Proposed Amendments
to Chapers 12.18 for
Wireless
Telecommunication
Facilities
September 1, 2026
Chronology
Date Event
June 2024 Adoption of Ordinance No. 682 (updated wireless code) January 2025 Carriers provide feedback on existing code chapters.
Dec 2024 – June
2025 Meetings with carriers (AT&T & Verizon) and CTIA.
Jan 2026 Staff provides review of proposed amendments to carriers Feb 2026 Carriers provide additional feedback on proposed amendments
Feb 2026 City Council provides direction and initiates amendments May 2026 City Council hearing (Introduction and 1st Reading) • Council asked to reconsider Code modification
• No salient changes since May 5, 2026
• 10 topics for discussion
Meeting Overview
• Accepted 85 and rejected 39 modifications
• Ordinance
• Exhibit A – Clean copy
• Exhibit B – Red-lined copy
Code Modifications
1. Master Deployment Plan
2. Equipment Size
3. Equipment Separation
4. Equipment Height
5. Undergrounding
Change Summary Overview
6. Location
7. Landscaping
8. Acoustic Analysis
9. Photo Simulations
10 Public Notification
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Master
Deployment
Plan
A master deployment plan,
showing existing and
proposed locations for the
next two years
was required as part of the
application submission.
Remove this
requirement.
No impact to the City. The
carriers were
not submitting this
information, because it was
proprietary and not an FCC
requirement. The City cannot
legally require such a map
be submitted as a
completeness item.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Equipment
Size
For major WTFs, equipment
on support structure shall
not exceed four cubic feet.
No Change. No impact. The carrier wanted
to increase the equipment
size limit to 28 cubic
feet; however, Staff recomme
nd keeping the four cubic feet
size limit to align with the
City’s aesthetic goals.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Equipment
Separation
Minimum separation
between a SWF and
electrical lines shall be the
minimum safety
requirement plus four feet.
Minimum
separation
between a SWF
and electrical lines
shall be the
minimum safety
requirement plus
six feet.
Increasing the separation
requirements increases safety
and in areas where there are
overhead electrical lines, the
increased separation may
make the area appear less
cluttered.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Equipment
Height
SWF may not exceed four feet
above the support structure.
SWF may not exceed
six feet above the
support
structure. Increasing
the allowable height
by two feet
Allowing taller sites
may result in increased
wireless installations, and a twofoot increase may not have a significant impact on
view frames.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Undergrounding All cables, connectors,
and meters for utilities
must be routed
underground.
Adding the words
“to the extent
feasible”, all
cables,
connectors, and
meters for utilities
must be routed
underground.
Adding the words “to the
extent feasible”
provides flexibility that may
incentivize more
installations, and the City can
still request design
modifications to keep the site
neat.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Location SWFs are prohibited on
decorative poles, traffic
signals, and cabinets.
SWFs
are proposed to
be allowed on
decorative poles,
traffic signals and
cabinets per City
Council direction at
its February
17, 2026 meeting
Intersections with traffic
signals tend to offer more
opportunities for installation
sites. Allowing
for installation at these
locations may incentivize
more installations and
limit facilities in nearby
residential areas.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Landscape
Plans
A landscape plan
is required as part of the
application submission
Requirement of a
landscape plan is
subject to
the Public Works
Department Direct
or’s discretion. No
tree may be
removed without
consulting the City
Arborist
The
proposed amendments adds c
larifying language that a
landscape plan is subject to
the Director’s
discretion. This creates
flexibility on this requirement
to be applied on a case-bycase basis.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Acoustic
Analysis
For major WTFs, an
acoustic analysis is a
required part of the
application submission.
Change language:
“The applicant
shall submit an
acoustic analysis p
repared and
certified by a
licensed
engineer....”
No impact. The acoustic
analysis will be prepared and
certified by a licensed
engineer instead of an
acoustic engineer.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Photo
Simulation
Photo simulations shall
show a 360-degree view.
New language
to provide a
range: Photo
simulations shall
show a minimum
of 180-degree and
a maximum of
360-degrees.
A rendering showing a
minimum 180-degree view will
convey enough information to
show how the cell site will
affect the local area including
potential view impacts but still
allows the Director to
request 360-degree view
if warranted.
Change Summary
Topic Current Code Proposed Change Impact
Public Notice A mailer list of all properties
within 500 feet of the site
location shall
be submitted with the
application package.
No change. This
will continue to
allow surrounding
property
owners adequate
notification.
No impact. Carriers requested
to include smaller notification
area. Staff
recommend to keep the 500-
foot-radius to capture the area
that may be impacted by a
new wireless facility.
Questions?