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Public Works Agency <br />https://www.santa-ana.org/pw <br />Item # 8 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Staff Report <br />May 4, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Wireless Telecommunication Facilities Guidelines <br />AGENDA TITLE <br />Receive and File Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Telecommunication Facilities in <br />the Public Right -of -Way <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Receive and file Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Telecommunication Facilities in <br />the Public Right -of -Way. <br />DISCUSSION <br />In 2018, the City Council adopted Ordinance NS-2954, revising Article X to Chapter 33 of <br />the Santa Ana Municipal Code to regulate wireless facilities in the public right-of-way. The <br />revision was to accommodate wireless technology advancements and new Federal and <br />State laws. In addition, the ordinance also authorized the Director of Public Works to <br />create the Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Facilities in the Public Right -of -Way <br />(Guidelines) to provide procedural and design guidance, and specific design standards <br />and requirements for project applicants proposing wireless facilities in the public right- <br />of-way (Exhibit 1). Staff initially prepared the Guidelines in April 2019 and they have been <br />revised to provide control and hierarchy of the proposed wireless facilities on support <br />structures, which will facilitate staff's review of wireless facility applications. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Telecommunications advancements and consumer demand network data capacity have <br />led to the need for smaller and more densified wireless antenna locations. Different types <br />of antennas are required to deliver various wireless coverages and capacities. A "macro <br />cell" is used for larger coverage, with a radius of several miles. These facilities are <br />typically located on freestanding towers, faux tree poles, tall buildings, water tanks, etc., <br />and until recently, have been the most common cell type utilized. <br />In recent years, wireless telecommunication providers have increasingly proposed <br />placing single, "small cell" antennas and equipment on existing infrastructure located <br />within the public right-of-way. The small cell antennas are usually deployed in areas that <br />cannot be effectively served by a traditional macro cell, or areas that may have coverage <br />but not enough capacily. A small cell is not intended to replace macro cell sites, but to fill <br />City Council 8-1 5/4/2021 <br />