HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 20-059 support SB431RESOLUTION NO.20-059
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 431 (MCGUIRE) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE:
BACKUP ELECTRICAL SUPPLY RULES
WHEREAS, California has seen some of the most devastating wildfires in United States history
in recent years; and
WHEREAS, California's wildfires have caused loss of critical telecommunications infrastructure
and also resulted in planned public safety power shutoffs when there is a high risk of wildfire, which has
also threated the reliability of essential communication tools; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga Wildfire Public Safety Task Force has reviewed Senate Bill (SB)
431 and determined that it would require backup power systems for cell tower sites where feasible in high
fire risk areas that can power the tower site for a minimum of 72 hours and would also require customer
notification when backup power systems are low or when the transceiver system can no longer be supported
by the backup power system; and
WHEREAS, adopting SB 431 would help ensure residents and emergency responders have access
to reliable telephone services during an emergency or planned power outages, which are expected to be
more and more common; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga Wildfire Public Safety Task Force has recommended that the
City Council support this bill.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saratoga does hereby
support SB 431 (McGuire), encourages Saratoga community members to express their thoughts on this bill
to their State representatives, and urges the California State Legislature to adopt and the Governor of
California to sign this bill into law.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga City
Council held on the 19t' day of August 2020 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Howard A. Miller, Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald, Council Members
Yan Zhao, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Howard A. Miller, Mayor
AT EST: / ✓� ?� �
DATE: lJ
WekBretse1�-'5_eider,_CMC, City Clerk