a. Location.

b. Height.

c. Permitted Structures. Monopoles shall be the only type of telecommunication towers permitted in Wasco. Neither guyed towers nor lattice-type towers shall be permitted.

d. Setbacks.

e. General Aesthetics.

f. Fencing. All towers and their accessory equipment structures for any wireless communication facility shall be enclosed by chain link fencing, not less than six feet in height. Such fences may be equipped with anti-climbing devices. The gate into the fenced area shall be located so that it is not easily visible from a street or adjacent property.

g. Screening/Landscaping (Buffer).

h. Lighting.

i. Signage. Wireless communication facilities shall not display signage, logos, symbols or any messages of a commercial or noncommercial nature on towers, support structures or the fence-securing tower. A sign, not visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent residences, shall be posted on the fence gate identifying the current owner of the tower, emergency contact person or agency, and applicable contact numbers.

a. Documentation prepared and sealed by a professional engineer registered in the state of California stating that it is technically or practically impossible to provide a reasonable level of service by co-locating the tower or antenna on an existing structure.

Technical documentation shall include a map of the search area, all potential co-location sites stating why each is unsuitable, and the total number of towers the service provider currently owns and plans to construct within the geographic antenna coverage area within the next two years.

The applicant must submit, in writing, a declaration from owners of all technically feasible co-location sites that they are unwilling to negotiate space or evidence that the applicant has tried, in good faith to negotiate reasonable terms for co-location and failed.

b. A scaled site plan, scaled elevation view, and supporting drawings, calculations and other documentation, prepared and sealed by appropriate licensed professionals, showing the location and dimensions of all improvements including topography, tower height requirements, setbacks, access driveways or easements, parking, fencing, landscaping, adjacent uses and any other information necessary to assess compliance with this chapter and compatibility with surrounding uses.

c. Documentation that the FCC’s minimum lighting standards have been applied.

d. No telecommunications antenna or related facility shall be sited or operated in such a manner that it poses, either by itself or in combination with other such facilities, a potential threat to public health. To that end, any telecommunications antenna and related facilities operating alone or in conjunction with other telecommunications facilities shall not generate electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation in excess of the standards for permissible human exposure to EMF as established by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) General Order 159, the Federal Communications Act of 1996, and/or including any other standards adopted by the FCC that may come henceforth, be adopted or amended.

A radio frequency radiation (RFR) report from a licensed radio frequency engineer and a copy of the most recent EMF and RFR reports and certifications required by the Federal Communications Commission shall be provided by the carrier at the time any application required by this chapter is submitted to the director, which documents the proposed facility’s anticipated RFR levels.

Documentation that the proposed tower, antennas and equipment comply with all applicable FCC regulations to protect the public from unnecessary exposure to electromagnetic radiation; documentation shall be provided that power density levels do not exceed those permitted by FCC.

e. In addition, all broadcast radio and television facilities and wireless telecommunications facilities where three or more telecommunications antenna or facilities are co-located on the same structure or on a parcel or on a separate parcel of land within three hundred feet of another telecommunications antenna or facilities antenna shall prepare and submit an annual RFR monitoring report and a copy of any RFR reports or certifications required by the CPUC and FCC. The report shall address the cumulative field measurements of radio frequency emissions of all antennas installed at the subject site or location. The report shall quantify the radio frequency emissions and compare the results with either the most current American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, or other standards adopted by the FCC or CPUC. Said report shall be subject to review and approval of the director and shall clearly identify the cumulative field measurements and compare these measurements to the most current ANSI, PCC and CPUC standards for consistency with the accepted standards. If the city finds that the wireless telecommunications facilities service providers do not meet these standards, the service providers shall bring the entire site into compliance with said standards, or be subject to review before the planning commission at a public hearing where the operation permit may be modified or revoked.

Documentation, prepared and sealed by a professional engineer registered in California that the proposed tower and attached antennas do not exceed the minimum height necessary to accomplish the purpose for which they are constructed.

f. A notarized statement by the owner or CEO of the tower specifying the number of co-location sites the owner will make available on the proposed tower and a declaration that such sites will be negotiated in good faith at reasonable terms to other service providers.

g. Documentation, prepared and sealed by a professional engineer registered in California, to demonstrate that the telecommunication tower has sufficient structural integrity for its intended uses. All towers and attached antennas shall be capable of withstanding winds of at least one hundred fifty miles per hour, and an earthquake in Zone No. 4.

h. If the proposed tower or antenna is to be located on lands owned by a party other than the applicant or the city, a copy of the lease agreement with the property owner.

i. Documentation consisting of a certificate of insurance verifying a general liability coverage of at least one million dollars at no cost to the city of Wasco. The certificate shall contain a requirement that the insurance company shall notify the city thirty days prior to the cancellation, modification, or failure to renew the insurance coverage required.

j. A copy of the approved National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) compliance report for all towers, antennas, accessory structures or equipment proposed for the site.

k. A memo of understanding regarding removal of abandoned antennas and towers. Any tower or antenna that is not operated for one hundred eighty continuous days in a twelve-month period shall be considered abandoned. The owner of such antenna(s) or tower shall be responsible for its removal within ninety days of receipt of such notification by the city. Failure to remove abandoned equipment will result in its removal by the city at the owner’s expense.

a. The use is a public necessity;

b. The facility will not materially endanger the public health or safety if located where proposed and developed according to the plan submitted;

c. The required conditions, specifications, and actions described in this chapter have been met;

d. The value of adjoining property will not be reduced;

e. The location and character of the facility will be in harmony with the area in which it is to be located.