No small wireless telecommunication antenna or facility within the rights-of-way will be attached to a utility pole, alternative antenna structure, tower, or city-owned infrastructure unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(A) Surface area of antenna. The small wireless telecommunication antenna, including antenna panels, whip antennas or dish-shaped antennas, cannot have a surface area of more than six cubic feet in volume.
(B) Size of above-ground small wireless facility. The total combined volume of all above-ground equipment and appurtenances comprising a small wireless facility, exclusive of the antenna itself, cannot exceed 28 cubic feet.
(C) Small wireless facility equipment. The operator of a small wireless facility must, whenever possible, locate the base of the equipment or appurtenances at a height of no lower than 12 feet above grade.
(D) Small wireless facility services equipment mounted at grade. With the exception of pedestals, any equipment or appurtenances outside the exterior of the pole, monopole or structure, must be installed below grade. In the event that the operator of a small wireless facility proposes to install a facility outside of the right-of-way where equipment or appurtenances are to be installed at grade such facility shall be screened, where required, to minimize the visibility of the facility. Any effective screening must be installed outside the right-of-way, at least three feet from the equipment installed at-grade and eight feet from a roadway.
(E) Height. The top of the highest point of the antenna cannot extend more than ten feet above the highest point of the utility pole, alternative antenna support structure, tower or city-owned infrastructure or 40 feet above ground level. If necessary, the replacement or new utility pole, alternative support structure or city-owned infrastructure located within the public rights-of-way may not be higher than existing poles adjacent to the replacement or new pole or structure.
(F) Color. A small wireless facility, including all related equipment and appurtenances, must be a color that blends with the surroundings of the nearest pole, structure tower or infrastructure on which it is mounted and use non-reflective materials which blend with the materials and colors of the surrounding area and structures. Any wiring must be covered with an appropriate cover.
(G) Antenna panel covering. A small wireless facility antenna may include a radome, cap or other antenna panel covering or shield, to the extent such covering would not result in a larger or more noticeable facility and, if proposed, such covering must be of a color that blends with the color of the pole, structure, tower or infrastructure on which it is mounted.
(H) Wiring and cabling. Wires and cables connecting the antenna to the remainder of the facility must be installed in accordance with the electrical code currently in effect. No wiring and cabling serving the facility will be allowed to interfere with any wiring or cabling installed by a cable television or video service operator, electric utility or telephone utility.
(I) Grounding. The small wireless facility must be grounded in accordance with the requirements of the electrical code currently in effect in the city.
(J) Guy wires. No guy or other support wires will be used in connection with a small wireless facility unless the facility is to be attached to an existing utility pole, alternative antenna support structure, tower or city-owned infrastructure that incorporated guy wires prior to the date that an applicant has applied for a permit.
(K) Pole extensions. No pole extensions to utility poles, alternative support structures, towers and city-owned infrastructure are allowed.
(L) Structural integrity. The small wireless facility, including the antenna, and all related equipment must be designed to withstand a wind force and ice loads in accordance with applicable standards established in Chapter 25 of the National Electric Safety Code for utility poles, Rule 250-B and 250-C standards governing wind, ice, and loading forces on utility poles, in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in TIA/EIA Section 222-G established by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Electronics Industry Association (EIA) for steel wireless support structures and the applicable industry standard for other existing structures. For any facility attached to city-owned infrastructure or, in the discretion of the city, for a utility pole, tower, or alternative antenna structure, the operator of the facility must provide the city with a structural evaluation of each specific location containing a recommendation that the proposed installation passes the standards described above. The evaluation must be prepared by a professional structural engineer licensed in the State of Iowa.
(M) Signage. Other than signs required by federal law or regulations or identification and location markings, installation of signs on a small wireless facility is prohibited.
(N) Screening. Should screening be required, it must be natural landscaping material or a fence subject to the approval of the city and must comply with all regulations of the city. Appropriate landscaping must be located and maintained and must provide the maximum achievable screening, as determined by the city, from view of adjoining properties and public or private streets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such screening is required to extend more than six feet in height. Landscape screening when permitted in the rights-of-way must be provided with a clearance of three feet in all directions from the facility. The color of housing for groundmounted equipment must blend with the surroundings. For a covered structure, the maximum reasonably achievable screening must be provided between such facility and the view from adjoining properties and public or private streets.
(Ord. 2376, passed 5-19-2020)