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STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council DATE: March 6, 2025
FROM: Jason Jaurigue, Information Services Director
SUBJECT: Wireless Master Plan
SPECIFIC REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council receive and file the Wireless Master Plan and direct staff to take the following actions:
1.Initiate necessary amendments to streamline the permitting process;
2.Conduct a policy review of the Municipal Code and initiate the amendment process to reduce barriers to entitlement;
3.Develop and maintain a list of pre-approved sites for infrastructure deployment, including both new and existing locations by working with key stakeholders;
4.Designate and market Mobile Coverage Opportunity Zones with zoning/permit priorities and fee reductions;
5.Establish Master Services Agreements & Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to streamline the use of telecommunications inventory;
6.Research telecommunication asset management tools to track inventory;
7.Develop an interactive map showcasing current operational Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and pre-approved cell sites, providing detailed information for each location;
8.Develop an interactive map for residents showing their coverage area per provider;
9.Find ways to encourage small cell installations on flagpoles, streetlights, and other existing structures where collocation is challenging; and
10.Engage a wireless service broker to facilitate communication between the city, property owners and carriers.
BACKGROUND
Rancho Mirage offers an exceptional quality of life, with year-round sunshine, breathtaking mountain views, and world-class amenities. However, these same features create significant challenges for wireless cellular coverage.
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The City’s low population density, limited vertical assets, and surrounding mountains present significant barriers to reliable service. The City’s composition and land use patterns directly impact the coverage challenges it faces. While 35% of Rancho Mirage is designated for residential use, the largest land use category is “Open Space” (47%), with the “Mountain Reserve” category accounting for 32% of this—consisting of mountainous and conservation lands with limited development potential. Of the City’s 25 square miles, less than 18 are buildable due to terrain constraints and land use restrictions, and much of this land is already developed into residential communities.
Cellular facilities are typically located in commercial and institutional areas, where development barriers are lower. In contrast, residential communities have historically been hesitant to allow wireless facilities within their neighborhoods. Of the City’s 59 cellular facility applications (including those never built or now expired), only two were in residential zones, with one additional facility proposed in a golf area within a residential community.
Further complicating network expansion, the City’s Municipal Code has long prioritized visual aesthetics over cell tower development. The general height restriction for buildings is 20 feet, with additional approvals required for anything exceeding this limit. This limits the feasibility of installing wireless equipment on rooftops. The City’s wireless communication regulations also enforce strict design standards to minimize visual impact, requiring specific project details (such as paint manufacturer identification) and setting construction timelines. These restrictions have made it challenging for wireless carriers to enhance coverage.
Although the City Council has expressed support for new towers in recent years, many carriers have not pursued new applications and cities do not directly control cellular service providers.
Historically, tower development has been reactionary, with the city responding to carrier-initiated projects. However, municipalities are increasingly shifting from passive regulatory roles to proactive infrastructure planning—optimizing existing assets and even developing open-access networks. Carriers in Rancho Mirage have not taken meaningful steps to address coverage gaps. Instead, they have blamed the city while marketing coverage maps that do not align with real-world experiences, leaving residents and businesses frustrated and without clear solutions.
To resolve these issues, on July 18, 2024, the City Council pro-actively partnered with CelPlan Technologies to develop a comprehensive Wireless Master Plan that helps guide the City in better understanding the challenges and utilizing accurate data to develop strategic solutions..
This plan was executed in three key milestones:
•Milestone 1: Conducted field tests to map coverage gaps, identify telecommunication sites, and create an accurate baseline of existing service. •Milestone 2: Modeled coverage maps for major carriers, revealing AT&T’s superior coverage over Verizon and T-Mobile.
•Milestone 3: Identified specific locations and infrastructure solutions to enhance coverage for each carrier.
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ANALYSIS & DATA
As part of the study, CelPlan conducted a detailed field survey and drive test analysis to evaluate real-world cellular performance. The study identified 23 total cell sites across the city, with the following status:
• 18 operational
• 3 under construction
• 2 decommissioned
The analysis confirmed that Rancho Mirage lacks sufficient cellular infrastructure to meet current and future demands. Each major carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) operates only 4-6 macro sites, not including small cell sites, which fall well below the recommended 12 sites needed for adequate coverage across the City. Additionally, drive test results revealed significant coverage gaps in residential neighborhoods, validating community concerns about poor service quality.
The study reveals a concentration of cell sites in specific areas, such as Highway 111, and Eisenhower Health Hospital area, which show strong signal strength.
As part of the Wireless Coverage Analysis CelPlan used its proprietary tool, CelPlanner, to run simulations with the objective of matching the data collected in the field. CelPlanner analyzed wireless coverage in three frequency ranges: 700 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz that best represents coverage in Rancho Mirage.
The 700 MHz band provides the best overall coverage due to its lower frequency and ability to cover larger areas. This makes it the preferred choice for carriers when deploying blanket coverage across a market. The 700 Mhz is ideal for traditional cell towers and monopalms, which are camouflage towers designed to blend into the environment. Examples of such infrastructure in Rancho Mirage include the cell tower at Fire Station 50 and the installation at Palm Valley School.
The 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz bands operate at higher frequencies, which means they do not travel as far as 700 MHz, but provide faster data speeds and increased capacity. These bands are typically used in small cell sites, which are lower-profile installations mounted on streetlights, utility poles, and building rooftops to improve service in high-traffic areas like shopping centers and business districts.
CelPlan has provided the City of Rancho Mirage with a range of site options tailored to each carrier and frequency band. The purpose of the new sites is to enhance overall coverage and capacity in certain areas. CelPlan proposes adding five to six new sites per carrier in the 700 MHz frequency band. These sites are designed to improve overall coverage and must be approximately 65 feet tall to effectively serve larger areas. The recommended sites are primarily located in commercial or institutional zoning areas. An exception to this is the proposed site at Desert Island Country Club, located in a private residential zoning area. This site is critical for enhancing coverage in the city’s residential zones. Below is an example of what CelPlan provided to us with AT&T. See Table 6 for details.
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The proposed sites for the 1900/2100 MHz frequencies are focused on increasing network capacity. CelPlan recommends 7 to 8 new sites per carrier for these frequencies. These sites consist primarily of streetlights, flagpoles, and rooftop antennas strategically distributed in areas with low coverage and high potential demand. Some examples of locations for these capacity- enhancing sites include, Tamarisk Country Club, Rancho Mirage Elementary School, Rancho Las Palmas, commercial blocks and residential areas. Below is an example of what CelPlan provided to us with AT&T 1900/2100 MHz frequencies, See Table 9 for details. [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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I+ -TABLE 6 NEW PROPOSED AT&T 700 MHZ SITES DETAILS
Antenna Height
Site Name Address Zoning Design (feet) Latitude Longitude AT&T7-35525 Da Va ll Dr, Rancho l nstirutiona l Monopa lm 69 33° 47' 26.62" N 116° 26 ' 34 .77" w 700b12 Mi rage,CA AT&T8 -3100 1 Rattler Rd , Rancho l nsti1utiona l Monopa lm 69 33° 49' 13.32" N 116° 25 ' 56.19" w 700b12 Mirage, CA92270 AT&T9-Key La rgo and Dina h
700b12 Shore, Rancho Mi rage, Comme rcial Monopalm 35 33° 48 ' 03.42" N 116° 23' 5 1.9" w CA
Stea Ith Rooftop
AT&T10-71777 Frank Sinatra Dr, Res identia l antennas at 49.2 33°46'00.17 " N 116°24'49.42 "W 700b12 Rancho Mirage , CA 92270 Desert Island Countrv Club
CUP 14003-68900 Fran k Sinatra Dr., Rooftop
Co mme rcial antennas at Ritz 29.5 33°46'02.82" N 116° 27' 23 .54 . w AT&T11b12 Rancho Mirage, CA Carlton CUP09003 -H ighway 11 1 an d Paxton l nsti1utiona l Monopa lm 55 33°45'01.03" N 116° 25 ' 3 1.63 " w AT&T12b12 Dr, Rancho Mi rage, CA _J
Ce l Plan p roposes fo ur mon opa lms a nd two rooftop sites. CUP14003-AT & T11b12 and CUP09003-AT& T12b 1 2 are sites w hich are approved and never const ru cted , and we recommend t he city shou ld revisit t h ese pe rmits.
Site 'AT&T10-700 b12 ' located w ithin t he Desert Isla nd country Clu b can be im plemented as a stea lth antenna on the rooftop . The City of Rancho M irage needs to work with both club management and ca rr iers to encourage th e impleme nta t io n of th is site. CelPlan suggests using a broker to inte rmed iate t his dia log.
AT&T7-700b 12, AT&TB-700b12 and AT& T9-700b12 cons ider the same deploym ent type a nd structu r e as ex isting m ono pa lms in the area .
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To address these issues, the Wireless Master Plan outlines strategic recommendations, including, small cell deployment, and streamlined permitting processes to encourage carrier investment and improve connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors.
NEXT STEPS & RECOMMENDATIONS
When deploying new infrastructure, telecom operators coordinate across multiple teams within their organization. The real estate team identifies suitable sites, the legal team manages purchases or leases, and engineering ensures network compatibility. Permitting specialists handle local approvals, making the process complex and time-consuming.
To support this process, the City’s Wireless Master Plan outlines a proactive, strategic approach to position Rancho Mirage as an attractive location for telecommunications investment. The recommended actions aim to increase carrier confidence, streamline implementation and minimize delays and barriers.
Recommended Actions:
Streamline the permitting process:
•Recommendations include streamlining the zoning and permitting process for new tower and small cell applicants in Rancho Mirage. It highlights the importance of early collaboration between applicants and city staff, clear communication, and understanding project scopes and city constraints. Recommendations include modernizing application processes, 6-5
TABLE 9 -NEW PROPOSED AT&T 1900/2100 MHZ SITES DETAILS
Antenna
Site Name Address Zoning Des ign Height Latitude Longitude (feet)
CUP12002-71100 Los Alamo s Dr , Right of Way Street Light w/ Antenna -25 .0 33° 46' 47 .73" N 116° 25' 24 .52" w AT&T6-1955b2 Rancho Mirage, CA ROW AT&T7-1955b2 70-240 Frank Sinatra Dr, Open Sp ace Ro ofto p antennas at 23 .0 33° 46' 21.93" N 116° 26' 14 .64" w Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Tamarisk Country Club CUP1 0004-35800 Bob Hop e Dr , Comme rcial 6 roof mounted ante nna s 32 .8 33° 47' 26 .07" N 116° 24' 19 .64" w AT&T8 -1955b2 Rancho Mirage, CA AT&T9-1955b2 72074CA-111A, Rancho Commerci al Ro ofto p antennas at 32 .8 33° 44' 03 .06" N 116° 24' 23 .19" w Mir age, CA 92270 Dinin g & Stools Unlimited AT&T10 -John ar Blvd , Ranch o Residentia l Fla gpole or alternate 25.0 33° 45' 55 .64" N 116° 25' 33 .91" w 1955b2 Mirage , CA 92270, USA structure AT&T11-Di nah Shore Dr & Bob Ri ght of Way
1955b2 Hop e Dr
Street Li gh t w/ Antenna -
ROW 25.0 33° 48' 05 .56" N 116° 24' 22 .07" w
AT&T12-Palm vi ew Rd & Tamarisk Ri ght of Way 1955b2 Ln Street Li ght w/ Antenna -
ROW 25.0 33° 46' 47.27" N 116° 25 ' 56 .02" w
CelPlan proposes three small cells in street li ghts, one f lagpole and th ree rooftop sites. Streetlight antennas a re a proved . functional. small cell solution adopted by multi ple cities including Ra ncho Mirage . Adding more small cells like this throughout the city will he lp increase the capacity of the netwo rk. CUP120O2 is an example of an app roved site which could be re p li cated throughout the city. The suggested site AT&T12-1955b2 proposed wou ld be similar to the one cu rr ent ly owned by Cro wn Cast le and li kely ope rated by T-Mobile (Figure 22 ). CelPlan su ggests thi s site t o be located across th e street from ~he exist ing T-Mobile site.
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minimizing duplication, considering bulk permitting for identical structures, and using permit data to align with other infrastructure projects. These strategies aim to improve efficiency, ease pressure on resources, and support wireless infrastructure growth.
Conduct a Policy Review of the Municipal Code:
•The analysis recommends revising and updating municipal regulations to create favorable conditions for attracting telecommunications operators to deploy new sites in the city. The updated policies should offer a clear, streamlined, and predictable framework that supports infrastructure deployment while maintaining compliance with the city’s zoning and aesthetic standards.
Develop and Maintain a List of Pre-Approved Sites:
•A key element of this strategy is the identification and pre-approval of specific locations and site configurations. By providing operators with a clear view of viable deployment options, this approach reduces uncertainty, streamlines approval processes, and strengthens Rancho Mirage’s position as a proactive partner in telecommunications development. The Wireless Master Plan includes a curated list of pre-approved sites, incorporating both existing but unused Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and proposed new locations that the City should prioritize in collaboration with property owners. The next steps for this initiative include engaging property owners, facilitating entitlement processing, and exploring potential incentives to encourage participation in the deployment of wireless infrastructure.
Mobile Coverage Opportunity Zones
•The City of Rancho Mirage can identify areas where wireless coverage, capacity, or additional services need improvement, particularly in underserved communities. These designated zones can be marketed as priority areas where the city may expedite zoning and permitting processes and offer reduced fees for using municipal land or rooftop space. These incentives aim to encourage service providers to expand coverage and capacity in these critical areas.
Master Services Agreements & Site Lease Agreements
•This framework allows the City to efficiently negotiate the use of its telecommunications infrastructure through a single Master Lease/License Agreement. Once established, additional requests for the use of the same infrastructure can be seamlessly incorporated through Site Lease/License Agreements. This streamlined approach reduces administrative burden, accelerates approval processes, and provides a structured yet flexible method for managing telecommunications assets while ensuring compliance with municipal regulations.
Telecommunication Asset Tracking Tool
•City officials can enhance financial planning by implementing a telecommunications asset tracking tool. This system consolidates municipal and third-party assets, including radio equipment, antennas, spectrum usage, and infrastructure. A centralized database enables efficient asset management, tracks installations and decommissioning, and ensures accountability for new developments. Additionally, it supports rapid decision-making to optimize municipal revenues and infrastructure upgrades. 6-6
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Interactive Telecommunications Asset Map
•Developing an interactive telecommunications asset map would enhance planning by giving operators a clear view of pre-approved sites, existing infrastructure, and coverage gaps. This transparency speeds up deployment, ensures compliance with municipal guidelines and fosters better collaboration. City officials can also use the map to track infrastructure updates and optimize asset management. By streamlining decision-making, this tool reinforces Rancho Mirage’s commitment to expanding and improving connectivity.
Interactive Coverage Map for Residents
•An interactive map for residents will visually display wireless coverage areas by provider, allowing users to quickly assess signal strength in their neighborhoods. This tool empowers residents to make informed decisions about their service options, identify areas of poor coverage, and advocate for improved connectivity where needed. By providing transparent, accurate data, the map helps enhance community awareness.
Targeted Small Cell Installations
•The Wireless Master Plan has identified tailored site options to address coverage deficiencies in Rancho Mirage, focusing on small cell installations like flagpoles and streetlights. While collocation may be impractical for some sites, alternative locations—such as adjacent streetlights—offer potential for multi-carrier use, improving network capacity and coverage. These targeted installations provide a strategic solution to enhance wireless service in areas with limited infrastructure.
Consideration of Engaging Wireless Service Broker
•Using a broker can streamline municipal asset management and improve telecommunications infrastructure development. Brokers, with expertise in both technical and financial aspects, bridge gaps between the City and operators, ensuring alignment with municipal goals. They simplify the process by offering pre-approved site options, guiding operators through regulations, and reducing administrative burdens. Brokers handle construction, operation, and marketing of wireless infrastructure, generating revenue for the city while minimizing upfront costs and risks. This approach allows the city to focus on core responsibilities while benefiting from expert support to enhance connectivity for residents.
SUMMARY
The Wireless Master Plan marks a crucial first step in enhancing cellular coverage throughout the City. This plan collects and analyzes key data, identifies current service gaps, and provides strategic recommendations for improvement. It also recognizes a significant shift in the role of cities in project development—moving from a traditionally reactive approach to a more proactive one.
Additionally, the plan examines how Rancho Mirage’s topography, land use patterns, and built environment influence both current and future cellular coverage. Due to the City's low-density residential areas and mountainous terrain, even full implementation of the proposed recommendations is expected to improve service by approximately 70%.
ATTACHMENTS
1.Wireless Master Plan
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ATTACHMENT 1
WIRELESS MASTER PLAN
(SEE ATTACHED)
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