HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated September 22, 2026To:Mayor & City Council
From:Council Member Gloria Betcher
Date:September 22, 2026
Subject:Appointments to Data Center Committee
Item No. 42
MEMO
At the July 28, 2026, meeting, the City Council approved a motion "to form a
study committee to look at environmental impacts not considered within the
previous 12 items, including heating 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. That plan was approved at the
August 25 meeting, with committee applications opening on August 26 and
closing on September 9. Fifty-four applications were received, representing
applicants from academic and professional backgrounds, in fields related to the
committee's charge.
The application review and selection process involved an initial pass by
subcommittee members, who reviewed each application individually, with names
and addresses removed to reduce bias in committee selection, and identified
their top applicants. The subcommittee then convened to compare their
selections and come to a consensus on the top 15 choices. Those choices,
shown below with a sample of the extensive expertise they will bring to the
committee, include members in all decades of life from 18-29 years through 70+,
though age was not considered in decision-making:
Name Brings expertise in
Merate Barakat soundscape ecology, psychoacoustics, and aural
architecture, how sound and acoustic environments shape
human health, cognition, and well-being
Administration 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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Jacob Gallagher
exercise physiology, health, and human physiology,
consideration of socioecological factors in human health
and longevity
William Gutowski
meteorology and climate, with an emphasis on climate
variability and change
Sid Juwarker
identifying and understanding site, environmental, and
geotechnical considerations in the development of data
centers and supporting infrastructure; environmental
consulting
Jeff Kopaska
conservation and sustainability of fishery resources, and
data center impacts on water quality, fish populations,
habitat, and aquatic ecosystem health
Lu Liu
water, energy, and climate systems, focus on data center
water impacts and the interactions among water use,
energy demand, and climate outcomes
Scott Nelson
evaluating new technologies, their commercial applications,
infrastructure requirements and broader impacts on
communities
Timothy Stewart
ecology, specifically aquatic ecology
Chloe Parsons
mechanical engineering, heat transfer, fluid flow,
thermodynamics, and system properties
James Pease
wildlife ecology
Robert Pfaff
urban planning for public utilities, community development,
zoning ordinances, local government regulation
David Taylor
chemical engineering, water treatment, and chemical
treatment, for industry, including data centers
Lee Anne Willson
physics of fluids, radiative transfer, spectroscopy,
interpreting data, and modeling complex systems, issues
related to climate change
Duane Wolf
mechanical engineering consultancy, forensic-based
approach to work with lawyers, insurance companies, and
equipment manufacturers
Yiwen Wu
planning for climate resilience, sustainable land use and
climate change resilience, research on land use and the
design of data centers
Those on this list were notified that Council would be voting on the committee
make-up at tonight's meeting and were asked to confirm by meeting time that
they are still willing to serve on this study committee. At the time of writing, we
Administration 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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have not heard from all list members. In the event that any names are
withdrawn, the subcommittee has a list of alternates. We would like
approval now to appoint from that list without further Council votes, should
members on the list in this memo opt not to participate.
Given the amount of time spent by the subcommittee carefully assessing
the applications and weighing the expertise of the applicants, Council
Members Betcher and Beatty-Hansen, alongside Ex-Officio Anderson,
recommend the approval of these individuals to the data center study
committee, with understanding that the subcommittee may appoint other
members from the alternates list if necessary to fill the complement of 15
members (Option 1). Staff is comfortable with the proposed list of recommended
appointees and acceptable alternates.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the appointment list and allow the subcommittee to appoint
members from the alternate list to fill the complement of 15 members,
should any approved member decide not to accept appointment.
2. Approve the appointment list with recommended changes, and allow the
subcommittee to appoint members from the alternate list to fill the
complement of 15 members, should any approved member decide not to
accept appointment.
3. Send the subcommittee back to do more work on configuring the list.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Action Plan for Resident Data Center Study Committee.pdf
Administration 515.239.5105 main
515.239.5142 fax
515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
www.CityofAmes.org
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