Council Bluffs rejects mayor's data center pause

Council Bluffs city leaders declined Mayor Jill Shudak’s request for a moratorium on new data center projects, rejecting a proposal she said would have given the city time to study infrastructure and review its rules as development continues.

The city council turned down the request in a unanimous vote. Shudak had asked for a moratorium of up to one year on new data center construction.

Council Bluffs has been grappling with how to balance community concerns with economic development as data center construction grows in the city. Shudak said the proposed pause was not meant to stop data centers permanently.

"In order for us to study some of our infrastructure", she said. "As well as take a look at our ordinances and see if there was something that we needed to do about where they were being built and what standards they were being built to."

Councilman Steve Gorman said he believes the city can examine those issues while still allowing new projects to move forward.

"We can address the issues going forward at the same time we're looking at data centers or developers coming into our community", Gorman said.

Asked about concerns raised by constituents, Gorman said residents have pointed to several issues tied to data center development.

"Well, they're concerned about all the things you just asked about: land usage, buildings - what they look like, water usage, you know, power usage…" Gorman said.

Google is among the companies with data centers in Council Bluffs. In April, spokeswoman Liz Schwab told KMTV the company invests in communities.

"And what that means for the local economy is hundreds of full-time, high pay, operational jobs. It means thousands - Google's average is actually 4,200 - skilled construction jobs", she said.

Shudak said she recognizes both benefits and drawbacks to the projects.

"So, there's huge economic positives as well, which is why I wasn't looking to abolish data centers or not allow them in the future", Shudak said.

The mayor said the city will continue reviewing how it approaches data centers, with or without the moratorium.

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