provisions of the City Code in effect prior to this Article, unless and until an extension of such facility's then-existing permit is granted, at which time the provisions of this Article shall apply in full force going forward as to such facility. The review of any request for a renewal of a permit for such pre-existing facilities shall be conducted pursuant to this Article, rather than the portion(s) of the City Code that it was previously reviewed under.

E. Public Use. Except as otherwise provided by California law, any use of the public right-of-way authorized pursuant to this Chapter will be subordinate to the City's use and use by the public.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. City Engineer. The City Engineer or his or her designee is responsible for administering this Article. As part of the administration of this Article, the City Engineer may:

1. Interpret the provisions of this Article;

2. Subject to approval by resolution of the City Council, develop and implement standards governing the placement and modification of wireless facilities consistent with the requirements of this Article, including regulations governing collocation and resolution of conflicting applications for placement of wireless facilities;

3. Subject to approval by resolution of the City Council, develop and implement acceptable designs and development standards for wireless facilities in the public rights-of-way, taking into account the zoning districts bounding the public rights-of-way;

4. Develop forms and procedures for submission of applications for placement or modification of wireless facilities, and proposed changes to any support structure consistent with this Article;

5. Determine the amount of and collect, as a condition of the completeness of any application, any fee established by this Article;

6. Establish deadlines for submission of information related to an application, and extend or shorten deadlines where appropriate and consistent with State and Federal laws and regulations;

7. Issue any notices of incompleteness, requests for information, or conduct or commission such studies as may be required to determine whether a permit should be issued;

8. Require, as part of, and as a condition of completeness of any application, notice to members of the public that may be affected by the placement or modification of the wireless facility and proposed changes to any support structure;

9. Subject to appeal as provided herein, determine whether to approve, approve subject to conditions, or deny an application; and

10. Take such other steps as may be required to timely act upon applications for placement of wireless facilities, including issuing written decisions and entering into agreements to mutually extend the time for action on an application.

B. Appeal.

1. Any person adversely affected by the decision of the City Engineer pursuant to this Article may appeal the City Engineer's decision to the City Manager or his or her designee, who may decide the issues de novo, and whose written decision will be the final decision of the City. An appeal by a wireless infrastructure provider must be taken jointly with the wireless service provider that intends to use the personal wireless services facility.

2. Where the City Engineer grants an application based on a finding where denial would result in a prohibition or effective prohibition under applicable Federal law, the decision shall be automatically appealed to the City Manager or his or her designee.

3. All appeals must be filed with the City Manager or his or her designee within two (2) business days of the written decision of the City Engineer, unless the City Engineer extends the time therefore. An extension may not be granted where extension would result in approval of the application by operation of law.

4. Any appeal shall be conducted so that a timely written decision may be issued in accordance with applicable law.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. Generally. Wireless facilities in the ROW shall meet the minimum requirements set forth in this Article and the City's wireless regulations, in addition to the requirements of any other applicable law.

B. Regulations. The wireless regulations and decisions on applications for placement of wireless facilities in the ROW shall, at a minimum, ensure that the requirements of this Section are satisfied, unless it is determined that applicant has established that denial of an application would, within the meaning of Federal law, prohibit or effectively prohibit the provision of personal wireless services, or otherwise violate applicable laws or regulations. If that determination is made, the requirements of this Article may be waived but only to the minimum extent required to avoid the prohibition or violation.

C. Minimum Standards. Wireless facilities shall be installed and modified in a manner that is consistent with the location preferences and aesthetic standards passed by resolution; minimizes risks to public safety, avoids placement of aboveground facilities in underground areas, avoids installation of new support structures or equipment cabinets in the public rights-of-way, and otherwise maintains the integrity and character of the neighborhoods and corridors in which the facilities are located; ensures that installations are subject to periodic review to minimize the intrusion on the rights of way; and ensures that the City bears no risk or liability as a result of the installations, and that such use does not inconvenience the public, interfere with the primary uses of the rights-of-way, or hinder the ability of the City or other government agencies to improve, modify, relocate, abandon, or vacate the public rights of way or any portion thereof, or to cause the improvement, modification, relocation, vacation, or abandonment of facilities in the rights of way.

D. Aesthetic Standards. The City Engineer shall recommend to the City Council and the City Council shall establish by resolution the aesthetic standards and any location preferences applicable to wireless facilities under this Article.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. Submission. Unless the wireless regulations provide otherwise, applicant shall submit a paper copy and an electronic copy of any application, amendments, or supplements to an application, or responses to requests for information regarding an application to the City Engineer at 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, California.

B. Pre-application meeting. Prior to filing an application for a wireless encroachment permit, an applicant is strongly encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting with the City Engineer or his or her designee to discuss the proposed facility, the requirements of this Article, and any potential impacts of the proposed facility.

C. Content. An applicant shall submit an application on the form approved by the City Engineer, which may be updated from time-to-time, but in any event shall require the submission of all required fee(s), documents, information, and any other materials necessary to allow the City Engineer to make required findings and ensure that the proposed facility will comply with applicable Federal and State law, the City Code, and will not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare. If no form has been approved, applications must contain all information necessary to show that applicant is entitled to the wireless encroachment permit requested, and must specify whether the applicant believes State or Federal law requires action on the application within a specified time period.

D. Fees. Application fee(s) shall be required to be submitted with any application for a wireless encroachment permit. The application fees for a wireless encroachment permit shall be the same fees required for an encroachment permit under this Chapter 29 of the City Code. The City Council is hereby authorized to determine, or cause to be determined, the amount, type, and other terms of such fee(s) from time to time by means of resolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no application fee shall be refundable, in whole or in part, to an applicant for a wireless encroachment permit unless paid as a refundable deposit.

E. Waivers. Requests for waivers from any requirement of this Section shall be made in writing to the City Engineer or his or her designee. The City Engineer may grant or deny a request for a waiver pursuant to this Subsection. The City Engineer may grant a request for waiver if it is demonstrated that, notwithstanding the issuance of a waiver, the City will be provided all information necessary to understand the nature of the construction or other activity to be conducted pursuant to the permit sought. All waivers approved pursuant to this Subsection shall be (1) granted only on a case-by-case basis, and (2) narrowly-tailored to minimize deviation from the requirements of the City Code.

F. Rejection for Incompleteness. For personal wireless facilities and eligible facilities requests, applications will be processed, and notices of incompleteness provided, in conformity with State, local, and Federal law. If such an application is incomplete, the City Engineer shall notify the applicant and specify the material omitted from the application.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. Findings Required for Approval.

1. Except for eligible facilities requests, the City Engineer or his or her designee or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, shall approve an application if, on the basis of the application and other materials or evidence provided in review thereof, it finds the following:

a. The facility is not detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare;

b. The facility complies with this Article and all applicable design, aesthetic, and development standards;

c. The facility meets applicable requirements and standards of State and Federal law; and

d. The facility meets all other standards for use of City-owned property set out in the City Code.

2. For eligible facilities requests, the City Engineer or his or her designee or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, shall approve an application if, on the basis of the application and other materials or evidence provided in review thereof, it finds the following:

a. That the application qualifies as an eligible facilities request; and

b. That the proposed facility will comply with all generally-applicable laws.

B. Decisions. Decisions on an application by the City Engineer or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, shall be in writing and include the reasons for the decision.

C. Independent Consultants. The City Engineer, the City Manager, and their designees are authorized, in their discretion, to select and retain independent consultant(s) with expertise in telecommunications in connection with the review of any application under this Article. Such independent consultant review may be retained on any issue that involves specialized or expert knowledge in connection with an application, including, but not limited to, application completeness or accuracy, structural engineering analysis, or compliance with FCC radio frequency emissions standards.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. Generally. In addition to any supplemental conditions imposed by the City Engineer or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, all permits granted pursuant to this Article shall be subject to the terms and conditions established in Chapter 29, Article II, as well as the following terms and conditions, unless modified by the approving authority.

1. Code Compliance. The permittee shall at all times maintain compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations and other rules, including, without limitation, those applying to use of public rights-of-way.

2. Permit Duration. A wireless encroachment permit shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years, unless pursuant to another provision of the Code or these conditions, it expires sooner or is terminated. At the end of ten (10) years from the date of issuance, such permit shall automatically expire, unless an extension or renewal has been granted. A person holding a wireless encroachment permit must either (1) remove the facility within thirty (30) days following the permit's expiration (provided that removal of support structure owned by City, a utility, or another entity authorized to maintain a support structure in the right of way need not be removed, but must be restored to its prior condition, except as specifically permitted by the City); or (2) at least ninety (90) days prior to expiration, submit an application to renew the permit, which application must, among all other requirements, demonstrate that the impact of the wireless facility cannot be reduced. The wireless facility must remain in place until it is acted upon by the City and all appeals from the City's decision exhausted.

3. Inspections; Emergencies. The City or its designee may enter onto the facility area to inspect the facility upon forty-eight (48) hours prior notice to the permittee. The permittee shall cooperate with all inspections and may be present for any inspection of its facility by the City. The City reserves the right to enter or direct its designee to enter the facility and support, repair, disable, or remove any elements of the facility in emergencies or when the facility threatens imminent harm to persons or property. The City shall make an effort to contact the permittee prior to disabling or removing any facility elements, but in any case shall notify permittee within twenty-four (24) hours of doing so.

4. Contact. The permittee shall at all times maintain accurate contact information for all parties responsible for the facility, which shall include a phone number, street mailing address and email address for at least one (1) natural person.

5. Adverse Impacts on Adjacent Properties. Permittee shall undertake all reasonable efforts to avoid undue adverse impacts to adjacent properties and/or uses that may arise from the construction, operation, maintenance, modification, and removal of the facility.

6. Noninterference. Permittee shall not move, alter, temporarily relocate, change, or interfere with any existing structure, improvement, or property without the prior consent of the owner of that structure, improvement, or property. No structure, improvement, or property owned by the City shall be moved to accommodate a permitted activity or encroachment, unless the City determines that such movement will not adversely affect the City or any surrounding businesses or residents, and the permittee pays all costs and expenses related to the relocation of the City's structure, improvement, or property. Prior to commencement of any work pursuant to a wireless encroachment permit, the permittee shall provide the City with documentation establishing to the City's satisfaction that the permittee has the legal right to use or interfere with any other structure, improvement, or property within the public right-of-way or City utility easement to be affected by permittee's facilities.

7. No Right, Title, or Interest. The permission granted by a wireless encroachment permit shall not in any event constitute an easement on or an encumbrance against the public right-of-way. No right, title, or interest (including franchise interest) in the public right-of-way, or any part thereof, shall vest or accrue in permittee by reason of a wireless encroachment permit or the issuance of any other permit or exercise of any privilege given thereby.

8. No Possessory Interest. No possessory interest is created by a wireless encroachment permit. However, to the extent that a possessory interest is deemed created by a governmental entity with taxation authority, permittee acknowledges that City has given to permittee notice pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 107.6 that the use or occupancy of any public property pursuant to a wireless encroachment permit may create a possessory interest which may be subject to the payment of property taxes levied upon such interest. Permittee shall be solely liable for, and shall pay and discharge prior to delinquency, any and all possessory interact taxes or other taxes, fees, and assessments levied against permittee's right to possession, occupancy, or use of any public property pursuant to any right of possession, occupancy, or use created by this permit.

9. RF Exposure Compliance. All facilities must comply with all standards and regulations of the FCC and any other State or Federal government agency with the authority to regulate RF exposure standards. After transmitter and antenna system optimization, but prior to unattended operations of the facility, permittee or its representative must conduct on-site post-installation RF emissions testing to demonstrate actual compliance with the FCC OET Bulletin 65 RF emissions safety rules for general population/uncontrolled RF exposure in all sectors. For this testing, the transmitter shall be operating at maximum operating power, and the testing shall occur outwards to a distance where the RF emissions no longer exceed the uncontrolled/general population limit.

10. Modifications. No changes shall be made to the approved plans without review and approval in accordance with this Article.

11. Agreement with City. If not already completed, permittee shall enter into the appropriate agreement with the City, as determined by the City, prior to constructing, attaching, or operating a facility on Municipal Infrastructure. This permit is not a substitute for such agreement.

12. Records. The permittee must maintain complete and accurate copies of all permits and other regulatory approvals issued in connection with the facility, which includes without limitation this approval, the approved plans and photo simulations incorporated into this approval, all conditions associated with this approval and any ministerial permits or approvals issued in connection with this approval. In the event that the permittee does not maintain such records as required in this condition or fails to produce true and complete copies of such records within a reasonable time after a written request from the City, any ambiguities or uncertainties that would be resolved through an inspection of the missing records will be construed against the permittee.

13. Attorney's Fees. In the event the City determines that it is necessary to take legal action to enforce any of these conditions, or to revoke a permit, and such legal action is taken, the permittee shall be required to pay any and all costs of such legal action, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the City, even if the matter is not prosecuted to a final judgment or is amicably resolved, unless the City should otherwise agree with permittee to waive said fees or any part thereof. The foregoing shall not apply if the permittee prevails in the enforcement proceeding.

B. Eligible Facilities Requests. In addition to the conditions provided in Section 29.108A of this Article and any supplemental conditions imposed by the City Engineer or his or her designee or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, all permits for an eligible facility requests granted pursuant to this Article shall be subject to the following additional conditions, unless modified by the approving authority:

1. Permit subject to conditions of underlying permit. Any permit granted in response to an application qualifying as an eligible facilities request shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying permit.

2. No permit term extension. The City's grant or grant by operation of law of an eligible facilities request permit constitutes a federally-mandated modification to the underlying permit or approval for the subject tower or base station. Notwithstanding any permit duration established in another permit condition, the City's grant or grant by operation of law of a eligible facilities request permit will not extend the permit term for the underlying permit or any other underlying regulatory approval, and its term shall be coterminous with the underlying permit or other regulatory approval for the subject tower or base station.

3. No waiver of standing. The City's grant or grant by operation of law of an eligible facilities request does not waive, and shall not be construed to waive, any standing by the City to challenge Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act, any FCC rules that interpret Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act, or any modification to Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act.

C. Small Cell Facilities Requests. In addition to the conditions provided in Section 29.108A of this Article and any supplemental conditions imposed by the City Engineer or his or her designee or the City Manager or his or her designee, as the case may be, all permits for a small cell facility granted pursuant to this Article shall be subject to the following condition, unless modified by the approving authority:

1. No waiver of standing. The City's grant of a permit for a small cell facility request does not waive, and shall not be construed to waive, any standing by the City to challenge any FCC orders or rules related to small cell facilities, or any modification to those FCC orders or rules.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

A. For Breach. A wireless encroachment permit may be revoked for failure to comply with the conditions of the permit or applicable law. Upon revocation, the wireless facility must be removed; provided that removal of a support structure owned by City, a utility, or another entity authorized to maintain a support structure in the right-of-way need not be removed, but must be restored to its prior condition, except as specifically permitted by the City. All costs incurred by the City in connection with the revocation and removal shall be paid by entities who own or control any part of the wireless facility.

B. For Installation Without a Permit. A wireless facility installed without a wireless encroachment permit (except for those exempted by this Article) must be removed; provided that removal of support structure owned by City, a utility, or another entity authorized to maintain a support structure in the right of way need not be removed, but must be restored to its prior condition, except as specifically permitted by the City. All costs incurred by the City in connection with the revocation and removal shall be paid by entities who own or control any part of the wireless facility.

C. Municipal Infraction. Any violation of this Article will be subject to the same penalties as a violation under this Chapter 29 of the City Code.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

The City, as a matter of policy, will negotiate agreements for use of Municipal Infrastructure. The placement of wireless facilities on those structures shall be subject to the agreement. The agreement shall specify the compensation to the City for use of the structures. The person seeking the agreement shall additionally reimburse the City for all costs the City incurs in connection with its review of, and action upon the person's request for, an agreement.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)

In establishing the rights, obligations and conditions set forth in this article, it is the intent of the City to treat each applicant or public right-of-way user in a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory manner, to the extent required by law, and with considerations that may be unique to the technologies, situation and legal status of each particular applicant or request for use of the public rights-of-way.

(Ord. No. 2455, § 2(Exh. A), 1-28-19)