BOLINAS  COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT

Resolution No. 586

A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District Relating to Wireless Communication Facilites and Advocating Amendments to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Supporting Legislation Requiring the Federal Communications Comission to Update its Existing Safety Standards, and Calling Upon the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin to Pass A Similar Resolution.

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 WHEREAS, the health and safety of Bolinas community residents are fundamental concerns of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District; and

    WHEREAS, a growing number of peer-reviwed scientific studies are showing that the electromagnetic fields emanating from wireless communications towers and facilities are capable of detrimental health effects; and

    WHEREAS, there is an on-going debate within the scientific and medical communities about the potential for adverse long-term effects of these emissions on the environment and on people living or working in close proximity to wireless communication facilities; and
   
    WHEREAS, questions are being raised about the adequacy of existing Federal Communications Commission regulations of these emissions and facilities to protect vulnerable populations (young children, the elderly and hypersensitive individuals) against the cumulative long-terms effects of low-frequency electromagnetic and radio-frequency emissions on those who live, attend school or work in close proximity to wireless communications facilities; and

    WHEREAS, Section 704 of the Federal Telcommunications Act of 1996 prevents local governments, including the County of Marin, from regulating the placement of wireless communitions facilities on the basis of potential or known environmental or health effects of electromagnetic radiation to the extent that the proposed facilities comply with the Federal Communications Commission regulations concerning such emissions; and

    WHEREAS, local governments throughout California and the nation have adopted resolutions requesting the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to repeal Section 704 of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, and allow local jurisdictions to regulate the placement of wireless facilities based on health or environmental considerations and/or requesting the Federal Communications Commission to update its existing safety standards;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District supports federal legislation to repeal limitations on local authority imposed by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and calls upon the U.S. Congress and Obama Administration to repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and otherwise allow local jurisdictions to control the siting, construction and installation of wireless communications facilities on the baiss of the health and environmental effects of these facilities.

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District supprts federal legislation that would direct the Federal Communications Commission to pursue a comprehensive global analysis of best practices and scientific evidence in order to update its existing standards and adequately measure the health impacts of wireless facilities;

    NOW., THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District calls upon the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin to pass a similar resolution advocating federal legislation to amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Requiring the Federal Communications Comission to Update its Existing Safety Standards

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that this resolution was duly introduced and adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District this 16th day of  September, 2009, by the
following vote:


AYES:    Amoroso, Kimball, Smith, Bender, Siedman

NOES:  None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT:   None                         

      
  __                      Jack Siedman__               ___
                         President, Board of Directors
Attest:

_______Jennifer Blackman___
    Secretary