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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem SAGENDA REPORT DATE: March 21, 2001 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager FROM: Doug Dancs, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALLEY UTILITY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (WATER AND SEWER) 019-49820-062,04349813-060 SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The proposed City Council action will approve the plans and specifications, and authorize Staff to initiate the bidding process so that a contract may be awarded for the construction utility and alley improvements to the alleys between 13" and 10 Street and 10 and 15th Street from Pacific Coast Highway to Electric Avenue. This proposed project will replace water lines, sewer lines, and pavement within the alleys between 13th and 14' Street and 14`h and 15`h Street from Pacific Coast Highway to Electric Avenue. This project is a carry-over from last years' program. The plans and specifications were completed by AKM Consulting Engineers. Upon the i;, successful bidding process and award of a contract, the project should be completed by+?r,¢ December. To keep the neighborhood informed, Staff will issue press releases as well as hand out question and answer brochures once the project is awarded. The anticipated project milestones are as follows: Authorization for Advertisement Late July Open Bids Mid August Council Award Late August Contract Execution Early September Mobilization Mid—Late Septemba Start Construction Early October Complete Construction December The next alleys scheduled for improvements are between 13" and I e Street and 10 and 15th Street from Electric Avenue to Ocean and between 15`h and I e Street from Electric Agenda Item S to PCH. Construction of the improvements is expected in the fourth quarter of FY 2001/2002. FISCAL IMPACT: Water and sewer enterprise funds are available within the City's Capital Improvement program budget to construct these improvements as well as some matching money from Orange County Sanitation District. A budget amendment is required to transfer the funds to the current CIP. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the plans and specifications, authorize staff to initiate the public contract bidding process 2. Approve a budget amendment re -appropriating remaining funding from 019-49820- 062, 043-49813-060 in FY 2000/2001 capital improvement into FY 2001/2002 capital improvement program. uglas A Danc .E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer Agenda Item E m L CD O L a d 0 Cd G d m u i- AGENDA REPORT DATE: March 20, 2001 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager FROM: Dan Dorsey, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING RADIO FREQUENCY FIELDS EMANATING FROM VERIZON WIRELESS MONOPOLE AT ZOETER FIELD On October 9, 2000, City Council approved a lease agreement with Verizon Wireless for the latter's installation and operation of a "wireless communications" facility at Zoeter Field. Verizon recently installed its cellular equipment, antennas and monopole (tower) at this location. The October 9'" Agenda Report specifically addressed the issue of "safety concerns" associated with "radio frequency radiation": "Verizon will provide evidence that its communication facility complies with all Federal Communications Commission regulations and standards governing `radio frequency radiation' (RF energy). In addition, the City may—at any time—require Verizon to test its equipment for levels of radio frequency energy." A number of residents, adjacent to Zoeter Field, have recently contacted staff in order to express their concerns over future health risks posed by the RF energy emanating from Verizon's monopole. Verizon Wireless is cognizant of public concerns about possible health effects associated with human exposure to radio frequency fields. Accordingly, these safety concerns are addressed in the attached, two-page narrative from Verizon Wireless. A more detailed, technical monograph from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers is also attached for Council review. In addition, a representative from the engineering staff of Verizon Wireless is available to answer any inquiries from members of the Council. Agenda Item: —S RECOMMENDATION Receive and file. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS A. "Cell Sites and Your Community" B. "Human Exposure to Microwaves and Other Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields" /)�l /) Pay Dan Dorsey Assistant to the City ana er MCI Manager Upfijl�lwireless CELL SITES AND YOUR COMMUNITY With all the talk about cellular phones these days, we figured you might like a snapshot view of just how we fit into the communities we serve. This fact sheet should help give you the big picture. It will explain how cellular antenna sites can be some of the best neighbors around— always ready to help. Of course, we like to think this also has more then a little bit to do with the particular cellular carrier you Invite into your community. And, as you'll find out inthese pages, Verizon Wireless (formerly known as AirTouch Cellular) has earned an unmatched reputation for responsiveness. Making Communities Safer and More Productive Some people still think wireless service is mainly a convenience for business people on the move. It's certainly easy to see how it can help you make faster decisions, so you can save time, money, and be more competitive. But today, that's just part of the story. More and more people are carrying cellular phones for personal use, too: • To remain in constant touch with a spouse, babysitter or kids. • For security when traveling alone. ➢ For a direct link to AAA roadside service. • For fast access to assistance for the elderly or those with medical concerns. Even Non -Cellular Users Benefit As our network of wireless users grows, it brings with it capabilities that benefit everyone in a community—cellular and non-callular users alike —such as the ability to report accidents, road hazards, and even drunk drivers instantly so paramedics, fire crews and law enforcement can provide faster aid. In fact, many people don't realize that the emergency call boxes along our highways are wireless phones; and that paramedics make use of wireless communications at the scene of an emergency. Wireless service also provides invaluable communications during natural disasters. And Verizon Wireless helps out in such situations by loaning wireless phones to community agencies, as well as deploying portable cell sites in affected areas. The Bottom Line on Wireless Safety Cellular sites are radio transmitters, just like cellular phones. They use UHF (Ultra High Frequency) signals—the same as many local TV stations. These radio frequency (or, as engineers call tem, "RF') signals are part of what's called the electromagnetic spectrum. It extends from the infrared energy we feel as heat, through radio and TV signals, as well as visible light, and on to ultra -violet and X-rays. Unlike X-rays and much of the energy we receive from the sun, RF signals from cellular phones and towers are "non -ionizing." This means that numerous medical studies have found no evidence that such energy can affect your body. VILALO vi reless CELL SITES AND YOUR COMMUNITY Very Low Power What's more, the power of cellular signals Is very low. UHF TV towers put out half a million watts of energy on average, while an urban or suburban cellular tower sends out a signal of about 100 watts. In terms of other everyday devices that generate electromagnetic energy as a byproduct of their operation, a cellular site falls somewhere between a kitchen can opener and a hair dryer. And since RF energy falls off rapidly the farther away from the antenna you are, the ground -level signal below the typical 60 -foot high cellular site is very, very low. Cellular sites don't have to be loud talkers—cellular phones are designed to be very good listeners. Very High Standards To make sure that cellular equipment operates within the guidelines that scientific evidence suggest are safe, stringent standards have been set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)--an independent organizatlon chartered by Congress. You can be sure that every one of Verizon Wireless's cellular phones and antennas complies with these standards. The fact is, not all medical experts are cellular experts, and we encourage all communities to consult fully qualified resources. That's the only way to arrive at a truly informed conclusion. Today's Cell Sites May Be Heard -But Not Seen You've no doubt seen traditional call sites during your travels around California. But what you don't realize is how many non-traditional sites you may also have passed. That's because these days, we've found ways to locate many of our sites In places you'd never expect Like church steeples. And atop buildings and television towers. You might even find some particularly stealthy Verizon Wireless cell sites masquerading as palm or pine trees. You see. we enjoy the same California landscape you do. And we're just as interested in keeping it beautiful. Verizon Wireless Cares... So now you have a better idea of what cellular service can do for your community. As well as how valuable that service can be when handled by a company that really cares ... and we do. We've become the largest and one of the most advanced wireless systems in America by _helping people communicate. And we're staying on top by listening to what they have to say. RF/MW TIS Page 1 of 6 TECHNICAL INFORMATION STATEMENT ON: Human Exposure to Microwaves and Other Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Copyright: O 1995-1998 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Reprinted, with permission, from: IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine 14(3):336-337, 1995. HTML version by: John Moulder, Medical College of Wisconsin [Lmoulder@its. mcw.ed ul Notice This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Such permission of the IEEE does not in any way imply IEEE endorsement of any products or services. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/ republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by sending a blank email message to: info. pub.oermissions@ieee.org. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it. Summary Although there are many beneficial applications of radio frequency and microwave technology, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States Activities (IEEE -USA) recognizes that there are concerns about possible health effects associated with exposure to microwaves and other radio frequency electromagnetic (RFEM) fields (3 kHz - 300 GHz) emitted by various facilities and devices. Safety standards, recommendations and guidelines for exposure to radio frequency and microwave energy have been developed independently by a number of international and national organizations including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the IEEE (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992). These guidelines have been developed by panels of scientists and medical experts to protect human beings from known harmful levels of exposure to RFEM fields. Based on present knowledge, the IEEE supports the conclusion that exposure at or below the levels recommended in ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992 is not harmful to human health. The IEEE recognizes, however, that some gaps remain in our knowledge of biological effects. RF/MW TIS Page 2 of 6 Therefore, the IEEE -USA supports continuing research to ensure the safe use of RFEM energy. Human beings utilize and depend on devices that generate microwaves and other radio frequency electromagnetic (RFEM) fields (3 kHz to 300 GHz) for their personal, social, and economic well-being. Applications of RFEM energy that are readily recognized include radio and television broadcasting, point-to-point microwave radio (long-distance telephone and data transmission), mobile radio including cellular telephone, paging and radio dispatch, ship to shore radio, amateur radio, and citizen's band radio, navigation (ship and aircraft), and radar (military and civilian use for detection and guidance, flight surveillance around airports, weather surveillance and prediction, traffic speed control). Applications in the home (cooking), industry (sealing and drying), and medicine (diagnosis and treatment) are burgeoning. The strengths of fields to which most of the North American population is, exposed are hundreds of times below current guidelines for safe exposure as recommended by several national and international organizations, with the exception of individuals in some occupational specialties. However, the prevalence of man-made RFEM fields and their relatively recent introduction into the environment have led to concerns about possible adverse health effects. The answer to such concerns lies in rigorous research and objective assessment of laboratory and epidemiologic data. The IEEE recognizes that the perception of risk is an important aspect of the public's well being, because even the belief that a benign agent poses a danger may have an adverse effect on the believer. The well-known destructive effects of X-rays and other ionizing radiation on biological tissues have led some to a mistaken belief that the effects of non -ionizing RFEM fields might be similar. In reality, the effects and the mechanisms involved are very different. Cumulative irreversible damage can occur in tissues that are continuously or repeatedly exposed to ionizing radiation at low levels. There is no reliable scientific evidence that continuous exposure to low intensity RFEM fields with whole-body averaged energy absorption rates (i.e., specific absorption rates orSAR) less than 0.4 W/kg results in damage, irreversible or otherwise, to biological molecules and tissues. A large body of data exists on the biological effects of exposure to RFEM fields. Much of this literature describes experimental investigations with laboratory animals; tissue preparations, or cells. There are also several epidemiologic studies. Consequences of exposure to RFEM energy that have been reported in the literature at various exposure levels include effects on behavior, the central nervous system, blood parameters, the immune response, the endocrine system, metabolism and thermoregulation, reproduction, the auditory system and the eyes. Several standard-setting organizations have evaluated the data on biological effects and have determined that a threshold SAR of about 4 W/kg averaged over the whole body is the level at or above which adverse health effects may occur in RF/ MW TIS Page 3 of 6 human beings. This SAR is equivalent to about 2.5 times the resting energy production rate of the human body. Organizations that have used 4 W/kg as a basis for standard-setting include the ANSI (ANSI. 1982), the IEEE (ANSI/IEEE. 1992 , the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRP 1986 , the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ACGIH 1993 the National Radiological Protection Board (NPRB. 1993), and the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA. 1993). However, in 1984 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Elder and Cahill. 1984) concluded that: the review of the currently available literature on RF radiation provides evidence that biological effects occur at an SAR of about 1 W/kg; some of them may be significant under certain environmental conditions." Therefore, although biological effects may occur at SARs in the range 1 to 4 W/kg, 4 W/kg is the consensus threshold level of potentially harmful effects. Evaluation of the experimental data on biological effects in laboratory animals does not provide convincing evidence that prolonged RFEM exposure at low whole- body -averaged SARs (0.4 W/kg or less) can be harmful to human health; further, the available evidence indicates that moderate absorption rates (approximately 1 W/kg) can be tolerated by human beings. However, unless properly supervised and controlled in a medical setting, prolonged whole-body exposure at specific absorption rates high enough (e.g., greater than 4 W/kg) to elevate the body's core temperature in excess of 1 degree C should be avoided. The ANSI/IEEE.0 992), NCRP (1986) and IRPA (1993) standards and recommendations are based on a SAR of 4 W/kg threshold. Each incorporates safety factors to derive the recommendation that whole-body average exposure levels not exceed 0.4 W/ kg in environments designated either occupational or "controlled", or 0.08 W/kg in environments designated either general -public or "uncontrolled". Detailed definitions of controlled and uncontrolled environments can be found in the ANSI/IEEE C95.1 guidelines (1992). Although individual standards may differ somewhat in the specifics, they generally all converge on similar threshold values of SAR. Some standards also provide data on maximum allowable partial body exposures and criteria for avoiding RF shocks and burns. It should be noted that SAR criteria do not apply to exposures at low frequencies (less than 100 kHz) for which nerve stimulation (shock) occurs, or at frequencies higher than 6 GHz for which surface heating prevails. The IEEE recognizes the concerns of some industrial workers, engineers, or technicians who work in proximity to emitters of high intensity RFEM fields. Training, engineering controls and work practices can ensure that exposures in the work place do not exceed current safety guidelines. While readily implemented, these practices require surveillance by technically competent specialists to ensure safe operation of such emitters. RF/MW TIS Page 4 of 6 The ANSI/IEEE C95.1 guidelines (1992) were developed over a period of nine years by 125 scientists, engineers, and physicians with extensive expertise in the area of RFEM fields and their biological effects. These guidelines were approved by the IEEE in 1991, and were subsequently adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1992 as a replacement for the previous ANSI RF protection guides (ANSI C95.1-1982). The Federal Communications Commission has proposed (April 1993) using the 1992 ANSI/IEEE guidelines for evaluating environmental RFEM fields created by the transmitters it licenses and authorizes. These guidelines also have gained wide acceptance by other organizations for purposes of evaluating safe exposure to RF energy. The IEEE believes that these guidelines represent the most scientifically based and up-to-date exposure recommendations available. Although a substantial body of data exists on the presence or absence of biological effects of RFEM, the IEEE realizes that some controversy still remains, and it is generally acknowledged that the data base is incomplete. Specifically, continuing interdisciplinary research involving medical and life scientists, physicists, and engineers is needed to fulfill the following objectives: 1. To assess the biological effects of intermittent or continuous: exposure to weak RFEM fields (capable of inducing SARs less than 0.4 W/ kg) over very long time periods (months to years). 2. To determine the comparative biological effects of exposure to continuous wave and modulated (Including pulsed) RFEM fields at equivalent' power densities and exposure durations, both in the near and far field of the source, and for partial body as well as whole-body exposures. 3. To achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms of reported biological effects of RFEM. Although mechanisms for thermal interaction of RFEM energy with biological systems are well-documented, "low-level" effects have been reported and require verification and sufficient understanding to be able to assess any health implications. 4. To continue research on dosimetry, with the goals of correlating biological effects of RFEM fields with the rates of total energy absorbed, with the distribution of energy absorption within exposed organisms, and with exposure duration. RF/MW TIS Page 5 of 6 In summary, since there is a continuing increase in the beneficial uses of RFEM fields, there remains a need for continued research to ensure that human exposures at levels specified in present exposure standards are safe. The position of the IEEE -USA is that there is no cause for concern regarding the environmental levels of RFEM fields to which the general population are routinely exposed. Based on present knowledge, human exposure at or below the permissible levels recommended by the IEEE and other organizations is not harmful to human health. REFERENCES ACGIH (1993). "Annual Report of the Committees on Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices," American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, OH. ANSIO 982). "American National Standard Safety Levels with respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 300 kHz to 100 GHz," ANSI C95.1-1982, American National Standards Institute, New York, NY. ANSI/IEEE C95.1 (1992). "IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz," ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992 (Revision of ANSI C95.1-1982), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., Piscataway, NJ. Elder, J.A. and D. F. Cahill (ed.) (1984). "Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation." EPA Report No. EPA -600/8-83-026F. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711. Federal Communication Commission (1993). Notice of Proposed Rule Making, ET Docket 93-62, 58 Federal Register 19,393. IRPA (1993). "Electromagnetic Fields (300 Hz to 300 GHz), Environmental Health Criteria, 137", International Radiation Protection Association, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. NCRP (1986). "Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields," Report 86, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Bethesda, MD. NRPB (1993). 'Board Statement on Restrictions on Human Exposure to Static and Time Varying Electromagnetic Fields and Radiation." Documents of the NPRB, Vol.4, No.S, National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, UK. RF/MW TIS Prepared by Microwave and RF Subcommittee C.K. Chou (Chair) Q. Balzano H. Bassen R. Cleveland A.W. Guy L. Heynick J. Osepchuk R. Petersen Page 6 of 6