HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 649 (Oppose)Jimmy Lin
Mayor
Ruth M. Low
Mayor Pro Tem
Carol Herrera
Council Member
Nancy A. Lyons
Council Member
Steve Tye
Council Member
September 28, 2017
City of Diamond Bar
21810 Copley Drive • Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178
The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(909) 839-7000 . Fax (909) 861.3117
www.DiamondBarCA.gov
RE: Request for Veto - SB 649 (Hueso) Wireless Telecommunications
Facilities (as enrolled)
Dear Governor Brown:
On behalf of the City of Diamond I respectfully request your veto of SB 649
(Hueso), which seeks to eliminate public input and reasonable local
environmentalldesign review, mandate the forced leasing of publicly owned
infrastructure, and eliminate the ability for cities to negotiate fair leases for the
installation of "small cell' wireless equipment on taxpayer -funded property.
By eliminating our local discretion and mandating a ministerial process, SB
649 effectively eliminates the ability for our residents and businesses from
having fair input over the character of their own communities. Our elected
officials play a critical role in balancing the important needs of our community
and respect for its character, with our residents and businesses expecting the
City to be equipped to respond when they have legitimate concerns.
SB 649 sets a dangerous precedent for other private industries to seek similar
treatment at the expense of residents and businesses in local communities.
For these reasons, the City of Diamond Bar respectfully urges you to veto SB 649.
Sincerely,
Jim Lin
Mayor
cc: Senator Josh Newman, 29th District, Fax (916) 651-4929
Assembly Member Phillip Chen, 55th District, Fax (916) 319-2155
Tom Dyer, Deputy Leg. Affairs Secretary, Office of Governor Brown
City Council
City Manager
Jennifer Quan, League of California Cities, jguan(c_cacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, mdesmondC@cacities.orq
Joe A. Gonsalves & Son
t
21810 Copley Drive • Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178
(909) 839-7000 c Fax (909) 861-3117
www.DiamondBarCA.gov
July 12, 2017
The Honorable Miguel Santiago
Chair, California State Assembly Com. on C. & C.
State Capitol Building Room 6027
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Assemblymember Santiago,
The City of Diamond Bar strongly opposes Senate Bill 649 (SB 649), related to
the permitting of wireless and small cell telecommunications facilities. By
requiring local governments to approve "small cells" through a ministerial
permit, the legislation eliminates local discretionary authority and is a blatant
attempt to infringe on local control and municipalities right to set land policy.
As amended, SB 649 appears to grant more local control to cities in the
permitting process over small cell facilities; however, it still prohibits
Jimmy Lin discretionary review and only allows for building or encroachment permits for
Mayor such facilities. Cities would still be bound by the size parameters as set in the
bill, and would be banned from applying any meaningful maintenance
Mayor Prroo Tem
Ruth Low requirements to the small cells.
Carol Herrera The latest amendments further expand the scope of the bill beyond "small cell'
Council Member facilities to include "micro -wireless' facilities dangling between utility poles,
raising further public safety concerns that cities will be unable to address. It
Nancy A. Lyons also caps the lease and permitting fees for these telecommunications facilities
Council Member at a rate too low for cities to conduct meaningful oversight.
Steve Tye
Council Member Local governments should have the authority to protect the quality of life of our
residents and to protect public property. For these reasons, the City of
Diamond Bar opposes SB 649.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Lin
Mayor
CC: Senator Josh Newman, 291h District, Fax (916) 651-4929
Senator Ben Hueso, 401h District, Fx (916) 651-4940
Assembly Member Phillip Chen, 55th District, Fax (916) 319-2155
City Council
City Manager
Jennifer Quan, League of California Cities, jquan@cacities.org
Joe A. Gonsalves & Son