Title
Resolution accepting the recommendation of the Economic Development Board that, in consideration of potential public health and safety issues and the communications needs of business and personal users, the City Manager assign an Assistant City Manager to manage improvements in wireless communications service and address the issue of expended WI-FI coverage in the City, including identifying all City properties that could serve as potential wireless communications antenna sites, and to move forward with the Business Improvement District's project to provide wireless coverage to the Downtown Business District.
Background
The Economic Development Board is a volunteer board composed of five members appointed by the Coral Gables City Commission, and every two years the Board proposes a work program of priorities in order to fulfill its mission and contribute to the economic vitality and quality of life in the City Beautiful.
One of the priorities for the 2007/2009 work program that addresses both quality of life and economic vitality deals with the matter of improving wireless communications coverage throughout the City of Coral Gables, which coverage has been historically inadequate. More and more residents are relying exclusively on wireless communications as their exclusive choice for voice communication, and therefore the inadequacy of wireless communications coverage is not only an inconvenience but a potential health and safety concern and therefore warrants serious attention.
New technologies and improved aesthetics that are visually attractive, safe, and discreet are now available to help improve wireless communictions coverage. The Downtown Business District would benefit from expanded WI-FI coverage for business and personal use, and the City could realize significant revenue from leasing wireless communications antenna sites on City property.
In order to insure that proper City emphasis is placed on identifying solutions and program...
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