Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Approved: August 14, 2017 <br />CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA <br />SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />JULY 24, 2017 <br />6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL <br /> <br /> <br />CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council <br />Special Work Session at 6:30 p.m. <br /> <br />Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and <br />Steve Scott <br /> <br /> Absent: Councilmember Brenda Holden (excused) <br /> <br /> Also present: City Administrator William Joynes; Public Works Director/City Engineer <br />Sue Polka; Senior Planner Matthew Bachler; City Attorney Joel Jamnik; and City Clerk <br />Julie Hanson <br /> <br />1. AGENDA ITEMS <br /> <br />A. RIGHT OF WAY ORDINANCE AMENDMENT <br /> <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Polka stated that the 2017 State legislature passed a bill <br />allowing placement of small cell wireless equipment in the right-of-way. She said that in order <br />for the City to regulate this equipment, an amendment to City Code would be necessary. She also <br />stated that City Attorney Joel Jamnik had drafted language amending current City Code and a <br />handout from the League of Minnesota Cities had been provided to the Council regarding the new <br />law. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked how far the small cell towers could reach. <br /> <br />City Attorney Jamnik stated there is no firm answer to that question. He said that while the <br />technology has already been in use in airports, it will be quite different for residential areas which <br />vary due to geography, topography, and housing styles. He stated that as technology increases, <br />small cell towers will become more prominent. <br /> <br />City Attorney Jamnik said that issues with the new law include that it grants cell companies <br />access, does not allow moratoriums, and was effective in May 2017, so the City does not have <br />time to study the law or to “take a step back”. He also said it is expected that refinements to the <br />law will take place in the future and noted the League of Minnesota Cities considered providing a <br />model ordinance. He indicated the League decided against providing a model ordinance but