CC 03-23-1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of Special Council Meeting March 23, 19K1' Crichton referred to the motion of the Planning Commission which had a 3 to 3 vote, therefore no recommendation to the Council. Crichton reported that the Parks Committee recommended Council denial for the following reasons: 1. Proximity to park would be less desirable than a future modern industrial use. 2. Potentially inhibiting to persons using the park. 3. Potentially ~amaging the area designated for park usage. Hollenhorst asked about microwaves. Vaughan said he discussed this with Mr. Bruns, and tried to determine what microwave is. Mr. Bruns and Mr. Hamre (MnDot) indicated that up to 300 mega- hertz is considered very high frequency; ultra high frequency is . up to 1000 megahertz and microwave is over 1000 megah~rtz; there is no definition of what microwave is as opposed to megahertz. Vaughan said the Hwy. Patrol Tower uses 450 megahertz; most of the equipment on the proposed tower will be 450 megahertz; some will be 800 megahertz. As to interference, Vaughan said Mr. Hamre in- dicated that TV channels 4 and 5 use about 80 megahertz; therefore it would be impossible for the 450 or 800 megahertz to interfere with the 80 megahertz band; channel 11 uses about 200 megahertz: did not indicate what channels 2 and 9 use, but would be in this range: channel 17, which is UHF, uses between 500 and 600 maga- hertz in their transmission of sound. Vaughan said that other communications engineers, Ward Montgomery and Ron Vogamast (working in the Twin Cities) have indicated to him that there will be absolutely no preb1em with interference and no problem with microwave: the proposed tower will not accommodate microwave dishes": it is not being built to accommodate that load. It will only accommodate antennae to transmit 450 and 800 megahertz radiowaves, which is necessary in the communication of signals for business purposes: and will be used by the FBI and Secret Service. Vaughan said the wattage of the tower will be 75 to 100 watts. Equipment at the base of the tower is, for the most part, 75 watts~ there will be a number of transmitters in the 20' square building at the base of the tower, which will be hooked to an antenna at various stages up the tower. Woodburn asked the total radiated antennae power at anyone time. Question was referred to Electrical Engineer Bob Goetz. Goetz explained that in the area of VHF or UHF he would like to clarify that, for sure, there is not a microwave involved: the proposed tower is in VHF, UHF region. If start at the bottom of the tower with 75 or 100 watt bay stations there will bea line loss, depending on line used; the effective radiated power will consequently be lower than what is originated; the net result will probably not be more than 100 watts/transmitter on the tower: said he does not know how many transmitters there will be, but each will be on a different frequency so the number does not matter. Johnson asked the distance the Shoreview towers are from 1-694: expressed concern relative to ice problems. The Shoreview towers . were estimated to be in excess of 500 feet from 1-694, farther away than the proposed tower. The frequency of the strobe was stated to be 40/minute. In discussion of whether a park would be possible, if tower is approved, it was stated that it can be done; an active node on the west side of the site is preferable; if active area were not too large, it could be accommodated on the east side; it was noted that the west side of the site is not too accessible. Buckley indicated the proposed park location on the map. In discussion of the strobe lights, it was explained that they will be reflected upward and will not be a distraction for high- way traffic. Diagrams were shown of strobes, with and without the reflectors. -4-