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City to monitor state fairgrounds data-center proposal as residents raise questions
Summary
City Manager Mark Mondell told the Tulare City Council the state issued a press release about a proposed data center at the fairgrounds and staff will monitor environmental documents and request greater city involvement; council members and residents expressed concern about groundwater and energy impacts.
City Manager Mark Mondell said the city is tracking a state-led proposal to locate a data center at the county fairgrounds and will press for more information and city involvement. "We will likely send them a letter asking for them to be more involved with the city on their project," Mondell said, noting the city lacks full permitting authority when a state entity is involved.
Mondell told council the project appears to be "a variation on a data center" and that chief concerns include groundwater consumption and electrical energy use. He said staff are researching what level of local permitting or review the state would accept and promised to post updates as information becomes available. Mayor Isherwood and other council members urged staff to keep residents informed and to provide opportunities for community comment.
Several council members and residents in the audience said they had seen press coverage and requested a clearer public-engagement timeline. Vice Mayor Harrell asked for a future council discussion to consider whether the city should develop a position on data centers. Mondell said staff will continue to publish information and suggested the fairboard's website as a likely source of state postings until the city learns more.
