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Imperial City council adopts 45-day moratorium on data centers to study local impacts
Summary
The Imperial City Council voted 5-0 to adopt a 45-day urgency ordinance pausing new data-center, high-performance computing and large battery projects while staff evaluates public-safety, water, air-quality and land-use impacts and works on permanent zoning rules. Supporters urged protections for workers and residents; union and residents asked about local-hire and ratepayer safeguards.
The Imperial City Council voted unanimously to adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 834, imposing a 45-day moratorium on data centers, high-performance computing facilities, large battery energy storage systems and similar high-energy industrial uses while staff researches public-safety, water consumption, noise, air quality and land-use compatibility and prepares permanent regulatory standards.
City planner Mr. Aton told the council the moratorium “is not to prohibit development or discourage investment” but to provide time to coordinate with utilities and public-safety agencies, review industry practices and draft clear zoning and development standards; staff said they may request an extension under Government Code section 65858 if needed.
The item drew several public commenters. Christopher Scuries said the moratorium is a measured response and urged the council to consider banning data centers entirely; Jake Tyson, who said he lives in El Centro, told the council the valley faces “catastrophic risk” from large data projects and urged the city to refuse incentives that “put profit before people.” Fabola Moreno of IBW569, representing about 3,700 union electricians, told the council the pause creates an opportunity to secure worker protections and local-hire provisions and asked how ratepayers and public safety will be protected.
Council members framed the measure as a temporary pause to collect data and protect residents while staff develops safeguards. One council member said the moratorium “gives our staff time to get educated” on a rapidly expanding technology. The ordinance passed on a 5-0 vote.
Votes at a glance
- Urgency Ordinance No. 834 (45-day moratorium on data centers): adopted, vote 5-0. - C6 (equipment purchase to outfit new fire engine): approved, vote 5-0. - C2 (acceptance of Eaton Road rehabilitation project, STPL 5134/CIP 817): accepted, vote 5-0. - C3 (community development permit streamlining recommendations and visual guides): approved, vote 5-0. - C4 (award contract for city apartments remodel, bid 2026-03 to Busted Knuckles Construction): approved, vote 5-0. - C5 (declare 2018 Ford Fusion detective vehicle surplus): approved, vote 5-0.
Why it matters
Council members and community speakers said data centers raise unresolved questions about water use, emergency response and neighborhood impacts. The moratorium creates a time-limited process for the city to consult utility and safety partners, study potential environmental and service impacts and draft zoning rules so future applications are processed under clear standards.
What’s next
Staff will undertake research, coordinate with utility and safety agencies, review other jurisdictions’ regulations and begin drafting permanent zoning and development standards; the council may be asked to extend the moratorium under state law if more time is needed.
