City of Patterson Page 1 Updated 7/15/2026
Agenda
City of Patterson
City Council Special Meeting
July 16, 2026
6:00 PM
Council Chambers
1 Plaza
Patterson, CA 95363
PUBLIC MEETING GUIDELINES
City of Patterson City Council meetings are conducted in person at City Hall Council Chambers. As a courtesy, and technology permitting, members of the public may participate virtually. However, the City cannot guarantee that the public’s access to teleconferencing and translating technology will be uninterrupted, and technical difficulties may occur from time to time.
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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (209) 895-8012. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II] The City Council agenda and supporting public documents are available for viewing in City Hall, Administration Department, 1 Plaza, 2nd Floor, Patterson, California, during normal business hours. The City Council agenda and supporting public documents are also available online on the City web site www.pattersonca.gov or please call or email the City Clerk at (209) 895-8012 or [email protected] If you wish to be notified of future City Council Meetings, please visit our web site www.pattersonca.gov and go to “City Council Agendas”.
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Statements of Conflict
4. Items from the Public
Any member of the audience who wishes to address the Council on a matter listed on the agenda may do so by raising your hand and stepping to the podium. If you are joining the meeting through Zoom, please use the 'Raise Hand' feature. If you are calling in by phone, you may press *9 when the Mayor announces the item. Council will take no action other than referring the item to staff for study and analysis and may place the item on a future agenda (Resolution 92-25).
In order that all interested parties have an opportunity to speak, any person addressing the Council will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes unless the Mayor grants a longer period of time (Resolution 2025-11).
Please State Your Name and City for the Record.
5. City Staff Reports
5.1. Discussion and Action on an Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 889 Reading by Title only, Waiving Further Reading, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the Processing and Approval of New Land Use Applications for Data Centers Within the City for Evaluation of Public Health Impacts and Additional Regulations.
Staff Report: City Attorney Goldstein
Council: Motion to Adopt an interim urgency Ordinance No. 889 Reading by Title only, Waiving Further Reading, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson imposing a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of new land use applications for data centers within the City for evaluation of public health impacts and additional regulations.
6. Adjournment
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DECLARATION OF POSTING
I, Aracely Alegre, City Clerk of the City of Patterson, California do hereby declare that the foregoing notice was posted on the Bulletin Board at City Hall, 1 Plaza, Patterson, California on 7/15/2026.
The Agenda is also posted for public view on the Bulletin Boards of the Patterson Branch Library, 46 N. Salado Avenue, Patterson, and the City of Patterson City Web Site www.pattersonca.gov Dated this 7/15/2026.
/s/ Aracely Alegre, CMC
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Nubia Goldstein, City Attorney
MEETING DATE: July 16, 2026
ITEM NO: 5.1
SUBJECT: Discussion and Action on an Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 889 Reading by Title only, Waiving Further Reading, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the Processing and Approval of New Land Use Applications for Data Centers Within the City for Evaluation of Public Health Impacts and Additional Regulations.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council discuss and adopt an interim urgency Ordinance No. 889 Reading by Title only, Waiving Further Reading, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson imposing a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of new land use applications for data centers within the City for evaluation of public health impacts and additional regulations.
BACKGROUND
Data centers are facilities used to house computer systems and related components. Due to the growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital commerce, and other technologydependent services, demand for data center development has increased rapidly.
Depending on their type, size, and design, data centers may require substantial amounts of water, electricity, land, and supporting infrastructure. They may also create noise, aesthetic, and landuse compatibility concerns and may occupy large industrial sites while generating relatively few permanent jobs.
Data centers may also provide significant private investment, construction employment, infrastructure improvements, and local tax revenue. However, the extent of these benefits, and the public costs associated with supporting such facilities, remain uncertain because large-scale data centers are a relatively new land use.
Because of these potential impacts and the uncertainty surrounding the anticipated benefits, members of the public and City staff have expressed increasing concern regarding the City’s
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review and approval of data center development applications. To allow the City time to better understand and study data center uses, evaluate their potential impacts, and determine whether the City’s existing land use policies and development standards adequately address those impacts, the City Council may consider imposing a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of new data center development applications.
DISCUSSION
A. City Council Authority to Adopt a Moratorium.
Government Code section 65858 authorizes the City Council to adopt a temporary moratorium, by interim urgency ordinance, on otherwise permitted land uses that may conflict with land use regulations the City is considering, studying, or intends to study within a reasonable time.
To adopt a moratorium, the Council must find that: (1) there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare; and (2) approval of additional entitlements for the affected uses would result in that threat.
An interim ordinance may be adopted as an urgency measure without a noticed public hearing and remains effective for an initial 45 days. It may be extended twice for a total of two years. If adopted, staff anticipates agendizing an extension of the interim ordinance for an additional 10 months and 15 days at a regular City Council meeting held within the initial 45-day period.
Adoption of the interim ordinance and any extension requires a four-fifths vote of the City Council. Because the Council currently has four members, unanimous approval is required.
B. The City Currently Permits Data Centers by Right in Industrial Zones.
The Patterson Municipal Code (“PMC”) expressly identifies data centers as a permitted land use within the City. Data centers are allowed by right in all industrial zoning districts and require approval of a conditional use permit in general commercial zoning districts.
The City does not currently have any operating data centers and has not received any pending applications for data center development.
C. Permitting Data Centers Under the City’s Current Regulations Poses a Threat to Public Health.
The City is currently facing significant water-supply constraints as it works to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”). These constraints limit the amount of additional groundwater the City may pump and provide to customers.
Data centers can be highly water-intensive uses, with some facilities consuming quantities comparable to those used by the entire City. Water supplied to a data center would reduce the amount available for existing and future residents and businesses. Approval of a large data center could therefore exacerbate water shortages and threaten the availability of an adequate potable water supply, creating a risk to public health and welfare.
Data centers are currently permitted by right in the City’s industrial zones. As a result, the City has limited discretion to impose project-specific conditions addressing water consumption or other impacts when a proposed project otherwise complies with applicable objective development standards.
The City adopted its existing regulations before the recent demand for large-scale data centers and heightened concerns regarding their water and energy demands. Permitting data centers under the City’s current regulations therefore presents a potential threat to public health and welfare because the City has not yet determined whether its existing water supply and regulatory framework are adequate to accommodate these higher intensity uses.
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D. A Moratorium Allows the City to Evaluate Regulations Necessary to Mitigate Potential Public Health Threats.
Planning staff are in the preliminary stages of reviewing the City’s zoning regulations to determine whether additional standards are necessary to address water-intensive land uses in light of the City’s existing water-supply constraints. Data centers have been identified as one of the land uses to be evaluated as part of that review.
Any amendments to the City’s zoning regulations will require preparation, public notice, hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council, and compliance with other applicable procedural requirements. As a result, the City does not anticipate presenting comprehensive data center regulations to the City Council until fall or winter 2026.
A temporary moratorium would preserve the status quo while this review is completed and provide the City with sufficient time to study the potential impacts of data centers and adopt appropriate regulations before new applications are processed or approved.
E. Possible Future Land Use Regulation of Data Centers.
City staff has not yet completed a comprehensive review of potential data center regulations.
However, possible options may include requiring a conditional use permit, development agreement, and project-specific environmental review for proposed data centers.
These requirements could provide the City with greater discretion to evaluate proposed projects, impose appropriate conditions, address environmental and infrastructure impacts, and ensure that project-specific costs and demands on City services and utilities are adequately mitigated.
A temporary moratorium would provide the City with time to study these issues and determine what regulations are appropriate. It would also allow the City to monitor emerging state legislation and regulatory requirements that may affect the local review and approval of data center projects.
FISCAL IMPACT
Once adopted, the moratorium will impose ongoing procedural requirements on the City, including preparation of required reports, publication and notice of public hearings, and preparation of future agenda items for City Council consideration. Compliance with these requirements will require staff time and related administrative expenses.
ATTACHMENT
Exhibit A: Interim Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the Processing and Approval of New Land Use Applications for Data Centers.
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ORDINANCE NO. 889
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PATTERSON IMPOSING A 45-DAY TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE
PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF NEW LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR DATA
CENTERS TO ALLOW FOR THE EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH
IMPACTS AND ADDITIONAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, data centers are facilities used to house computer systems, servers, datastorage equipment, telecommunications equipment, and related components. Demand for largescale data centers has increased substantially due to the growth of cloud computing, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and other data-intensive technologies; and WHEREAS, large-scale data centers may require substantial quantities of electricity and water to operate and cool their computing equipment and may impose significant demands on public utilities and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, in light of its existing water-supply constraints, the City is studying its landuse regulations governing water-intensive uses, and data centers have been identified for potential regulatory amendments due to their anticipated water demands, as well as their potential energy, infrastructure, and other land-use impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Patterson Municipal Code (“PMC”) currently permits data centers by right within industrial zoning districts and with approval of a conditional use permit within general commercial zoning districts; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its constitutional police power, the City Council has authority to enact and enforce ordinances and regulations necessary to protect the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 65858 authorizes the City Council, without following the procedures ordinarily required for the adoption of a zoning ordinance, to adopt as an urgency measure an interim ordinance prohibiting uses that may conflict with a contemplated general plan, specific plan, or zoning proposal that the City Council, Planning Commission, or Planning Department is considering, studying, or intends to study within a reasonable time; and WHEREAS, the City’s existing regulations governing data centers were adopted before the recent increased demand for large-scale data center development; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to temporarily prohibit the processing and approval of new land-use applications for data centers while City staff evaluates their potential public health, environmental, infrastructure, and land-use impacts and considers whether amendments to the City’s zoning regulations, development standards, or permitting requirements are appropriate.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PATTERSON DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to Government Code § 65858, and other applicable law.
SECTION 2. Findings. The City Council finds as follows:
1. Data center development has the potential to create a significant and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare by substantially increasing demand on the City’s limited water supply. Given the City’s existing water-supply constraints, approval of a data center project could materially reduce the water available to serve residents, businesses, and other existing and planned uses.
2. The City is in the preliminary stages of reviewing its zoning regulations to determine whether additional standards are necessary for future water-intensive land uses in light of the City’s existing water-supply constraints. Data centers are among the land uses being studied for potential regulatory amendments. The City intends to complete this study, and to determine whether amended zoning regulations are warranted, within a reasonable time.
3. In addition to increased water demand, data center development may result in significant impacts related to energy consumption, land use, air emissions, noise, infrastructure demands, environmental quality, and community aesthetics.
4. Without a temporary moratorium, the City may be required to process and approve a data center project before completing studies and adopting the regulations necessary to evaluate and mitigate increased water consumption and other potentially significant impacts. Such development could adversely affect the City’s ability to provide water and other essential public services.
5. Adoption of this interim ordinance is necessary to protect the City and its residents, businesses, and visitors from the potential public health, safety, and welfare impacts associated with data center land uses.
6. The moratorium will provide the City with sufficient time to study the potential impacts of data center development and prepare comprehensive regulations governing the location, design, operation, water and energy use, infrastructure requirements, and other development standards applicable to such uses.
7. Based on these findings and the evidence in the record, including the staff report accompanying this interim ordinance, the City Council finds that there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the City, and that the approval of additional land use entitlements for data centers, including conditional use permits, building permits, or other applicable approvals required under the PMC, would result in that threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, within the meaning of Government Code section 65858, subdivision (c).
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SECTION 3. California Environmental Quality Act.
The City Council finds that adoption of this Urgency Ordinance is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.; “CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3). The Ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of new land-use applications for data centers while the City studies potential regulatory amendments. It does not authorize any development, approve any land-use entitlement, or result in any physical change to the environment. Accordingly, it can be seen with certainty that adoption of the Ordinance will not have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 4. Imposition of Moratorium.
For the duration of this Ordinance, including any extension thereof, the City shall not receive, accept, process, or approve any application for a data center land use, as defined in PMC section
18.96.080.
This Ordinance shall remain in effect for 45 days from the date of its adoption, unless extended in accordance with Government Code section 65858.
SECTION 5. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption pursuant to Government Code sections 36937 and 65858 because it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and welfare. This Ordinance shall be adopted by at least a four-fifths vote of the City Council.
SECTION 6. Report.
Pursuant to Government Code § 65858, the City Manager, or designee, must prepare a report for City Council consideration describing the measures taken to address the conditions which led to adoption of this Ordinance. This report must be provided to the City Council so that it may be considered and issued not later than 10 days before this Ordinance expires.
SECTION 7 Publication
The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance or a summary thereof to be printed once within fifteen (15) days after its adoption in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of Patterson.
SECTION 8. Severability.
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance or any part thereof.
The city council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section,
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subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase be declared unconstitutional or invalid.
The foregoing ordinance was adopted at a special city council meeting of the City of Patterson, held on the 16th, day of July, 2026, by ____________________, who moved its introduction, which motion which duly seconded by ______________, and after such reading, was thereupon adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
EXCUSED:
APPROVED:
_________________________
Michael Clauzel
Mayor of the City of Patterson
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Aracely Alegre
City Clerk of the City of Patterson
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