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Mayor Kim Hopkins highlights data-center interest, proposes dark-sky ordinance and discusses hosting opportunities
Summary
In her chair report Mayor Kim Hopkins flagged possible data-center interest at Eielson Air Force Base, proposed a dark-sky ordinance to boost tourism, recounted a sister-city visit to Guri, Korea, and said the borough may be asked to step in as host for the 2028 Arctic Winter Games, which would require around 2,000 volunteers.
In a broad chair report Mayor Kim Hopkins outlined several initiatives the administration is pursuing to support economic development. She said the borough is monitoring Department of Defense interest in locating data centers at select bases and that contractors will tour Eielson Air Force Base to evaluate infrastructure and power needs.
Hopkins also proposed advancing a dark-sky ordinance to limit light pollution and enhance winter tourism: "One of the items I wanna move forward with is a dark sky ordinance for limiting light pollution," she said, linking dark-sky designation to international tourism potential.
The mayor described a recent sister-city trip to Guri, South Korea, as an opportunity to develop educator exchanges and tourism links. She said delegates saw different solid-waste practices and raised ideas for local adaptation.
On large events, Hopkins said the Arctic Winter Games reached out after the Northwest Territories withdrew and asked whether the borough could host in 2028; she said a decision by the Arctic Winter Games board is expected in June and that hosting would require about 2,000 volunteers and additional borough funding.
She also announced formation of a youth commission (ages 14–25) to give young residents substantive input on capital priorities and community planning; about 30 people applied to participate in initial planning. The meeting adjourned with the next commission meeting scheduled for July 28, 2026.
What comes next: The administration will return to the commission with updates as they learn more about data-center prospects, the dark-sky ordinance development, and any commitments related to hosting the Arctic Winter Games.
