Resident River Remuglia urges Flagstaff council to bar data centers until water impacts are addressed; planner briefs voters on regional plan vote

During the open-call-to-the-public portion of the April 16 Flagstaff City Water Commission meeting, River Remuglia, a Flagstaff resident, urged commissioners and the city council to bar data centers from the city until officials have fully assessed long-term water and climate impacts.

"I urge this commission to recommend that the city council forbid data centers in Flagstaff until every member of this commission and every member of that council fully understands the long-term impacts of data centers beyond 100 years and takes climate change into consideration," River said, arguing that data-center water use raises intergenerational risks and urging the council to prioritize water access for vulnerable residents.

Later in the meeting, Sarah Dector, comprehensive and neighborhood planning manager for the city of Flagstaff, gave a staff briefing to help city residents prepare to vote on Question 492, the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 ratification, in a May 2026 special election. She said city voters should verify registration by April 20, and that ballots will be mailed next week. Dector stated that ballots are due May 19 and also referenced a mail-in deadline of May 11 and a list of drop-off boxes on the city website; the transcript includes both date references as provided during the briefing.

Dector said a yes vote would make the 2045 regional plan effective immediately and replace the 2030 plan; a no vote would keep the current plan and prompt further public feedback and a later revision.

The commission did not take immediate action on the data-center request; the public-comment period followed the commission's procedural reminders that the body cannot act on items not on the agenda but can ask staff to review or place items on future agendas.