EVANSTON — The City Council had a full agenda for its work session on Tuesday, March 12.

Joy Bell, CEO of NGL Connection, was first on the agenda. She and David Jones, co-owner of NGL, attended to ask for an amendment or a new ordinance in regards to wireless towers and antennas. Bell explained that wireless towers are the base of their business and they have 2,400 customers who need them, 780 of which are in Evanston. NGL provides internet services to consumers who need internet in their homes or businesses. 

There was some confusion among council members as to the difference in size of towers used for wireless and some questioned if the city would end up with tall towers everywhere in residential areas. Bell and Jones explained that NGL towers are generally less than 50 feet in height, and can be as small as 1 or 2 feet if mounted on a building.

The working components of the tower can be placed in a secure box the size of a picnic cooler. They have negotiated with other municipalities in some instances to place the small wireless antennas on existing water towers. 

NGL towers use unlicensed spectrum. Its towers do not have significant power requirements; the transmitting devices use less than 1 watt of power and the transmitting devices are designed to be point-to-point. This means the user’s antenna is aimed at NGL’s tower in order to receive a signal. The maximum capacity for a wireless tower is approximately 300 customers within its line of sight.

City attorney Dennis Boal asked Jones and Bell for written descriptions and definitions of all the options before they discuss it further. The council will also look at other cities to see what they are doing as far as ordinances for wireless towers.

Engineer and planner Dean Barker addressed the change orders for the Evanston Roundhouse Sections 2, 3 and 4 doors and concrete project. The change orders included:

• Installation of metal door head flashing and sealant on all operable/inoperable train doors in Sections 2-4 at a cost of $7,567.

• Installation of 18 train door lock pins (to match existing) to allow inoperable train doors in Sections 2-4 to have ability to be operable in the future at a cost of $4,536

• Installation of 18 train door handles (to match existing) to allow inoperable train doors in Sections 2-4 to have ability to be operable in the future at a cost of $3,420.00. 

Barker said that originally the plan was to have only one train door operable for each section. The contractor had suggested the change order because if at a later date all doors would need to be operable, it would cost much more to take out the fixed pins in the concrete and other fixtures that make them inoperable. Barker said the flashing for the door heads would be important due to weather and to avoid possible leakage. The flashings were not included in the original project scope. 

Barker added that they were also looking at another change order due to problems with drainage in the floor. Council members asked that they first review the budget and have the other change order prepared before discussing it further.

Next on the agenda was a discussion about increased golf course green fees brought to the city council by Evanston Parks and Recreation District Director Scott Ehlers. He said he had studied the Wasatch Front golf course fees before making a decision about raising the fees. The proposed fees are being raised by $1, and Ehlers said that will still be $3 to $4 less than what the Wasatch Front charges. 

“Seventy-four percent of our golfers are from our area and the rest come from the Wasatch Front,” Ehlers said. “We haven’t raised our fees dramatically in the last five years and this increase will take place in 2020. We will start to jump across the board every two years after this increase,” Ehlers said.

Added to the agenda was a discussion about a change of days and times for the fireworks ordinance. After discussing the matter with Evanston Fire Chief Don Bodine and Evanston Police Lt. Ken Pearson, the council decided to write the amendment to Ordinance No. 06-01 to state “fireworks may be discharged on July 3, 4 and 5, from 5 p.m. to midnight.” The amendment will be voted on at the next council meeting.

After the work session was adjourned, Dean Barker thanked everyone for their support and concern for his wife, Jennifer Barker, who was recently injured and hospitalized. He said she was home and doing well.

“We live in a very caring community,” he said, “and I just wanted everyone to know how appreciative I am.”