Sprint PCS files suit against LCF

Janine Marnien

Sprint PCS has filed a lawsuit against La Canada Flintridge,

although officials have yet to learn why.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court on Jan. 16, and

names the city of La Canada Flintridge, the City Council and each

individual council member as defendants. However, those named in the

suit have yet to be served papers, Assistant City Manager Mark

Alexander said. He would not speculate on why the papers hadn’t been

served. Officials from and representing Sprint PCS could not be

reached for comment this week.

In order to start the lawsuit, the papers must be served,

Assistant City Atty. Mark Steres said. The city will not do anything

until receiving the complaint from Sprint PCS, he added.

The council denied an appeal by the company for an aboveground

facility in the 3600 block of Figueroa Street in December. A second

appeal for a similar facility at the intersection of Flintridge and

Hillcrest avenues was continued Monday to March 3. The city has an

urgency ordinance restricting certain aboveground facilities in the

public right-of-way for aesthetic and other reasons.

“If any other company came in, they would have to operate under

the same rules as Sprint is operating under,” Mayor Dave Spence said.

“They could wait until the final ordinance is in place. This way they

don’t know what the city and commission is going to ask for. It’s

risky, because they’re finding out what will be expected by trial and

error.”

Officials are working on drafting a final ordinance, and Spence

estimated it could come before the council in two months.

Councilman Steve Del Guercio said the city had a right to protect

itself against unsightly utility facilities.

“We may have a disagreement in terms of what we can and can’t do

as far as passing ordinances that address that,” he said.