Ordinance 2297 - Adding Chapter 11.13 for Wireless Communication Facilities in the Public ROW ORDINANCE 2297
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMPBELL ADDING
CHAPTER 11.13 TO THE CAMPBELL MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING ALL
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
(OTHER THAN SMALL CELL WIRELESS FACILITIES)
After due consideration of all evidence presented, the City Council of the City of Campbell
does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 11.13 of the Campbell Municipal Code is added to read as follows:
Chapter 11.13
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
(OTHER THAN SMALL CELL WIRELESS FACILITIES)
11.13.010PURPOSE AND INTENT.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to reasonably regulate and provide,a uniform
and comprehensive set of standards and requirements for the orderly development,
siting, installation, construction, collocation, modification, operation, maintenance,
relocation, and removal of wireless communications facilities in the City of Campbell's
public right-of-way (other than small cell wireless facilities which shall be governed by
Chapter 11.14 of the city's municipal code), consistent with applicable federal and state
laws. Due to Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and subsequent Federal
Communications Commission Orders, the city is prevented from taking into consideration
all citizens' concerns with respect to the health effects of this technology. Pursuant to 47
U.S.C. 332(c)(7), the city may not regulate the placement, construction, and modification
of wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency
emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the Federal Communications
Commission's regulations concerning such emissions. To the extent permitted by federal
law, this chapter seeks to protect and promote public safety, and community welfare, and
preserve the city's character and aesthetic quality, while also providing wireless services.
These regulations are further intended to:
A. Require wireless communication facilities in the public right-of-way to have minimal
impacts on the city's streets and sidewalks.
B. Require wireless communication facilities in the public right-of-way to be designed to
minimize adverse visual impacts.
These regulations are not intended to, and shall not be interpreted or applied to:
A. Prohibit or effectively prohibit personal wireless services; or
B. Unreasonably discriminate among wireless communications providers of functionally
equivalent services; or
C. Regulate the placement, construction, or modification of wireless communications
facilities based on the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent
that such facilities comply with all applicable FCC regulations concerning such
emissions; or
D. Prohibit or effectively prohibit any collocation or modification that the city may not deny
under applicable California or federal law; or
E. Preempt any applicable California or federal law.
11.13.020DEFINITIONS.
A. All definitions provided in Chapter 11.14 of the city's municipal code shall apply to this
chapter as well.
B. Additional Definitions. In addition to the definitions in Chapter 11.14, the terms used
in this section will have the following meanings as set forth below. Terms not defined
in this section or in Chapter 11.14 shall be interpreted to give this chapter its most
reasonable meaning and application, consistent with applicable state and federal law.
1. "Wireless Facility Design Requirements" means the aesthetic and design
standards for wireless facilities (other than Small Cell Wireless Facilities)
approved by the city council, available at
https://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/DocumentCenterNiew/7649/Wireless-Facility-
Design-Requirements----CC-Res-12226?bidld=.
2. "Section 6409(a)" means Section 6409(a) of the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156, codified as 47 U.S.C. §
1455(a), as may be amended or superseded.
11.13.030APPLICABILITY.
A. This chapter applies to:
1. All applications to construct, install, operate, collocate, modify, reconstruct,
relocate or otherwise deploy any wireless communication facilities within the city's
public right-of-way, unless exempted in Section 11.13.030(B) below.
2. All wireless facilities, including, without limitation, all new facilities, existing
facilities, and modifications to existing facilities proposed after the effective date of
this chapter, unless exempted in Section 11.13.030(B) below.
B. This chapter shall not apply to the following facilities:
1. Small Cell Wireless Facilities in the public right of way, which shall be governed
and regulated by Chapter 11.14 of the city's municipal code.
2. Wireless facilities not proposed or currently located in the public right-of-way,
including but not limited to, on private property, or in or on other City of Campbell
owned property such as parks, structures, or buildings which are regulated by
Chapter 21.34 of the city's municipal code.
3. Wireless communication facilities used solely for public safety purposes, installed
and operated by authorized public safety agencies (e.g. county 911 emergency
services, police, sheriff, fire departments, first responder medical services,
hospitals, etc.) and any incorporating technologies including, but not limited to, city
owned traffic operations technologies.
4. Antennas and wireless communications facilities identified by the FCC or the
CPUC as exempt from local regulations.
5. Wireless communications facilities that are suspended, whether embedded or
attached, on communication cables or lines that are strung between existing utility
poles in compliance with applicable safety codes.
6. Over the Air Receptions Devices (OTARDs) as defined in 47 Code of Federal
Regulations (C.F.R.) Section 1.4000 et seq., as may be amended or superseded.
C. Special Provisions for Section 6409(a) Approvals. All requests for approval to
collocate, replace, or remove transmission equipment at an existing wireless facility
located in the public right-of-way and submitted pursuant to Section 6409(a) will be
reviewed under the general Wireless Facility Permit application procedures provided in
this chapter, as well as the special Section 6409(a) provisions provided in Section
11.13.100 below. To the extent that the applicant's request does not qualify for approval
under Section 6409(a), the applicant may submit an application for a Wireless Permit
under the general provisions in this chapter.
11.13.040PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
A. Wireless Facility Permit Required. Any applicant seeking to construct, install, modify,
maintain, or engage in an activity relating to a wireless communications facility in, on,
under, or above the public right-of-way that is subject to this chapter, shall, in addition to
any other required permits or authorizations as provided in Section 11.13.040(D) below,
obtain a Wireless Facility Permit pursuant to the requirements of this chapter prior, to
conducting any work related to such wireless communications facility.
B. Wireless Facility Permit Application Form. The applicant shall submit a complete, duly
executed Wireless Facility Permit application in a form approved by the Public Works
Department, which may be updated from time to time. The application will not be
considered duly filed or complete unless submitted in accordance with the requirements
of this chapter, the Permitting Guidelines and Wireless Facility Design Requirements.
Applicant must pay a Wireless Permit application processing fee as further described in
Section 11.13.040(E).
C. City Pole License. For any wireless facility proposed to be installed on a city pole
controlled by the city and located within the public right-of-way, wireless communications
providers are required to enter into a Master License Agreement in a form as approved
by the city attorney, for the use of a city pole in a specified license area and pay a license
fee.subject to the city's fee schedule. Any applicant seeking a Master License Agreement
shall additionally pay a Master License Agreement administrative fee subject to the city's
fee schedule to reimburse the city for reasonable costs in connection with its preparation,
review of, and action upon the request for such an agreement. The applicant seeking a
license to use a city pole must also apply for a Wireless Facility Permit. The absence of
a city-approved Master License Agreement shall be an independently sufficient basis to
deny the application for the Wireless Facility Permit for a city pole.
D. Encroachment Area. The Wireless Facility Permit will authorize the use.of a particular
location within the public right-of-way to perform work related to a wireless
communications facility, referred to as the encroachment area. The Wireless Facility
Permit shall specify the encroachment area and an applicant must comply with all the
requirements for the encroachment, in addition to other requirements consistent with this
chapter, as a condition of approval of the Wireless Facility Permit Compliance with the
requirements for a Wireless Facility Permit will not require approval of a separate
encroachment permit under 11.24.150 of the Campbell Municipal Code.
E. Other Permits. In addition to a Wireless Facility Permit, an applicant must also obtain
all other required permits and/or other approvals or authorizations from all applicable City
of Campbell departments, and/or state or federal agencies, including but not limited to,
any applicable building permits, conditional use permit, administrative site permit or
architectural review permit that may be required. Any permit granted under this chapter
is subject to the conditions and/or requirements of permits or other approvals obtained
from city, state, or federal agencies, unless expressly exempted by this chapter or by the
City Engineer.
F. Fees. All required fees, security instruments, and cash deposits related to the Wireless
Facility Permit, and other required permits and approvals consistent with this chapter
must be paid in full or be satisfied before the Wireless Permit may be issued by the city.
In addition, city may seek reimbursement of the actual reasonable costs related to
licensing, permitting, and administering a wireless communications facility in the public
right-of-way as set by the city council. Failure to comply with this provision shall be a basis
to deny, revoke, or terminate the Wireless Facility Permit or other applicable permit.
G. Additional Procedures. The city council authorizes the Public Works Director to
establish forms and procedures relating to the implementation of this chapter, and
determine the amount of and collect, as a condition of the completeness of any
application, any fee established by city council relating to this chapter.
11.13.050 REQUIRED APPROVALS.
A. All wireless communications facilities in the public right-of-way shall:
1. Comply with all applicable State and Federal laws including but not limited to the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) and all
applicable health and safety requirements, including but not limited to Public Utilities
Commission General Order 95, and as these rules may be amended or superseded.
2. Comply with all applicable conditions of the Wireless Facility Permit issued by the
city.
3. Be designed, modified, maintained or otherwise, to minimize visual, noise,
impediments to access, and other impacts on the surrounding community and shall
be planned, designed, located, and erected in accordance with the Permitting
Guidelines and Wireless Facility Design Requirements.
4. Be consistent with Sections 7901 and 7901.1 of the Public Utilities Code.
5. Comply with all applicable local and state building codes, including building code
structural requirements and all applicable rules and laws, including the Permitting
Guidelines and Wireless Facility Design Requirements.
6. Comply with all applicable federal RF exposure standards and exposure limits.
11.13.060 REVIEW PROCESS.
A. A Wireless Facility Permit application shall comply with this chapter and any other
written rules and policies the city may adopt consistent with this chapter, including but not
limited to, the Permitting Guidelines and Wireless Facility Design Requirements.
B. The City Engineer, or his or her designee, shall review all applications for the Wireless
Facility Permit. The Wireless Facility Permit shall be acted on within all processing
timelines required by any applicable state or federal laws, or other applicable timelines.
11.13.070 APPROVALS AND DENIALS; NOTICES.
A. Decision. The City Engineer shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny a complete
application for a Wireless Facility Permit.
B. Required Findings for Approval. The City Engineer may approve or conditionally
approve a complete Wireless Facility Permit application for a wireless communications
facility when the City Engineer finds:
1. The applicant and/or the proposed facility complies with all applicable requirements
of this chapter;
2. The application is deemed complete by the City Engineer, and complies with the
applicable Permitting Guidelines;
3. The proposed project complies with all applicable design standards in the city's
adopted Wireless Facility Design Requirements as determined by the City Engineer;
4. The applicant has demonstrated that the proposed project will be in compliance
with all applicable health and safety regulations, which include without limitation the
Americans with Disabilities Act and all FCC regulations and guidelines for human
exposure to RF emissions;
5. The proposed facility will not incommode the public use of the public right-of-way;
6. The proposed construction plan and schedule will not unduly interfere with the
public's use of the public right-of-way; and
7. The proposed wireless facility is in compliance with all federal and state standards
and laws.
C. Conditional Approvals; Denials without Prejudice. Subject to any applicable federal or
California laws, and the Permitting Guidelines, nothing in this chapter is intended to limit
the ability of the City Engineer to conditionally approve or deny without prejudice any
application for a Wireless Facility Permit as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure
compliance with this chapter.
D. Decision Notices. Before the expiration of any applicable FCC Shot Clock, the City
Engineer shall notify the applicant pursuant to any FCC requirements.
E. No Possessory Interest. No possessory interest is created by a Wireless Facility
Permit.
11.13.080 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
A. Fees. The applicant for a wireless communications facility shall be subject to all
applicable fees and charges for wireless communications facilities and the Wireless
Facility Permit, which shall be determined by resolution adopted by the city council. If no
resolution has been adopted, then the applicant must submit a signed written statement
that acknowledges that the applicant will be required to reimburse the city for its
reasonable costs incurred in connection with the application within ten (10) days after the
city issues a written demand for reimbursement. Applicant shall also be responsible for
paying all electrical service costs associated with the wireless communications facility
installation and operation.
B. Inspection and reporting. The permittee under the Permit, when directed by the city,
must perform an inspection of the wireless facility and submit a report to the Public Works
Department on the condition of the wireless facility to include any identified concerns and
corrective action taken or to be taken. The permittee shall also maintain and repair the
wireless facility at its sole expense during its placement in the public right-of-way. The
permittee must correct or repair the wireless facility within thirty (30) days after the city's
notice for corrective action; after which the city reserves the right to take any action it
deems necessary, which may include revocation of any applicable permit(s). The
permittee is responsible for any costs associated with necessary actions performed by
the city due to permittee's failure to comply with this section and with the Permitting
Guidelines. The permittee has the burden to demonstrate compliance with this chapter.
C. The applicable permit(s) may be rescinded or automatically expire if construction is not
completed pursuant to the Permit conditions within one (1) year of the Permit approval or
issuance date. The applicant may not renew the Permit or resubmit an application to
develop a wireless facility at the same location for six (6) months from date of rescission.
D. Abandonment. Wireless facilities no longer used to provide service shall be removed
by the last known owner of record of such wireless facility, at the sole cost of said owner
and to the satisfaction of the city.
E. Existing Agreements. Existing agreements regarding the leasing or licensing of a city
pole, city infrastructure, or city property entered into before the operative date of this
section remain in effect, subject to applicable termination provisions.
F. The city may adopt a resolution to reserve capacity for future city uses on vertical
infrastructure based on substantial evidence in the record.
11.13.090 REVOCATION.
Any permit or other authorized use of the public right-of-way granted under this chapter
may be revoked or modified for cause in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(a) Revocation proceedings may be initiated by the City Engineer.
(b) Action. The City Engineer shall act on the proposed revocation after the time for any
appeal has lapsed.
(c) Required Findings. The City Engineer may revoke or modify the Permit if it makes any
of the following findings:
(1) The permittee obtained the approval by means of fraud or misrepresentation of a
material fact;
(2) The permittee, in the sole discretion of the City Engineer, substantially expanded
or altered the use or structure beyond what is set forth in the Permit or substantially
changed the installation's character;
(3) The use in question has ceased to exist or has been suspended or abandoned;
(4) Failure to comply with any condition of a permit issued;
(5) Failure to comply with this chapter;
(6)A substantive change of law affecting a utility's authority to occupy or use the public
right-of-way or the city's ability to impose regulations relating to such occupation or
use;
(7) A wireless facility's interference with a city project which seeks to protect and
promote public safety and health, and community welfare;
(8) A wireless facility's interference with vehicular or pedestrian use of the public right-
of-way; or
(9) Failure to make a safe and timely restoration of the public right-of-way.
(d) Notice of action. The City Engineer shall issue a written determination of revocation
and mail the determination to the permittee within ten (10) calendar days of such
determination.
(e) A permittee whose permit or right has been revoked may have the revocation
reviewed, upon written appeal as set forth in Section 11.13.110.
11.13.100 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SECTION 6409(a) APPROVALS.
A. Applicability. This section applies to all requests for approval to collocate, replace, or
remove transmission equipment at an existing wireless tower or base station located in
the public rights-of-way submitted pursuant to Section 6409(a).
B. Additional Section 6409(a) Definitions. In addition to the definitions in Section
11.13.020, the terms used in this section will have the following meanings as set forth
below. Terms not defined in this section shall be interpreted to give this chapter its most
reasonable meaning and application, consistent with applicable state and federal law.
1. "Eligible Support Structure means the same as defined by the FCC in 47 C.F.R. §
1.6100(b)(4), as may be amended.
2. "Existing" means the same as defined in 47 C.F.R. § 1.6100(b)(5), as may be
amended.
3. "Section 6409(a) request" means any request to collocate, replace, or remove
transmission equipment at an existing wireless tower or base station located in the
public right-of-way submitted pursuant to Section 6409(a).
4. "Substantial change" or "substantially change" means the same as defined in 47
C.F.R. § 1.6100(b)(7), as may be amended.
5. "Tower" means the same as defined in 47 C.F.R. § 1.6100(b)(9), as may be
amended.
6. "Transmission equipment" means the same as defined in 47 C.F.R § 1.6100(b)(8),
as may be amended.
C. Required Approval. Any Section 6409(a) request submitted with a written request for
approval under Section 6409(a) as indicated in the city's Wireless Facility Permit
application form, shall require approval of a Wireless Facility Permit under the general
standards and procedures of this chapter, as well as any additional Section 6409(a)
special provisions as provided in this Section and the Permitting Guidelines.
D. Additional Required Findings for Section 6409(a) Request Approval. The City Engineer
may approve or conditionally approve a Section 6409(a) request when the City Engineer
finds that the proposed project meets the approval requirements in this chapter and the
Permitting Guidelines, as well as the following additional required findings:
1. Involves collocation, removal, or replacement of transmission equipment on an
existing wireless tower or base station;
2. Does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the existing wireless
tower or base station; and
3. Remains in compliance with all applicable FCC RF standards.
E. Criteria for Denial without Prejudice. Notwithstanding any other provision in this
chapter, and consistent with all applicable federal laws and regulations, the City Engineer
may deny without prejudice any Section 6409(a) request when the City Engineer finds
that the proposed project:
1. Does not meet the findings required in subsection (D) above;
2. Involves the replacement of the entire eligible support structure; or
3. Violates any legally enforceable and generally applicable building, structural,
electrical, and safety codes, or other laws codifying objective standards reasonably
related to health and safety.
F. Conditional Approvals. Subject to any applicable limitations in federal or state law,
nothing in this section is intended to limit the city's authority to conditionally approve an
application for a Section 6409(a) request to protect and promote the public health and
safety.
G. Appeals. Any applicant may appeal the City Engineer's written decision to deny without
prejudice an application for Section 6409(a) approval in compliance with 11.13.110 below.
11.13.110 APPEALS.
The applicant or any interested person or entity may file an appeal to the Director of Public
Works of any decision made by the City Engineer under this chapter in accordance with
the appeals process provided in Section 11.14.100 of the Campbell Municipal Code.
11.13.120 ATTORNEYS' FEES.
In the event the city determines that it is necessary to take legal action to enforce any of
the requirements under this chapter or to revoke a permit, and such legal action is taken,
the permittee shall be required to pay any and all costs of such legal action, including
reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the city, even if the matter is not prosecuted to a
final judgment or is amicably resolved, unless the city should otherwise agree in writing
with permittee to waive said fees or any part thereof. The foregoing shall not apply if the
permittee prevails in the enforcement proceeding.
11.13.130REVIEW OF ORDINANCE.
Wireless communications technology is currently subject to rapid change. Innovations
may render the need for specific sections of this chapter to be reviewed and revised. The
city council may amend this chapter or its rules and policies by resolution after a change
to the FCC's regulations or standards, or any applicable state or federal laws, or whenever
it deems necessary to do so.
11.13.140SEVERABILITY.
If any section or portion of this chapter is found to be invalid by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such finding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter, which
shall continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days following its passage
and adoption and shall be published within fifteen (15) days upon passage and adoption
in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Campbell, County of Santa Clara.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of October, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: Lopez, Scozzola, Furtado, Landry, Bybee
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
APPROVED: firms
Anne Bybee, Mayor
ATTEST:( _ 1kO' 761,410/a--4Andrea Sgers, City Clerk