AGF Ordinance Moving On to City Council

 AGF Update September 7, 2012 - Finally, the AGF ordinance will be at City Council on Tuesday, September 11 - item #22.  You are encouraged to write to the City Council to support the new ordinance. Here's a sample letter you can send:

Honorable Councilmembers:

We support the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and communities across the City of Los Angeles pertaining to amendments to the City's Above Ground Facilities (AGF) Ordinance, Item #22 on the City Council Agenda for September 11, 2012, specifically:

-- support the proposed amendments to the AGF Ordinance as set forth
in the reports to the Council from the Public Works and PLUM committees;

-- request additional, reasonable amendments to the AGF Ordinance including:
• Elimination of the utility pole exemption
• Expansion of the notice provisions
• Enhancement of the aesthetic provisions
• Imposition of permit duration
 limits

-- request enactment of an Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) that would
impose a temporary moratorium for a specific period of time on
applications for permits and installation of wireless facilities in the
public right of way while the Ordinance amendments are being drafted.

I request that this letter be filed in Council File No. 09-2645.

AGF Update June 4, 2012: Good news! The AGF ordinance (cell towers in the public right of way -- Above Ground Facility) will be moving forward to the full City Council. This move will give the green light for the City Attorney to draft the final ordinance. All sides of the issue are pleased with the outcome of today's PLUM hearing. Not sure when this will be at City Council but I'll let you know when I do hear. Below is a recap of where this is at now. I think this is a big win for our community as well as communities across the City. --Cindy Today PLUM approved the May 10 Public Works Committee recommendation to draft a cell tower ordinance consistent with Ted Jordan's (Deputy City Attorney) report from last June and bring this forward to Council. Recommendations out of Public Works Committee follow: "1. Delete exemption for cell installations mounted on utility poles so that these installations will be regulated under the ordinance. Also, with regard to installations on street lights, either to delete the exemption or to develop pre-approved antenna configurations - within certain power limits and/or aesthetic appearances - that would qualify for exemption. 2. Broaden public notice of applications & public hearings, which should include adjacent property owners, abutting property owners, Council office, possibly relevant HOA, and possibly within a specific radius, such as 500'. 3. Enhance aesthetic requirements by adding specific criteria to be applied and if not satisfied then the decision maker would be authorized to deny a permit application on aesthetic grounds. Referenced page 9 of June 7, 2011 report entitled "Developments in the Law Regarding Regulation of the Placement of Cell Towers and Related Equipment." In this regard, the cabinetry, the pole and antenna configuration as well as placement of the foregoing would all be reviewed for aesthetics against the applicable criteria. 4. Create a time measure for permits of somewhere between 2 and 10 years prior to expiration. 5. Mandate certification that antennas installed operate within FCC requirements." CM Ed Reyes expressed concern today at PLUM that the notice provisions be broad enough to include tenants or occupants.