Arcata City Council members considered an urgency ordinance Sept. 16 that would pause the city’s receipt, processing and approval of new data-center land-use applications for 45 days.
Staff described Ordinance 1594 as a way to give the city time to evaluate potential public-health impacts and develop additional land-use regulations. Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Tabitha Miller said the city does not currently have a regulatory framework that defines or specifically governs data centers.
Miller said the urgency ordinance would take effect immediately if approved and would require four of the five council members’ votes. She said staff would return with a report on the study process by Oct. 21, the 35th day, and described possible later extensions of the temporary measure.
Council members discussed concerns including air quality, noise, water, electricity, available industrial land and the long-term use of land developed for a data center. The meeting record captures a motion and a subsequent voice vote, but it does not clearly document the final disposition of Ordinance 1594. The available record therefore does not establish whether the moratorium took effect.
The city’s official minutes, agenda packet or clerk action report would be needed to confirm the vote and effective date. The record also does not establish how many data-center applications, if any, are pending.
