“This was done completely underground,” he said. “He says 55 feet is good enough? Well, what’s to stop him from (later) saying 85, 100, 150 feet would be even better? And what can you do about it then?”

After other neighborhood residents complained of disrupted Wi-Fi and cellular service they linked to the ham radio system, Hullquist called those claims unfounded because of amateur radio’s unique frequencies – and added he has avoided taking to the airwaves during the permitting process.

“I haven’t used the radio purposely,” he said. “I haven’t talked on the air for five or six months, so these complaints are not related to anything I’m doing.”

Several commissioners questioned Hullquist’s decision to raise the antenna without immediately seeking a city permit, based on his assertion that ham radio users with licenses older than Napa’s height ordinance, which dates to 1989, need not seek a permit.

“I think we have the classic ‘It’s better to ask forgiveness than ask permission’ situation here,” said Commissioner Gordon Huether. “I can’t believe that you’d building something to code (but) think you wouldn’t need a permit. … I wouldn’t want to encroach into someone’s legal hobby, but a hobby ends where it encroaches into someone else’s life.”