City Council - Public Works and Natural Resources Committee

City of Bellingham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes August 31, 2020, 1:00 PM Mayor Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Council Members, Michael Lilliquist, Chair www.cob.org/council Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson All meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA, unless otherwise noted. Call to Order Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Committee Member Pinky Vargas, Fourth Ward Committee Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Standing Committee Meeting Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: Public Works and Natural Resources Michael Lilliquist, Chair Pinky Vargas, Lisa Anderson 22351 1. Small Cell and 5G in the City of Bellingham p. 3 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, explained that this topic is part of the Broadband Technology and telecommunications infrastructure conversation. He posed the question, "What is the partnership role of the City to provide infrastructure related to 5G and small cell technology?" The City's role is to be a permitting and regulatory agency to some extent. We regulate the rules on how telecommunications companies can install their technology on power poles. It includes a two-step process. First, is ensuring a franchise, and second, is to obtain a permit or license to install equipment on City property. When it comes to the permitting, the City of Bellingham is reliant on guidance and regulation from the FCC. As to date, no companies have applied for a permit to install 5G Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 1 August 31, 2020  or a small cell antenna. Council Member Vargas weighed the pros and cons of supporting 5G and small cell technology. She expressed concern for educating the public about what limitations the City has regarding installation of the technology. There is a lot of misunderstanding among community members about what the City can and cannot provide. Mayor Fleetwood, invited Council Members to meet with him and the City's Communications Director to discuss a plan for communicating information to the public regarding 5G technology. Council Member Lisa Anderson, noted that while the City has limitations on authority over the public rights-of-way due to state and federal law, there have been some cities that have banned 5G installation. Multiple countries have banned 5G, and sited national security concerns. The FCC has not updated their policy on this technology. She asked that we investigate what are other cities doing? Peter Ruffatto, City Attorney, suggested that we could pass a resolution, directed toward the FCC asking for a response on research regarding the health effects of 5G technology. Pinky Vargas / Lisa Anderson moved to contact our congressional legislation to find out the current status of the FCC's research into 5G technology and learn more about possible health effects of small cell radiation. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 22740 2. Public Works Asset Management and PURC Process p. 16 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, introduced the Pavement and Utility Rating Committee (PURC) and gave an overview of the program. The presentation provided insight into the PURC process and how the Public Works Department utilizes asset management principles in decision making. Information only. 22741 3. Draft 2020 Surface and Stormwater Comprehensive Plan p. 34 Eric Johnston, Public Works Director, outlined the purposes of the Surface and Stormwater Comprehensive Plan. Consultants presented on their recommendations. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 2 August 31, 2020  Information only. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m. Public Works and Natural Resources Committee Minutes Page 3 August 31, 2020