HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated August 25, 2026To:Mayor & City Council
From:Pa Goldbeck, Assistant City Manager
Date:August 25, 2026
Subject:City Council Data Center Study Committee
Item No. 31
MEMO
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.
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."
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 for recruiting and selecting study committee members, as well
as identifying the scope of work and timeline. Please see the attached plan
provided by the subcommittee for further Council discussion at this meeting.
If Council approves the plan, it would be appropriate for Council to establish a
resolution creating the study committee accordingly.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Plan for Establishing a Resident Data Center Study Committee.docx
Administration 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
1
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
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, 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.
3