Agenda - Council - 09/22/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Riley supported changing data centers from a permitted use to a conditional use. He believed requiring a conditional use pen -nit would ensure that a proposed facility had to come before the City, allowing Council and residents to ask questions and giving the City greater control over whether a particular proposal was appropriate. Councilmember Buscher also supported the conditional -use approach, noting that it would not close the door on data centers but would allow the City to evaluate each proposal before approving it. Councilmember Specht preferred prohibiting data centers rather than establishing a conditional - use process. Councilmember Olson supported allowing data centers through a conditional use permit. Community Development Director Hanson proposed conducting additional research and returning to Council with more detailed information before staff began drafting ordinance language. She explained that this would help Council become more familiar with the issue and provide direction on the standards that should ultimately be incorporated into an ordinance. She would also work with the City Attorney. Councilmember Buscher offered to provide examples of ordinances adopted by other communities. Councilmember Buscher suggested that potential standards could address responsibility for necessary infrastructure improvements and energy requirements. She opposed imposing a moratorium, noting that data -center construction could provide employment and economic activity and that state regulations already addressed significant aspects of their operation. She identified water use, energy consumption, and noise as the principal concerns she had heard and believed those matters could be addressed through appropriate regulation rather than a prohibition. Mayor Heineman summarized that a majority of Council supported directing staff to research standards for allowing data centers through a conditional use permit, with Councilmember Specht opposed to allowing the use. Staff would conduct additional research, consult with the City Attorney, and return to Council before preparing final ordinance language. 2.03: Discussion Regarding Union Contract Negotiations (Closed Session) Mayor Heineman introduced the discussion regarding union contract negotiations and announced that the discussion would be closed to the public. Administrative Services Director Lasher explained that the closed session would update the City Council on negotiations with the City's bargaining groups. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 13D.03, Council reached consensus to enter closed session. City Council Work Session / September 8, 2026 Page 7 of 8