"I don't see any danger," said Councilman Steve Heinz. Nor did Councilwoman Judy Bell, who moved to approve the request.
"There's been enough doubt raised in my mind," said Councilman Kelvin Clayton, "that I think there may be some danger."
The council had heard extensive arguments from the Fosters and from University of Utah professor Om Gandhi over the known and unknown dangers of low-level electromagnetic radiation.
Earlier, Kelly Foster persuaded the council to hold off dealing with the request until Cellular One could provide some alternative sites - perhaps near the city cemetery - that would not endanger living residents.
Foster did extensive research on electromagnetic fields once she learned the tower was going in by her home. She said nothing she found showed that the danger could not exist.
David Foster listed the reasons he felt the tower should go elsewhere: unknown health risks, danger to children playing around the structure, higher insurance rates, lowered property values, possible litigation, possible eventual cost of tower removal, unsightliness and public perception of the dangers. The Fosters urged the council to practice prudent avoidance.
"Ten years ago, we'd have laughed at things we understand now are dangerous," said David Foster.
"If there's one thing our research proved, it's that there has not been enough research or enough time to understand what we have."
Representing Cellular One, Dale Buxton explained how the company tries to blend towers in with the existing landscape, often attaching the antenna to high-rise buildings or water towers.
"We typically try to take advantage of natural heights," said Buxton.
"And we need to be where people need us to be," he said.
Gandhi, brought to the meeting by Cellular One, said he calculated the electromagnetic fields of radiation at the distance of 300 feet and detected no problem. "It will be within safety guidelines," he said.
Gandhi said much of the research used by the Fosters was based on studies done in Eastern bloc countries. "Our laboratories don't duplicate their claims," he said. "Other things give off the same sort of radiation: UHF, TV, microwave radiation, police radar."
The vote to approve the 1078 East Cascade Drive site was defeated 4-3 with Welsh, Clayton, Stephen Sandstrom and Chris Yandow voting against it.