Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Greeley City Council held a special meeting on September 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM to consider a resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement between the City and GlobalAI (Colorado) LLC, and to authorize the City Attorney to prepare related documents. The pre-annexation agreement establishes an 18-month framework to negotiate potential annexation of a property in unincorporated Weld County, historically served by Greeley water under a contract expiring March 2027. The council voted 6-1 to adopt the resolution, with Councilmember Huddleston dissenting.
City staff (Joan Hall) presented the pre-annexation agreement, emphasizing that it does not annex the property, establish zoning, or approve a development plan. Instead, it creates a contractual framework for the city and GlobalAI to work through annexation and related issues by March 31, 2028. Key terms include continued water service conditioned upon annexation, GlobalAI assuming responsibility for infrastructure transition, and preservation of the city's regulatory authority.
Councilmember Huddleston expressed concerns about water use, noting that the developer's plans (to be discussed with Weld County) involve cooling towers that may not be closed-loop. He questioned how water consumption would be limited, as the agreement does not specify a maximum acre-foot allowance. Staff responded that the developer intends to use existing buildings and that the city will further investigate the cooling system over the 18-month period.
Councilmember DeBoutez raised numerous concerns, including water use, energy sources and emissions, treated water quality monitoring, noise impacts on nearby residents and wildlife (along the Poudre River), long-term remediation plans for the property, and community benefits beyond tax revenue.
Councilmember Olson noted that he has forwarded all emails received about the data center to community development staff for preparation of answers.
Mayor, the meeting is about to begin. Inquire further. We are now live. Good evening. I call to order the special meeting of the Greeley City Council this eighth day of September 2026. Please stand if you're able and join me when we're citing the Pledge of Allegiance. I agree. Of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible and liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Councilmember Huddleston. Present. Councilmember DeButy. Present. Mayor Prota McDonald. Present. Councilmember Olson. Present. Councilmember Rudy. Present. Councilmember Rod. Present. Mayor Hall. Present. Let the record reflect all seven members of council are present. Item number four is a resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement between the City of Greeley and Global AI. And Joan Hall is going to be our staff reporter. Welcome. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Pleasure to be here this evening. So the item for you tonight is consideration of a resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement between the City of Greeley and Global AI, Colorado. Before I get into specifics, I want to establish an important boundary around tonight's discussion. This is a pre-annexation agreement, does not annex the property, doesn't establish zoning, and it does not approve a development plan or a site plan. Rather, it establishes a contractual framework that gives the city and global AI approximately 18 months to work through potential annexation and the related issues that would need to be resolved if annexation ultimately moves forward. And third, and lastly, staff's recommended action. The subject property is in unincorporated Weld County, east of Windsor and adjacent to the Great Western Industrial Park annexation. It's the property historically associated with the Care Stream campus. An important part of the background is the property's unusual relationship with Greeley water. The city has provided treated water to this property under special contractual arrangements dating back approximately five decades. The current agreement expires in March of 2027. So rather than simply creating another long-term extraterritorial water arrangement, the proposed agreement connects continued service with a defined process leading toward potential annexation. That is really the fundamental purpose of the agreement before you tonight. There are several uh important terms I want to highlight. First is the annexation timeline. Um the agreement establishes March 31st, 2028 is the deadline for completion of annexation, provided the city is legally able to annex the property.