The city of Bellevue has entered into preliminary discussions about cellular telephone tower installation on city-owned land.
While the primary benefit of having the first cellular tower within Bellevue city limits would be increased cellular range in areas with poor coverage, like the Slaughterhouse and Muldoon canyons, the city itself could benefit in at least one other way.
By leasing city-owned property, additional revenue would be funneled into city coffers.
Discussing the issue with the Bellevue City Council last Thursday was Jennifer Campbell of Idaho Tower Co. The Ketchum-based company designs, builds and manages cellular tower communication facilities.
Noting that cellular use has grown significantly in the past several years, Campbell said her company has been asked repeatedly if there are any plans to increase cellular coverage in the southern Wood River Valley.
"They've said, 'When are you going to get a site into Bellevue?'" Campbell said.
One city-owned lot under consideration is next to the U.S. Bank on Main Street.
As a whole, the City Council appeared generally supportive of the idea.
As a way of maximizing the communication possibilities of such a decision, council members suggested placing as many cellular carriers on one tower as possible. The council also discussed the possibility of including wireless Internet capabilities.
"If we're going to put a tower up let's put some stuff on it," said Bellevue City Councilwoman Vivian Ivie.
The City Council agreed to continue discussing the issue of having a cellular tower placed on city land.
"I guess we're going to go forward," Ivie said.
In other Bellevue news:
· The City Council discussed an invoice the Wood River Land Trust may submit for payment on work done at the Howard Preserve. The $18,296 bill covers such work as new signs, maintenance and a project demonstrating how to improve fish habitat and stabilize stream banks by adding wood to the stream channel.
Bellevue Councilwoman Beth Robrahn asked city staff and the land trust for a more detailed breakdown of who agreed to pay for what on the various projects.
· The City Council unanimously agreed to endorse the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The resolution, started by the mayor of Seattle, Wash., challenges mayors from across the country to join Seattle in taking local action to reduce global warming pollution.
