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Session 1937 <br />October 11,2004 <br /> <br />Eric Schmitt, attorney representing Cingular, 168 North Meramec, Clayton, Missouri <br />63105 and accompanying Denise Free and Chuck Beck, Cingular representatives. His <br />purpose is clarification of issues relating to the cell phone tower. He noted growing <br /> <br />demand for cell phones, the need for <br />mentioned also coverage and capacity <br />mentioned the problem of "dropped calls" <br />to alleviate that problem. He noted the <br /> <br />infrastructure to support that demand, and <br />issues around the Heman Park area. He <br />and the nature of the structure to be installed <br />new structure will be incorporated into what <br /> <br />already exists, using the current pole and remounting the lights, noting the incorporation <br />of the equipment shelter with the existing rest room. There is co-location capacity. He <br />mentioned the Federal Mandate for E-911 service and how minimizing coverage areas <br />allowed emergency service personnel to locate people quickly. <br /> <br />Denise Free, engineer with Cingular Wireless, 13075 Manchester Road, Des Peres, <br />referred to a letter on page two of the "Heman Park packet" and to a map showing the <br />current coverage which is characterized as "marginal" to "poor" and said the aim of the <br />new tower is to improve coverage by replacing the light pole with a new structure. <br /> <br />Bruce A. Morrison for Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, 705 Olive Street, Suite <br />614, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, was not present but submitted a statement which was <br />read by the City Clerk. He said he is a general counsel for the Great Rivers <br />Environmental Law Center and had examined the issues which led to him making the <br />following series of recommendations. He said Cingular needed to demonstrate to the <br />City that the proposed tower fills a significant and existing gap to access the national <br />telephone network; that it will cover an area not already served by another provider; that <br />the six existing towers in University City which equal one cell tower for every square <br />miles in University City means that there is no existing, significant gap in the ability of <br />users to access the national telephone network. He said that Cingular should show that <br />their method is the least intrusive method to fill the gap and demonstrate that there are <br />no alternative, less intrusive sites; and he said they need to show that a shorter tower <br />will not fulfill service needs and that a tower cannot be placed on an existing building <br />and camouflaged in some fashion. He further mentioned that a permit means the <br />Planning Commission can make findings related to design, to reduce visual <br />degradation, and to propose to minimize the number and size of structures required in <br />geographic area surrounding the proposed site. Since Cingular has not done this, he <br />urged the appointment of a Task Force to examine the legal, economic, and aesthetic <br />issues related to the proposed tower. He also said they should question whether this <br />tower siting will open the door to more sitings of towers in other University City parks <br />and whether they will pose a financial burden to the City, should Cingular cease <br />conducting business <br /> <br />Mayor Adams declared the Public Hearing closed 8:20 p.m. <br /> <br />Mr. Ollendorff explained the procedure to be followed in respect of cell phone towers in <br /> Page 4 <br /> <br /> <br />