[Call To Order]
[00:00:06]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE JUNE JULY 1526 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ORDER AT 6 P.M. RIGHT.
PLEASE RISE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF COACHELLA PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH. THANK YOU TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, CITY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S MEETING, WHETHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON ANY MATTERS WITHIN THE COMMISSION SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION THAT IS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER. THIS MEETING WILL FOCUS ON THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA, AND COMMISSIONERS WILL DIRECT THEIR ATTENTION TO THOSE ITEMS ONLY. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMMISSION IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM DISCUSSING OR TAKING ACTION ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ALL SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES RESPECTFULLY AND REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTING THE MEETING, INCLUDING BY MAKING THREATENING COMMENTS, INCITING VIOLENCE, USING PROFANE LANGUAGE OR INTERFACING WITH OTHERS ABILITY TO ATTEND, OBSERVE OR PARTICIPATE. PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S DISRUPTION POLICY, THE CHAIR OR CITY CLERK MAY WARN ANY DISRUPTIVE SPEAKER THAT CONTINUED DISRUPTION MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL OR LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION. IF THE DISRUPTION CONTINUES. AFTER A WARNING, THE CHAIR MAY DIRECT STAFF TO MUTE OR LIMIT THE SPEAKERS PARTICIPATION IF REMOTE, OR REMOVE THE SPEAKER FROM THE MEETING ROOM IF ATTENDING IN THE ROOM. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER ORDORIKA PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER FONSECA, PRESENT. VICE CHAIR TORRES, PRESENT AND CHAIRPERSON. LADA. PRESENT.
[Approval of Agenda]
OKAY. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. I'LL SECOND THAT. COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER. FONSECA. YES.VICE CHAIR TORRES. YES. AND CHAIRPERSON. LADA. YES. ALL RIGHT. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[Approval Of The Minutes]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER ORDORIKA. YES. COMMISSIONER FONSECA. YES. VICE CHAIR TORRES. YES. AND CHAIRPERSON. ALETA. YES. ALL RIGHT. STAFF, ARE THERE ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS? YES.[Written Communications]
AND THEY'RE ALL REGARDING ITEM. THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SO WE HAVE RILEY MADDOX, CAITLYN WOMACK, JAMES RODRIGUEZ. IS THIS YOURS? YEAH. OH, OKAY. WE HAVE AMERICA. NORIEGA, CELESTE VILLANUEVA, MINDY. RAMOS. DIANA. ALEXIS. AMBRIZ, JUAN. VARGAS. CONSUELO. VARGAS. ANDY. LESLIE.LEMUS. NOEL. MEDINA. ASHLEY. IZQUIERDO, ALMA. BAUTISTA. BRIANNA. DIAZ. CITLALI. ARROYO.
GIANNA. SAKO. MARIA. EUGENIA. RAMIREZ. SOFIA. TARULLO. JASLYN. PRIETO. ARIANA. GRANILLO.
ODALYS. RANGEL. RILEY. MADDOX. CAITLYN. WOMACK, SANDRA. ANDRADE, OLIVIA. RODRIGUEZ YAMILET. FÉLIX CARDENAS, MARIA. TORRES, CLEMENTINA. BARRAGAN, SAMI CHITTUM, KATE SANTOS, PATRON F ALEXEI ESPINOZA, CARO, ESMERALDA CHICAS, LORRAINE SALAS, ROMAN LOPEZ, GEORGINA VILLANUEVA, VICTOR VILLANUEVA, AND JORGE VILLANUEVA, JUDITH AND DANIELLE TAMBURINO, JULIANA TABORDA, SANDY GARCIA CUEVAS, BARBARA BOYER HOFFMAN, JOANNE LLAMAS, CAMILA URIBE, CONSUELO MARQUEZ, EMILY LEE, DIANA CASTELLANOS, KATIE ARIAS, REBECCA ZARAGOZA, KAYLEE DEANDA, BRENDA ORTIZ. JASMINE. IBARRA, ALONDRA. BELTRAN, VICKI. JAIME. ELOISA. JAIME. GUSTAVO. LEON.
[00:05:02]
PATRICK. LUCERO, VANESSA. BECERRA, EDITH. CABREROS, CYNTHIA. CARDENAS, KATHLEEN.BECERRA. RENEE. PALMER. RUBY. OLVERA. TREVOR. DASCO. CECILIA. L, CARLA ROCHA, ARTURO CASTELLANOS, AND KARINA PANDO. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU. SO PUBLIC COMMENTS, NON AGENDA
[Public Comments (Non-Agenda Items)]
ITEMS. WE WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BE ADDRESSED. THE COMMISSION ON MATTERS WITHIN THE COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION, BUT ARE NOT LISTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. THE TIME IS. 606.ASHBY. HELLO, BUENOS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ASHBY. I WAS RAISED HERE IN COACHELLA AND SOMETHING OFF TOPIC THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP TO THE CITY IS JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE DEATHS AT THE HAND OF ICE AND CBP. JUST THIS PAST WEEK ALONE, TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED, AND THAT IS AT THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AT THE STATE. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO, ONE, HEAR ABOUT IT, TO TAKE ACTION, TO BE PREVENTATIVE, PREVENTATIVE, GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHIC WE HAVE IN THE CITY. I KNOW THIS IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION YOU ALL DO PLANNING FOR LAND USES, BUT STILL WANTED TO BRING IT UP TO THE CITY IMMEDIATELY. GIVEN JUST HOW MUCH HAS BEEN HAPPENING THIS PAST WEEK, I THINK THAT CAUSES A LOT OF FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO CREATES A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BECOME TOO AFRAID TO COME OUT TO BE VOCAL. AND SO WANTED TO SHARE THIS AND ALSO JUST SHOW MY GRATITUDE AND MY SUPPORT FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY, FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, PERIOD. AS SOMEONE WHO'S ALSO LATINA, AND ALSO JUST MY NEIGHBORS THAT WE'RE ALL HURTING, WE'RE ALL FEELING THE PAIN OF JUST THESE CONTINUOUS ATTACKS ON, ON OUR PEOPLE AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND JUST WANT THE CITY TO BE PROACTIVE AND TALK ABOUT IT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FRANCISCO MOLINA. HI, MY NAME IS FRANCISCO MOLINA. I'M A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING FOR ME WITH THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT I FIND IN LIKE, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THIS DATA CENTER PROPOSAL, PEOPLE NOT READING THEIR STAFF REPORTS, MAKING UNANIMOUS DECISIONS WHEN NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, GETTING US INTO REALLY BAD CONTRACTS. THERE'S NEPOTISM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
AND JUST, I WANT TO COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE JOBS THAT YOU ARE ALL ARE DOING TODAY AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS MY FUTURE. I'M 30 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A BABY SISTER. SHE'S ABOUT TO TURN THREE.
YOU'RE AFFECTING HER FUTURE. OKAY, SO YOU'RE AFFECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FUTURES WITH THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE. AND RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THAT THE SUPERVISOR, LIKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, IS WORKING ON SOMETHING TO DO WITH RINA NUMBERS, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH NUMBERS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WITH AFFORDABLE HOMES. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE BUILDING THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES AND WE'RE NOT. SO WHY AREN'T WE BUILDING THOSE, THOSE HOUSES? WHY AREN'T WE BUILDING THESE THINGS? THE ANSWER IS VERY CLEAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY, RIGHT? VERY SIMPLE. SO SHOULDN'T ALL OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY GO INTO THAT? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE ENERGY THAT WE NEED TO, TO, TO, TO, TO MOVE FORWARD? RIGHT. AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY COMING INTO OUR CITY TRYING TO BUILD ON OUR OPPORTUNITY ZONES AND GET TAX CUTS, JUST LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO.
I WANT TO SEE THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT SAYS, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE CITY OF COACHELLA IS GOING TO OWN A PUBLIC ELECTRICAL UTILITY AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE AND PROVIDE OUR OWN ELECTRICITY. WE DON'T NEED NOBODY ELSE TO DO THAT. AND IF WE CAN DO THAT FOR OURSELVES, WE CAN THEN SELL THE SURPLUS, RIGHT? WE CAN WE CAN GET INTO BUSINESS. I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY CITY DEPENDING ON COACHELLA FEST, DEPENDING ON ON, ON STRONGHOLD. WHO SAYS THAT HE SEES US AS LIKE, OH YEAH, WE WANT TO COME AND SAVE YOU. AND I CARE ABOUT COACHELLA SO MUCH
[00:10:03]
AND THIS AND THAT. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NONE OF THAT. IT'S YOU GUYS. WELL, SORRY. IT'S YOU ALL.YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU, NOT THEM. AND I WANT TO SEE US START ACTING INDEPENDENTLY. I WANT TO SEE US HAVE THE COURAGE TO START BUILDING OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE BECOME OWNERS OF OUR OWN THINGS. I DON'T WANT TO BE DEPENDENT ON ANYBODY ELSE, AND I DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO BE DEPENDENT ON ANYBODY ELSE. DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK. ANY COMMENTS ON ZOOM. IF THERE IS ANYBODY ONLINE ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THERE ARE NONE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S YOU WANTED TO SPEAK FOR UNDER THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU.
I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT 611. REPORTS AND REQUESTS. DOES STAFF OR ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY REPORTS OR REQUESTS? THERE ARE NONE. NO. OKAY. SO NOW MOVING ON TO
[Public Hearing Calendar (Quasi-Judicial)]
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER TWO, A RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020 623, RECOMMENDING THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, ADDING CHAPTER 17.92 TO TITLE 17 OF THE COACHELLA MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS USE USES WITHIN THE CITY OF COACHELLA STAFF. MAY YOU GIVE US YOUR PRESENTATION, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS KENDRA REEVE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. TONIGHT, STAFF IS PRESENTING A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 17.92 TO THE COACHELLA MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTER USES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS THE RESULT OF STAFF'S EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL LONG TERM LAND USE INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL SCALE DATA CENTERS. THE REQUEST BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDED IS TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A NEW CHAPTER OF THE. OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT DATA CENTER USES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ESTABLISHED DEFINITIONS INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS AND ENSURE THE CITY ZONING REGULATIONS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH ITS LONG TERM PLANNING OBJECTIVES. THIS ORDINANCE REPRESENTS THE CITY'S PROPOSED PERMANENT REGULATORY APPROACH FOLLOWING THE TEMPORARY URGENCY ORDINANCES PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND, ON MAY 27TH, 2026, THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED PUBLIC TESTIMONY REGARDING THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT. IN RESPONSE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED URGENCY ORDINANCE NUMBER 1229 ON JUNE 4TH, ESTABLISHING A 45 DAY MORATORIUM. WHILE STAFF EVALUATED THE ISSUE. ON JULY 8TH, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED URGENCY ORDINANCE NUMBER 1230, EXTENDING THAT MORATORIUM FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN MONTHS AND 15 DAYS TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL EVALUATION. DURING THAT TIME, STAFF REVIEWED THE OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DATA CENTERS, EVALUATED THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY, AND REVIEWED REGULATORY APPROACHES ADOPTED BY OTHER CALIFORNIA JURISDICTIONS. FOLLOWING THAT EVALUATION, STAFF PREPARED THE PROPOSED PERMANENT ZONING ORDINANCE NOW BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IF ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE ORDINANCE IS ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE ITS FIRST READING IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 12TH, FOLLOWED BY A SECOND READING ON AUGUST 26TH. FOLLOWING ITS EVALUATION, STAFF DETERMINED THAT INDUSTRIAL SCALE DATA CENTERS ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH SEVERAL OF THE CITY'S LONG TERM PLANNING OBJECTIVES. SPECIFICALLY, STAFF FOUND THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S LONG TERM PLANNING OBJECTIVES, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS, PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OBJECTIVES, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES, AND THE COMMUNITY'S LONG TERM VISION. CALIFORNIA LAW AUTHORIZES CITIES TO REGULATE LAND USES THROUGH THEIR POLICE POWERS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE, AND STAFF BELIEVES THIS ORDINANCE IS AN APPROPRIATE EXERCISE OF THAT AUTHORITY. STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON SEVERAL PRIMARY PLANNING, PRIMARILY PLANNING CONCERNS, WATER RESOURCES. MODERN DATA CENTERS OFTEN REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COOLING CAPACITY, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL WATER DEMAND. GIVEN ONGOING REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY CONCERNS, STAFF BELIEVES AVAILABLE WATER RESOURCES SHOULD BE PRESERVED FOR COMMUNITY SERVING AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATING USES. DATA CENTERS ALSO HAVE VERY HIGH ELECTRICAL DEMAND. THESE FACILITIES MAY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT UTILITY[00:15:02]
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING SUBSTATIONS AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES, WHICH COULD AFFECT LONG TERM INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND UTILITY CAPACITY. MANY DATA CENTERS UTILIZE BACKUP GENERATORS AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THAT MAY GENERATE NOISE, VIBRATION, HEAT AND EMISSIONS WHILE ALSO CREATING SPECIALIZED EMERGENCY RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS. FINALLY, STAFF BELIEVES THE CITY'S LIMITED INDUSTRIAL LAND SHOULD BE PRESERVED FOR EMPLOYMENT GENERATING USES THAT MORE DIRECTLY ADVANCE THE CITY'S LONG TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS. INDUSTRIAL LAND IS ONE OF THE MOST ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST VALUABLE AND LIMITED RESOURCES. STAFF DETERMINED THAT WHILE DATA CENTERS REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL UTILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY AND SIGNIFICANT LAND AREA, THEY GENERALLY GENERATE COMPARATIVELY FEWER PERMANENT JOBS RELATIVE TO THOSE DEMANDS.ACCORDINGLY, THE CITY'S POLICY OBJECTIVE TO PRESERVE INDUSTRIAL AND EMPLOYMENT LANDS FOR BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE GREATER JOB CREATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND BROADER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. STAFF ALSO EVALUATED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN GENERAL PLAN. THE ORDINANCE SUPPORTS NUMEROUS GENERAL PLAN POLICIES RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL COMPATIBILITY, PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE LAND USES, MINIMIZING LAND USE CONFLICTS, CONSERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES, EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESPONSIBLE LONG TERM LAND LAND USE PLANNING. BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS, STAFF DETERMINED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS CONSISTENT WITH AND ADVANCES THE CITY'S ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN POLICIES. BASED ON THE EVALUATION PRESENTED THIS EVENING, STAFF BELIEVES THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN, SUPPORTS THE CITY'S LONG TERM PLANNING OBJECTIVES AND REPRESENTS THE MOST APPROPRIATE LONG TERM REGULATORY APPROACH FOR DATA CENTER USES WITHIN THE CITY. ACCORDINGLY, STAFF RECOMMENDS ALTERNATIVE NUMBER ONE, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, ADDING CHAPTER 17.92 TO TITLE 17 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTER USES WITHIN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS FOUR OPTIONS THIS EVENING. THE COMMISSION MAY RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NOT ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, TAKE NO POSITION REGARDING WHETHER THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADOPT THE ORDINANCE OR CONTINUE THE ITEM AND PROVIDE STAFF WITH DIRECTION STAFF. POLICE. ALTERNATIVE NUMBER ONE IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE ACTION BECAUSE IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND SUPPORTS THE CITY'S LONG TERM PLANNING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES. I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE WAS A TYPO IN SECTION THREE, I BELIEVE, OF THE RESOLUTION WHERE IT DOES REFER TO CANNABIS OPERATIONS. THAT WAS AN INADVERTENT INCLUSION IN THE RESOLUTION, AND THE FINDINGS ARE SOLELY BASED ON DATA CENTERS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY HAVE. FOLLOWING COMMISSION DISCUSSION, STAFF RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-23, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING DATA CENTER USES WITHIN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO NOW WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY. IF I CAN, I'M GOING TO CALL SOME OF THE NAMES AND YOU CAN START STANDING IN LINE TO MAKE IT MAKE IT FLOW EASILY. ERICA NORIEGA. AMERICA. NORIEGA. JASMINE. IBARRA. CRYSTAL. ORTWERTH. ASHBY. GOOD EVENING.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. HI. GOOD EVENING, PLANNING COMMISSION. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU GUYS TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR THE BAN. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY'S WORK. COMMUNITY HAS COME OUT HERE AND FOUGHT FOR MONTHS AS COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW, COMMUNITIES IN HERE, WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MONTHS AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. AND WE KNOW THAT WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHATEVER RECOMMENDATION YOU GUYS GIVE, IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL WILL GO ALONG WITH IT.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO RECOMMEND THAT BAN BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE FUTURE OF YOU GUYS, BUT IT AFFECTS THE FUTURE OF US, THE YOUTH, AND IT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR. YOU'RE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY. DO NOT PUT A PRICE ON OUR HEADS BECAUSE NO, NO AMOUNT OF DATA CENTER, NO PRICE THAT THE DATA CENTER WILL BRING WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US. THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT COME FROM A DATA CENTER, NO MONEY CAN, CAN, CAN MAKE IT UP. SO DO NOT PUT A PRICE ON OUR HEADS AND DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYTHING OTHER THAN A BAN, BECAUSE WE WON'T TAKE ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. IS YOUR NAME AMERICA? ARE YOU JASMINE? GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JASMINE IBARRA. I AM A
[00:20:01]
RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF COACHELLA, AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU, THE COMMISSION, TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE ORDINANCE PERMANENTLY BANNING DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. WE HAVE BEEN HERE URGING FOR THIS TO PASS FOR A WHILE NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD, AND WE APPRECIATE, THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH, TO KNOW THE MANY ISSUES THE DATA CENTERS BRING TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE PLACED IN. WE HAVE ALREADY MANY ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE VALLEY, FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE COMFORTABLY. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THESE KEEP GROWING EVERY YEAR AND THIS HORRIBLE PROJECT WOULD ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE. AS WE CONTINUE SPEAKING TO THE COMMUNITY, WE GET MORE AND MORE CONFIRMATION THAT THIS PROJECT IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT. THEREFORE, I URGE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND RECOMMEND THE ORDINANCE TO BAN DATA CENTERS TO BE RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TO A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE PONDEROSA, WHICH IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE SITE. A LOT OF THEM ARE HERE, AND THEY ALSO DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEM. SO AGAIN, THEY DON'T WANT IT EITHER. IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO THEM. AS A RESIDENT OF COACHELLA FOR A LONG TIME, I URGE YOU TO PLEASE, PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS AND TO PUT THE ORDINANCE TO BAN DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CRYSTAL ORTWERTH. HI. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL ORTWERTH AND I'M AN ENERGY POLICY ADVOCATE WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE PERMANENTLY BANNING DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE CITY OF COACHELLA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, ALONG WITH VIVA LA CAUSA COLLECTIVE, SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM EARLIER THIS MORNING, URGING THE CITY TO INCORPORATE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE FINAL ORDINANCE. IN SUMMARY, THE REQUESTED REVISIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS. FIRST, THE ORDINANCE MUST INCLUDE CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF EXEMPT FACILITIES, ALONG WITH A CLEAR EXPLANATION FOR THE EXEMPTION, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE SUCH FACILITIES WOULD PROVIDE. RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IDENTIFIES EXEMPT FACILITIES BY NAME, BUT IT DOES NOT DEFINE THEM. WE REQUEST THAT THE FINAL ORDINANCE DEFINE THE FACILITIES BASED ON THE USES, COMPONENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS THAT DESCRIBE THE FACILITY'S PRIMARY FUNCTION. AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A DEFINITION WAS PROVIDED IN OUR LETTER. DEFINITIONS SHOULD ALSO CLEARLY DISTINGUISH EXEMPT FACILITIES FROM DATA CENTERS IN ORDER TO AVOID MISINTERPRETATION AND UNCERTAINTY. THAT CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHICH FACILITIES QUALIFY FOR EXEMPTIONS AND WHICH ARE BANNED. SECONDLY, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE MUST INCLUDE A PROVISION THAT ENSURES EVEN EXEMPT FACILITIES ARE SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLIC REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT. AT A MINIMUM, THIS SHOULD INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF PROJECTED WATER USAGE, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AIR QUALITY IMPACTS, AND ANY OTHER RESOURCE OR INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS. THIRD, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE MUST INCLUDE PROVISIONS THAT PRIORITIZE LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND REMOVE AMBIGUITIES IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING OR INCONSISTENT LAWS. TWO SPECIFIC PROVISIONS WE URGE YOU TO ADD ARE THE RULE OF CONSTRUCTION AND AN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE. THE RULE OF CONSTRUCTION DIRECTS REGULATORS TO PRIORITIZE THE LAW'S OVERARCHING GOALS OVER ANY STRICT WORD FOR WORD READING THAT MIGHT CREATE LOOPHOLES OR UNDERMINE THE INTENT OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. MEANWHILE, THE ORDER OF PRECEDENCE ENSURES THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS WILL TAKE PRIORITY IN THE EVENT OF ANY OTHER CONFLICTING ORDINANCE. AND LASTLY, WE URGE THE CITY TO INCLUDE A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES ANY REVERSAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO UNDERGO A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE. COACHELLA COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR. DATA CENTERS SEVERELY IMPACT LOCAL RESOURCES AND ARE NOT WELCOMED IN THE CITY, ADDING THIS PROVISION WOULD PROVIDE AN EXTRA LAYER OF ASSURANCE AND PROTECTION FOR COACHELLA RESIDENTS IN THE EVENT THAT A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL IS LESS RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DISCUSS THESE REQUESTS WITH CITY STAFF, COMMISSIONERS AND OR COUNCIL MEMBERS AHEAD OF THE CITY AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 12TH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ASHBY. I AM A MEMBER OF THE VIVA LA CASA COLLECTIVE AND WE ARE A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY GROUP COMPRISED OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE CITIES OF COACHELLA, INDIO AND UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES OF MECCA AND THERMAL. AND AS A COLLECTIVE, WE'VE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY INFORMING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE CITY'S PLANS FOR UP TO 12 DATA CENTERS OUTLINED UNDER THE CITY'S PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH STRONGHOLD POWER.WHILE THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN VOTED TO BE TERMINATED, ULTIMATELY, IT IS VERY ALARMING THAT IT WAS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED IN THE FIRST PLACE BY THE CITY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST DATA CENTER PROJECT IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IT IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MOBILE HOME PARKS. IT IS LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY FROM VIA DEL SOL
[00:25:02]
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND AT LEAST FOUR OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE LESS THAN THREE MILES AWAY.ALL THAT TO SAY THAT IT WOULD HAVE POSED INCREDIBLE HARMS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ULTIMATELY DESTROYED PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE, LET ALONE THEIR FUTURE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE IN COACHELLA, WHEN THE REALITY IS, MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET UP AND MOVE. SO ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHY WE DEMAND A BAN TO HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE IT CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE'VE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH, AGAIN, IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH REALLY, AND SO REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. SO HAVING CLEAR DEFINITIONS ON THE EXEMPTIONS, AND ALSO I URGE YOU ALL TO RECOMMEND VOTER APPROVAL TO BE REQUIRED FOR THE REVERSAL OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND THEN ALSO JUST WANT TO UPLIFT ALL THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OUTLINED IN THEIR LETTER. AGAIN, THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN COMING OUT TO SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND SO WHILE FOLKS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ALWAYS BE CONSTANTLY COMING OUT, THIS IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET. SO WE WANT A PERMANENT BAN ON DATA CENTERS NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FRANCISCO MOLINA, LYNETTE PEREZ. AND SANDRA ANDRADE.
HI, THIS IS FRANCISCO MOLINA. BEFORE I START, I NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT TWO MINUTES. I'M NOT SPEAKING AS MYSELF. I'M SPEAKING AS THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY PROFITS. IF THIS DATA CENTER GETS BUILT, EVERYTHING AFTER THIS SENTENCE ISN'T ME. YOU'VE GOT A GRANT. THE TCC GRANT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS CITY WALKABLE, ENERGY EFFICIENT. KEEP THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE IN THEIR HOMES. CUTE GOAL. YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE THE ELECTRICAL CAPACITY TO BUILD THE HOUSING THE STATE IS REQUIRING UNDER YOUR RINA NUMBERS. SO HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. MY PROJECT DOESN'T GET IN THE WAY OF THAT PROBLEM. IT REPLACES IT. ONCE I'VE EARNED ENOUGH OFF THIS FACILITY, I'LL BUILD MY OWN POWER SUPPLY AND I'LL SELL YOU THE REST. YOU'LL BE BUYING ELECTRICITY BACK FROM ME. WHO CARES ABOUT THE GRANT? THIS CITY'S OWN DOCUMENTS SAY YOU NEED 70MW OF CAPACITY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. TOTAL. MY FACILITY ALONE PULLS 270 TO 300. GUESS WHO ABSORBS THAT GAP? NOT ME. I RUN ON MY OWN MICROGRID. YOU DO? YOUR BILL GOES UP, MINE DOESN'T MOVE. MIGHT EVEN GO DOWN. WHO CARES? AND THE WATER. EVERY GALLON MY FACILITY PULLS IS A GALLON. YOUR FAUCET DOESN'T GET PRESSURE DROPS WHEN PRESSURE DROPS, SO DOES THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE NEXT TO SOMETHING THAT HUMS ALL NIGHT AND DRIES UP THE TAP. YOUR HOME VALLEYS CRASH. AND HERE'S THE PART I ACTUALLY LIKE. I'M GOING TO BUY YOUR HOUSES AT A DISCOUNT, CLEAN THEM UP, FLIP THEM, SELL THEM INTO THE FESTIVAL ECONOMY. EVERY DOLLAR YOU LOSE, WALK STRAIGHT INTO MY PORTFOLIO. THANK YOU. I PROFIT WHEN IT'S BUILT. I PROFIT AGAIN. WHEN YOU'RE FORCED TO SELL LOW. TWO PAYDAYS, ONE DECISION YOURS. THAT'S NOT A HYPOTHETICAL.
THAT'S THE ACTUAL INCENTIVE STRUCTURE. TAX BREAKS AND AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE. AND UNDER BUILT GRID, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX WATER USE. NOBODY'S FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR. THEY HAVE NO REASON TO STOP BUILDING. ONLY YOU DO. I'M ASKING YOU TO RECOMMEND A PERMANENT BAN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHO YOU'RE FUNDING. I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING MORE. I'M STUDYING. I'M A I'M A I'M AN MBA CANDIDATE. I'M STUDYING ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AND IN MY SCHOOL, I'M IN I'M IN THE LAST MODULE OF LIKE IN THE LAST YEAR OF MY SCHOOL, I'M IN TIER THREE. AND WHAT WE LEARNED THERE IS THAT THERE'S THREE PHASES OF A BUSINESS. THERE'S A STARTUP PHASE, THERE'S WHEN YOU EXIT THE STARTUP PHASE, AND THEN IT'S WHEN YOU GET INTO THE BIG POKER CHIP TABLE WITH ALL THE BIG BOYS ON THE, ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE STOCK MARKET. AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE LEARNED WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU DOMINATE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO YOU. THEY'RE COMING TO OUR CITY AND THEY'RE DOMINATING YOU. THEY'RE DOMINATING US AND OUR COUNCIL AND YOU. IF YOU DON'T STOP THIS, OUR ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN. AND NOW WHAT I NEED FROM YOU IS THERE'S SHARKS OUT THERE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING. THAT'S WHAT I'M BEING TAUGHT. YOU DOMINATE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M BEING TAUGHT. THERE'S SHARKS OUT THERE. I NEED YOU TO BE A MEGALODON.
[00:30:05]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LYNETTE PEREZ. LORETTA PEREZ. SORRY, I KNOW. ALL RIGHT. SO HELLO, MY NAME IS LORETTA PEREZ. I'M A PARENT FROM COACHELLA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER OF UNITED FOR AUTISM AND ABILITIES FOUNDATION. I AM ALSO RUNNING FOR CB, USD BOARD TRUSTEE AREA ONE. I STRONGLY URGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO PUSH FOR YOU TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL CREATE A STRONG ORDINANCE THAT WILL BAN ANY AND ALL TYPES OF DATA CENTER OR TECHNOLOGY CAMPUSES IN OUR COMMUNITY'S DATA CENTERS CAN SEND TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO OUR AIR AND GROUNDWATER, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY EMITTING NOISES THAT CAN BE HEARD FOR MILES, RISKING NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE, MIGRAINES, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR NEARBY STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE COMMISSION HAS A DUTY TO THE PUBLIC TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS CONSTITUENTS. THE BAN NEEDS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT ALL STUDENTS OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER AGAIN BE PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE THE WEALTH OF BILLIONAIRES IS BEING PRIORITIZED OVER THEIR WELL-BEING. I DO WANT TO ASK FROM NOW ON THAT WE DO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT ALL OF OUR PROJECTS NEED TO CONTINUE, NOT THE DATA CENTER, BUT WITH A CB, A ANYTHING THAT COMES THROUGH TO YOU BESIDES THIS, EXCEPT FOR THE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO HAVE A CB ATTACHED TO IT. I WE SEE A LOT AT THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT HELPS OR BENEFITS. MOST OF THE TIME, THERE'S NOTHING THAT HELPS OUR BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY EXCEPT FOR WHAT THE EXTENT OF WHAT THEY ALLOW. BY LAW, WE NEED MORE. WE ALWAYS KEEP SAYING THAT COACHELLA NEEDS MORE. WELL, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HERE AND TELLING YOU THAT WE NEED MORE. WE NEED MORE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THESE AGREEMENTS AND YOU'RE SAYING, YES, WE NEED MORE FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING OUR LAND, THEY'RE TAKING OUR TAX DOLLARS. EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IS, IS GOING TO BE OUR STREETS THAT WE PAY FOR. WE NEED MORE THAN WHAT THEY OFFER AT EVERY GIVEN MOMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT'S BEING PLANNED HERE. AND ALSO WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AREN'T INFORMED. SO I KNOW THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN STATURE WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIKE A CERTAIN LIKE BY LAW, THIS, YOU KNOW, YOUR WHOEVER'S DOING THE PROJECT HAS TO DO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS OF TRYING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WELL, OBVIOUSLY, FOR A LOT OF THESE BIGGER PROJECTS, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY ISN'T FINDING OUT ABOUT IT UNLESS OUR OWN COMMUNITY COMES OUT TO TELL YOU, TO TELL THEM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT YOUR PRIORITY, THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY, THAT IT'S WAY BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS IN THESE LAST BIG PROJECTS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S INFORMED EVERYONE AT WHATEVER IT TAKES. MAKE THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND BRING ANYTHING TO YOU, ANYTHING THAT THEY MUST. MAKE SURE THAT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COMMUNITY COMES AND TELLS YOU THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES, BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT. YOU DESERVE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SANDRA ANDRADA. I'LL BE SPEAKING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. MY NAME IS SANDRA ANDRADE. I LIVE HERE IN COACHELLA. MY FAMILY LIVES HERE.ME AND MY WIFE, WE HAVE OUR BUSINESS HERE AS WELL IN THE CITY. I'M HERE TO DEMAND AN URGENT ORDINANCE TO STOP DATA CENTERS. YOU GUYS KNOW ALL THE FACTS. I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT. THERE'S NO BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR HEALTH AND PEACE OF LIFE DOESN'T HAVE A PRICE. I HAVE A SISTER IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THEY'RE BUILDING A DATA CENTER THREE MILES FROM HER HOME. AND GUESS WHAT? THE DATA CENTER IS STILL NOT FINISHED, AND HER COMMUNITY IS ALREADY LOSING THE PRESSURE OF THEIR WATER. I JUST TALKED TO HER YESTERDAY. SHE SAYS THAT THE LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A HUGE AIRPORT. THE REAL ESTATE AGENT TOLD THEM ALREADY TO START THINKING OF SELLING THEIR HOME. WHY? BECAUSE THOSE HOUSES ARE LOSING VALUE ALREADY. SO NOW SHE NEEDS TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE. THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, AND SHE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIVING IN THAT WHEN THAT DATA CENTER ARE DONE AND READY TO RUN. LA COMUNIDAD EL PASO, TEXAS TAMBIÉN ESTUVIERON PELEANDO PARA QUÉ TERMINARON PARA Q NO HICIERON. PERO QUÉ PASO Y ASI LO MISMO ESTAN HACIENDO AQUI. Y FINALMENTE CON ASIA YA CASI TERMINAL CENTER YA ESO LO ESTAN USTEDES PENSANDO O ESPERANDO PORQUE ESO ES LO Q PARECE PERO NOSOTROS NUESTRA COMUNIDAD NO LO VAMOS A ACEPTAR EN REALIDAD NO LO VAMOS A ACEPTAR OCUPADOS Q TOMAN ACCION PORQUE LAS PALABRAS SON PALABRAS. QUÉ PASA NO QUEREMOS QUÉ PASA COMO EN EL PASO, TEXAS, NO NOS. DIREMOS Y SEGUIREMOS
[00:35:08]
LUCHANDO. GRACIAS GRACIAS. VIOLETA. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS VIOLETA ARVELO. BORN AND RAISED IN INDIO, CALIFORNIA. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN CATHEDRAL CITY. AS OF RIGHT NOW, MY MAIN GOAL TO COME HERE TODAY IS TO URGE YOU GUYS AND HIGHLY BASICALLY BEG THAT YOU GUYS. ONE RECOMMEND A BAN TO DATA CENTERS. BUT JUST IN THE FUTURE, JUST TO BAN THESE ENTIRELY. AND AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AND I'M EXTREMELY ANGRY, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE I HAVE HATE TOWARDS ANY OF YOU GUYS. BUT IT'S THE FACT THAT WE QUITE LITERALLY HAVE THE POWER TO END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN, QUITE FRANKLY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS JUST WATER NEEDS TO BE BROWN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS NEED TO WALK OUTSIDE AND FEEL THE BURNING HEAT AGAINST YOUR SKIN FROM THE HEAT COMING FROM THE DATA CENTERS, CLIMATE CHANGE IS AT ITS WORST THAT IT'S EVER BEEN. AND IF WE ALLOW THIS, THE WORLD IS ALREADY ON FIRE. AND I SAY THIS WITH PASSION BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR ANCESTORS WOULD HAVE WANTED. WE HAVE MANY YEARS OF RICH HISTORY HERE, AND NOT TO MENTION WE AS A HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE LIKE. WHY WOULD WE WANT THIS FOR ANYBODY? I URGE YOU, YOU THAT YOU GUYS PLEASE JUST VOTE AGAINST THIS IN THE FUTURE. RECOMMEND A BAN.DO SOMETHING. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL GOING TO GO HOME. WE ALL DRINK FROM THE SAME WATER, WE SHOP IN THE SAME GROCERY STORES. THERE'S LITERALLY SO MUCH DAMAGE ALREADY DONE. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HAPPENING TO BEGIN WITH. WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING AGAINST IT AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
MY THING IS, ARE YOU WILLING TO SELL OUT? ARE YOU WILLING OR ARE YOU WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY? WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I MEAN, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU GUYS WANT A FUTURE IN THE WORLD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CARE ENOUGH, BUT, LIKE, I WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN. I DON'T THE WORLD IS LITERALLY ENDING AS WE SPEAK, AND THAT'S JUST FACTS. AND I DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO A DATA CENTER FOR WHAT IT DOESN'T BENEFIT ANYBODY. LITERALLY. AND ALL I CAN SAY IS LIKE, JUST DO THE RIGHT THING. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS BEYOND THESE WALLS AND WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CLAUDIA GOMEZ. CLAUDIA GOMEZ.
OH, SORRY, I THOUGHT I HAD MY NOTE READY. SORRY, I DON'T HAVE MY NOTE READY. I'M SORRY.
THAT'S OKAY. KATIE ARIAS. HELLO. MY NAME IS KATIE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF INDIO, CALIFORNIA, OR INDIO. AND I'M HERE TO URGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PASS AN ORDINANCE TO PERMANENTLY BAN DATA CENTERS. I THINK YOUR GUYS'S SUPPORT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR THE CITY OF COACHELLA, AND IT WOULD PLACE A REALLY, YOU KNOW, BIG LEGACY ON THE CITY OF COACHELLA TO TELL THE RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, IT'S FAMILIES, THE SENIORS, THE CHILDREN AND ANYONE WHO VISITS OUR LIKE THE CITY AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO BUSINESS HERE, IT WILL TELL THEM THAT THIS CITY DOES NOT WANT ANY BUSINESS OR TO DO WITH DATA CENTERS. AND THAT IS MY PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
[00:40:04]
RENE RIVERA. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RENE VERA. I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN COACHELLA AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE ALL MY LIFE. I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DATA CENTERS BEING BUILT HERE IN OUR CITY. AND JUST IN GENERAL, AS YOU AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD QUITE A FEW TIMES BY NOW, A GOOD PORTION OF US HERE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO DO SOME RESEARCH OF OUR OWN AND SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THESE DATA CENTERS, AND WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT THEY COULD HAVE ON OUR CITY. TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO TOUCH UP ON MY THOUGHTS FOR THE DATA CENTERS. I MORE OR LESS WANTED TO OFFER YOU MY PERSPECTIVE ON HOW I'M VIEWING THE SITUATION, AND WHY I DON'T SEE AT ALL HOW AI OR AI DATA CENTERS WOULD BENEFIT US AS A COMMUNITY, OR QUITE FRANKLY, AS A SOCIETY AND WHOLE.AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MAIN PRIORITY USE OF AI IS NOT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BRING WORLD PEACE. IT'S NOT HOW TO END WORLD HUNGER, HOW TO CURE CANCER AND WARS, HOW TO FIND A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS, HOW TO LOWER THE PERCENTAGE OF DRUG ABUSE, MURDER, CHILD RAPE, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, AND OR SUICIDE. NO, NO NO. INSTEAD, WHAT'S ON THE PRIORITY LIST OF BIG TECH, AI AND AI DATA CENTERS? LET'S TALK ABOUT IT FOR A BIT. IT'S HOW MUCH OF OUR OWN PRIVATE AND PERSONAL INFORMATION THEY COULD STORE AWAY FROM US. IT'S HOW MUCH LAND THEY COULD TAKE AWAY FROM OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES. IT'S HOW MUCH CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE THEY COULD HAVE ON US WITHOUT US NOTICING HOW MUCH USE IS CRAP THEY COULD SELL US BY SPYING ON EVERYTHING WE TYPE TEXT, SAY, SEND OR SEARCH, OR EVEN DELETE. IT'S USING EVERYTHING WE KNOW TO THROW IT AGAINST US AND AGAINST EACH OTHER. IT'S HOW TO USE AI FOR WAR. EVEN THE CEO OF PALANTIR, ALEX KARP, THE BIGGEST AI COMPANY IN THE WORLD, HE HAS EXPLICITLY, EXPLICITLY SAID AI IS HERE TO SCARE ENEMIES AND ON OCCASION, KILL THEM. HE SAID THAT MORE THAN ONCE THERE IS A. AND TRUST ME, THE LIST GOES ON. THE VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR DATA CENTERS CAN'T HELP BUT LEAN ON THIS SEGUE THAT EVERY TIME WE'RE SAYING, WE'RE SAYING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA CENTERS, IT'S MISLEADING AND THE NUMBERS ARE INCORRECT. I BEG TO DIFFER. BUT EVEN HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, EVEN IF THE NUMBERS WERE INCORRECT ABOUT WATER AND ENERGY, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, OR FOR HYPOTHETICAL SAKES, LET'S SAY ALL THE NUMBERS WERE INCORRECT. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, EVEN IF THEY WERE, AND WE WERE WRONG ABOUT THE NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF ALL THE NUMBERS, WITH EVERYTHING THESE COMPANIES STAND FOR, WITH EVERYTHING THEY PROMOTE, PAY AND SPREAD. WHY? WHY WOULD WE STAND WITH THEM FOR MONEY, WITH EVERYTHING OUR CITY HAS BEEN THROUGH, WORKED FOR AND OVERCAME? WE KNOW BETTER AND YOU KNOW BETTER. THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF GREED OR ASSUMING THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS A MATTER OF DIGNITY AND COMMON SENSE. YOUR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY TELLING YOU WHAT THEIR BEST INTEREST IS. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LISTEN AND TAKE THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO GET US OUT OF THIS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE DEMAND THE CITY WIDE BAN OF DATA CENTERS IN THE FORM OF AN ORDINANCE. AND IF YOU DO END UP EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM, EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM DATE, WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT TEN MONTHS TO MAKE A DECISION. WE CAN VERY MUCH MAKE A DECISION SOON. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. CLAUDIA GOMEZ. THOSE ARE ALL THE THE REQUEST TO SPEAK FORMS I HAVE. IS THERE ANY ON ZOOM? IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THERE ARE NONE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. I KNOW I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 644. OKAY. AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND BEING ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, I DO MOVE ON TO ANY PLANNING COMMISSIONER.
QUESTIONS TO STAFF. COMMISSIONER TORRES, FIRST, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ORGANIZING AND GETTING OUT HERE. AND THE SECOND THEN THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR TURNING THIS AROUND SO QUICKLY AND HELPING GET THIS ON. GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON THE DEFINITION, LIKE DEFINING A LITTLE BIT MORE. I KNOW WE KIND THERE'S BEEN PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THERE WAS LIKE SOME TALKS ABOUT DEFINING IT. AND I KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EXEMPTION FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, WE WERE, WE WERE IT WAS FOR LIKE SERVER SERVER ROOMS OR IT SERVER ROOMS. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN DEFINE THOSE WITHOUT HAVING TO LIKE EXTEND THIS FURTHER AND STILL GO TO COUNCIL? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF WE DO CHANGE SOME WORDINGS THAT IT WILL WE WILL HAVE TO REVOTE ON THIS BEFORE IT GOES TO COUNCIL, RIGHT? YEAH.
[00:45:01]
I'LL DEFER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THAT ON THE ON FURTHER DEFINING THOSE.WHAT WOULD COME WITH THAT? YEAH. SO WHEN THE COMMISSION TAKES A VOTE TONIGHT, IF IT DOES DECIDE TO RECOMMEND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BAN AS PART OF THAT RECOMMENDATION, IT CAN INCLUDE OTHER GUIDANCE, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, REQUESTING TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PART OF THE EXEMPTIONS ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS ABOUT OR IF THEY HAVE SPECIFIC REQUESTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT CAN BE BUILT INTO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S ULTIMATELY MADE TO COUNCIL. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT. FOR ME, IT'S JUST THE THE DEFINITION I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE JUST DEFINED A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY AND THERE'S ALL OF US HERE. SO THAT WAS ALL MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD THOUGH. AND FOR TO FURTHER DEFINE, WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO BE THE GOVERNMENT IT FACILITIES THAT REFERENCE IN THERE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER DEFINITIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ADDED FOR ME THAT THAT I THINK IT WAS IT'S NOT IT'S EXEMPTION B B IS THAT'S THE ONE THAT I HAVE. I HAD A QUESTION IN THAT THAT WAS THE ISSUE ONE FOR ME. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TORRES.
COMMISSIONER FONSECA YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ORDORICA YES, THANK YOU. AGAIN, ECHOING WHAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE SHOWING UP PHYSICALLY, SHOWING UP VIRTUALLY, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND MYSELF INCLUDED, WITH THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M MYSELF RAISING A FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO DEAL WITH THE HEAVY IMPACTS OF WHAT THE DATA CENTER, YOU KNOW, COULD POSSIBLY BRING TO THE FUTURE. SO I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF EVERYONE'S WISHES AND DESIRES MOVING FORWARD FOR IT. SO AGAIN, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
AS FAR AS QUESTIONS, I AM CURIOUS IN REGARDS TO. A VOTER, A VOTER APPROVAL OF TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ORDINANCE FOR A REVERSAL OF THE BAN. I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED IN ITS IN SEVERAL I THINK SEVERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED BEFOREHAND. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS EITHER LOOKED AT BEFOREHAND OR CAN BE INCLUDED? YES. SO THERE'S A CONCEPT WHERE WHENEVER A LEGISLATIVE BODY IS VOTING ON ANY LAW THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT, THEY CAN'T MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO REPEAL THAN IT WAS TO IMPLEMENT. SO IF YOU'RE TAKING A MAJORITY VOTE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE, THE STANDARD IS YOU. IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE TO REPEAL OR CHANGE IT. SO, YOU KNOW, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY IN TERMS OF THE ITEM IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TODAY, IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE TO ADD THE, YOU KNOW, VOTER REQUIREMENT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR REPEAL. I THINK THIS CONCEPT KIND OF CAME TO LIGHT BECAUSE MONTEREY PARK ALSO HAD A SIMILAR BAN THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED. BUT WHAT WAS UNIQUE THERE IS THAT THEY VOTED TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT. SO THEN ONCE, ONCE THE VOTERS APPROVED THE BAN, THEN YOU CAN SET THAT STANDARD OF REQUIRING VOTER APPROVAL TO REPEAL OR CHANGE IT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH. SO THE, YOU KNOW, IF IF WE'RE IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE THAT ELEMENT INCORPORATED INTO THIS BAN, THE ONLY WAY WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS, HAVE THE VOTERS APPROVE IT, AND THEN YOU CAN ADD THAT EXTRA ELEMENT OF REQUIRING VOTER APPROVAL TO REPEAL IT. AND THAT WOULD BE A COUNCIL'S DIRECTION OF WHETHER OR NOT ADDING IT TO A BALLOT.
YEAH. SO TONIGHT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF DOING A ZONING ORDINANCE DIRECTLY APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO PREPARE LIKE A MEASURE THAT WOULD GO TO GO TO VOTERS ON THE NEXT BALLOT. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LORICA. I THINK MY COMMENTS ARE THE SAME. I ALSO WANT THE DEFINITIONS ON THE EXEMPTIONS TO BE MORE CLEAR, NOT JUST BE BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S BE IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO ALL OF THEM, THE REST OF THEM TO JUST BE MORE CLEAR. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, I DON'T KNOW, INCLUDE TO, TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL OR DOES IT NEED TO
[00:50:07]
COME BACK TO US ONCE THIS IS REWRITTEN? OR HOW HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? I THINK IF TONIGHT THE COUNCIL WERE TO DECIDE TO RECOMMEND THIS ORDINANCE PASSING AS PART OF THE MOTION, YOU COULD INCORPORATE, YOU KNOW, SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE CHANGES TO BE MADE. AND THAT WAY I THINK WE COULD JUST MOVE FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD WITH IT GOING TO COUNCIL, AND THEN WE WOULD INCORPORATE THOSE CHANGES AND THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO REVIEW IT AT COUNCIL AT THAT POINT. OKAY. SO ONCE THIS ORDINANCE GOES TO COUNCIL, THOSE CHANGES WILL BE ALREADY MADE. CORRECT? OKAY. THAT IS CORRECT. SO TONIGHT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. SO TONIGHT YOU MAY ADD THAT RECOMMENDATION AS A MODIFICATION TO THE RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL. AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE IT WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. OKAY. OKAY. AND WE CAN ALSO BRING IT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. NO, THIS IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, CAN I. OH, YEAH. SO I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND REGARDING THE VOTING PROCESS, I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, AND AGAIN, I FEEL THAT THAT EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO THAT THERE'S PROCESSES.I THINK THERE'S ALSO VALUE IN CONSIDERING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL PUTTING THIS POTENTIALLY ON THE BALLOT. I KNOW THAT IF THE CITY WANTS THIS, THEN THAT COULD ALSO BE A WAY. NOW, IF IF IF THAT IS SOMETHING UP FOR DISCUSSION, WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE? THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT. OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMUNITY HAS VOICED THEIR THEIR PERSPECTIVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IS THAT ALSO JUST A DIFFERENT APPROACH? AND LOOKING INTO THIS PARTICULAR BAND? YEAH. SO IF. THIS ITEM WERE TO BE KIND OF RE STRUCTURED AS SOMETHING GOING TO THE VOTERS, THE, THE BONES OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE BAN ARE KIND OF WHAT'S IN FRONT ■OF THE COUNCIL TONIGHT. IT WOULD JUST BE REFRAMING IT AS AN ITEM WHERE IT GOES TO THE VOTERS, THE VOTERS APPROVE IT. AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY WHERE THE CITY WOULD ADOPT IT. AND BY DOING THAT EXTRA STEP IS WHAT IS WHAT LETS YOU KIND OF SET THAT ADDITIONAL, LIKE HIGHER THRESHOLD OF REQUIRING VOTER APPROVAL FOR ANY SORT OF CHANGES OR IF IT WANTS TO BE REPEALED. YEAH. SO, COMMISSIONER FONSECA, ALSO TO FURTHER EXPAND ON THOSE COMMENTS. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TONIGHT MAY MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND WITHIN THOSE MODIFICATIONS, YOU CAN ALSO ASK THAT CITY STAFF RESEARCH AND LOOK INTO THE ISSUE, INTO ADOPTING OR PASSING A MEASURE, OR PUTTING A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD THEN DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT THAT OR MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. SO YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THAT. DIRECTOR REIF, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IF THAT'S CORRECT OR IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT. NO THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON. BUT THAT WOULD BE FOR THE IF WE WERE TO RECOMMEND SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE FOR ADDING IT TO A ADDING THE VOTE TO THE BALLOT FOR REVERSAL OF THE BAN. SO IF IT GOT APPROVED TONIGHT, IT WOULD BE ADDED TO IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ADDED TO THE BALLOT TO FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VOTE. SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WANTS TO DO TONIGHT. RIGHT. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN SAY, HEY, WE RECOMMEND APPROVING THIS ORDINANCE WITH THE MODIFICATION. AND ALSO WE WANT TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY THAT CITY STAFF RESEARCH ADOPTING OR PUTTING A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR A, A CITY WIDE BAN ON DATA CTERS. RIGHT. AND SO THEY THEY RESEARCHED THAT. AND SO WHEN THEY BRING BACK THIS MEASURE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION, IT WILL GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THEIR RESEARCH AND SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THIS SO THAT THE MEASURE IS PASSED. AND IF IT'S PASSED BY THE VOTERS, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE REPEALED BY THE VOTERS, RIGHT? SO YEAH. OKAY. SO IN FOR IF WE SAY, IF WE DON'T BAN IT AND WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, WE HAVE TO. IT HAS TO BE ON THE BALLOT TO BAN IT BEFORE OR LIKE, AM I GETTING THIS WRONG? SO THERE'S TWO THERE'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS GOING ON. SO WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE THE COMMISSION. TODAY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS DECIDING WHETHER TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE. BASICALLY BANNING DATA CENTERS
[00:55:04]
IN THE CITY CITYWIDE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN CONDITION THIS APPROVAL OR OR ADD CONDITIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. I'D RATHER SAY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE BAN, WHEN IT COMES BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, IT PROVIDES EXPANSION ON THE DEFINITION OF SUBSECTION B, AND ALSO THAT CITY STAFF RESEARCH OR LOOK INTO THE ISSUE OF WHAT IS NECESSARY OR NEEDED IN ORDER TO PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT THAT PROVIDES FOR A BAN. SO THERE'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS, RIGHT? WE RECOMMEND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL THAT GETS PASSED, AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL CAN THEN LOOK INTO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT SO THAT IT'S PROVIDED FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE ON. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.DANIEL. OKAY. SO UPON LISTENING TO EVERYBODY AND FURTHER DISCUSSING WITH THE COMMISSION, SO I WANT TO DO SAY SOMETHING. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSION REGARDING DATA CENTERS. I ALSO HAVE BEEN DOING MY OWN RESEARCH. AND LIKE MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT BRINGING A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE TO OUR CITY. AND IT'S LONG, LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS. OUR COMMUNITY IS DEFINED BY ITS CULTURE, HISTORY, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HARDWORKING PEOPLE WHO, WITH THE PASSION OF PASSING OF TIME, HAVE SHAPED COACHELLA AND TO WHAT IT IS TODAY. AND THIS IS WHAT I TRULY VALUE ABOUT LIVING IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA.
SO I THINK THE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD REFLECT THAT. AND WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO MOTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020 623. RECOMMENDING THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, ADDING CHAPTER 17.92 TO TITLE 17 OF THE COACHELLA MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS USES WITHIN THE CITY OF COACHELLA, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT ONE. WE FURTHER DEFINE AND EXPAND ON THE DEFINITIONS FOR THE. ON THE EXEMPTIONS, ALL FOUR OF THEM, AND ALSO TO RECOMMEND TO HAVE STAFF RESEARCH HOW TO INCLUDE THIS INTO OUR BALLOT AND HAVE VOTERS VOTE FOR THE VAN BAN. IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE? YES. OKAY.
YEAH. SO YOUR MOTION. SO I MOTION. I'LL SECOND THEN. COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER.
FONSECA. YES. VICE CHAIR. TORRES. YES. AND. CHAIR. LATA. YES. OKAY. AND SO THAT IS IT.
WE WE. SECOND. DO WE SECOND THE MOTION? THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED. OKAY. SORRY. AND THAT
[Informational]
IS IT. DURING DURING THE MEETING FOR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. I DO JUST WANT TO RESTATE THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE GOING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE AUGUST 12TH MEETING. SO YOUR GUYS'S RECOMMENDATION WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE AUGUST 12TH MEETING. OKAY, PERFECT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO STAFF. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. THE THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. LET ME SEE.