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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Resolution approving City Council Data Center Study Committee PlanRESOLUTION NO. 26-546 RESOLUTION APPROVING CITY COUNCIL DATA CENTER STUDY COMMITTEE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA WHEREAS, at the July 28, 2026, meeting, the City Council received a report regarding data centers containing 12 potential actions to further regulate or restrict data center development. The City Council directed staff to proceed in researching these 12 items and several others specified by the City Council itself; and, WHEREAS, in addition, the Council approved a motion "to form a study committee to look at environmental impacts not considered within the previous 12 items, including heat generation and localized temperature increases, and impacts on wildlife, habitats, and human health”; and, WHEREAS, at the August 11, 2026, meeting, the City Council discussed the study committee and determined that Council Members Betcher and Beatty-Hansen, alongside ex officio Anderson would serve on a subcommittee that would report back to the City Council a plan (see attached) for recruiting and selecting study committee members, as well as identifying the scope of work and timeline; and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the City Council Data Center Study Committee Plan is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 25th day of August, 2026. _______________________________ _________________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Rollins Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Junck, Gartin, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 25th day of August, 2026. 1 Action Plan for Resident Data Center Study Committee A Resident Data Center Study Committee shall be established to research the following issues related data centers: heat generation, localized temperature increases, and impacts on wildlife habitats and human health. The purpose of the Study Committee is to collect published data and reputable factual sources that represent the issues from multiple perspectives and to review those sources and data for consideration by Council before Council takes action to develop policy related to this environmental and health context. The Study Committee shall comprise experts in fields related to these issues or individuals with expertise derived from education or professional practice in related fields. A simple interest in the topic shall not be considered "expertise." City Staff members will not be part of the committee or its deliberations. The charge of the Resident Data Center Study Committee is fourfold: 1. to find and evaluate published factual sources and data related to the above topics, seeking to present all sides of the issues and help Council to understand the context for these issues, 2. to identify reliable resources for Council to consider as it develops data center policies, 3. to deliver a report that explains and/or summarizes the findings presented in these resources and that provides links to the sources themselves, without arguing in favor of or against particular action, and 4. to present this report in a Council meeting for discussion. The Resident Data Center Study Committee shall be run by its members with assistance as needed from the Council Subcommittee: Gloria Betcher, Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, and Trey Anderson. All committee meetings shall abide by the Open Meetings Law, and minutes shall be kept by attendees. The number of meetings required will be determined by the Study Committee. The proposed timeline for the Resident Data Center Study Committee's creation and operation shall be as follows: • Aug. 25 Council considers and approves plan • Aug. 26 Online application for membership opens (modified Boards and Commissions application page, emails to targeted groups, and emails to individuals who have contacted us already and shown expertise in one of the desired areas) • Sept. 9 Application closes 2 • Sept. 13 Deadline for Council Subcommittee to choose committee members-- Subcommittee contacts those individuals who were selected and thanks those who were not selected. • Sept. 15 Council approves members at the Special Meeting of the Ames City Council (or at the next Regular Meeting on Sept. 22 if no Special Meeting is held), and the Council Subcommittee sends a Doodle Poll to selected Study Committee members to set up the first meeting of the Study Committee • by Sept. 30 Data Center Study Committee holds its first meeting to establish a chair and plan a way forward with a research strategy--member(s) of Council Subcommittee attend the initial meeting to ensure that the Study Committee understands its charge and to answer any questions. • Sept.-Dec. Meetings decided upon by the Study Committee occur (if the Study Committee prefers to complete individual research without many meetings, these may be relatively few) • by Dec. 31 First round of research completed. Study Committee convenes to assess research results. If the Study Committee is satisfied with the breadth and depth of the research at this point, they shall deliberate on which materials to include in the report to Council. If the Study Committee is not satisfied, a second round of research shall ensue. • by Jan. 31 Second round of research completed (if necessary) or final deadline for deliberation on the materials collected by the Study Committee (Committee decides which materials to include in the report to Council) • by Feb. 28 Report delivered to Council for presentation and deliberation • Mar. 13 Presentation of report by Study Committee at Council meeting If the Study Committee is efficient and completes its charge earlier, this timeline will accommodate that faster rate of delivery. The committee does not need to fill all the months of the timeline and is encouraged to work as efficiently as possible to bring back results.