As you may recall, the "Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act" was signed into law by Governor Scott on July 1, 2017. The new law establishes a process by which wireless providers may place certain “small wireless facilities” on, under, within, or adjacent to certain utility poles or wireless support structures within public rights-of-way that are under the jurisdiction and control of an “authority” (i.e., a county or municipality.)  The law provides that the City may not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities in the public rights-of-way, except as specified in the legislation.

Due to the impacts that this new law may have in our community, staff requested that City Council adopt and ordinance which would impose a temporary moratorium for 180 days in order to allow staff sufficient time to study the new legislation and prepare any amendments to the City's Code of Ordinances as needed. The ordinance was presented to City Council for first reading on July 5, 2017 and is being presented for second reading and adoption.