The June 2, 2026 meeting consisted of an initial work session focused on data center impacts and regulations, followed by a regular council meeting that included proclamations, presentations from the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), extensive public comment, and action on consent and ordinance items. The work session was scheduled to continue on June 9, 2026, after technical and time constraints halted the presentation.
There's room in the overflow in the auditorium as well. This uh will be projected into the uh auditorium so you can still be it is sorry, sometimes I don't talk close enough. Uh find a seat if you can. If not, there are some seats in the auditorium, and this is broadcast over there, so you can watch the proceedings from over there. Good evening. Before we begin tonight's work session, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to attend, uh, whether you're here or in person or joining us virtually. This meeting is also being broadcast in the auditorium uh on TV C TV Channel 30 on Zoom and on the city's YouTube channel. We recognize tonight's topic has generated significant interest and we appreciate the large turnout. I want to take a moment to outline a few expectations so that the meeting can run smoothly for everyone. To ensure attendees both in the room and watching remotely can clearly follow the discussion. We ask that you please refrain from clapping, calling out, or making verbal outburst. They do interrupt the flow of the meeting and they interfere with the audio for those who are trying to watch this virtually. If you would like to express support for a comment or viewpoint, we ask that you use a quiet and non-disruptive method such as snapping your fingers. During this work session, there will be no public comment. However, at 7 p.m., we do move to the auditorium. We hold a council meeting, and you are invited to speak by filling out a yellow card at the public comment. We know many of you looking for clarity and information related to data centers and enterprise zones. We hope tonight's session will address many of those questions and provide a clear understanding of the issues. For the last six weeks, our staff worked diligently to prepare for this session. Last week, council held a confidential attorney client executive session to understand the legal ramifications of potential actions we may take. That's a routine step that occurs several times a year, and it gave council clarity on several issues. Much of the preparation happened outside this room and out of public view, but it did happen. Staff worked hard to prepare for this meeting while continuing to keep the city running, and I want to thank them for that extraordinary effort. This council sets city policy. Staff administers and implements that policy. Directing criticism at our staff for implementing city council policy is not only off-targeted, unfair, it's simply ineffective. Because they don't set the policy, they can't change policy. So please direct your critique and your policy suggestions and solutions to us as a council. Hillsboro's economic development policy spans decades through multiple city councils. The council, the city council unanimously voted to renew our enterprise zones in 2017, and in 2024, the city council unanimously voted to extend the zone. But four of the current council members join in 2025. And we have not yet had the chance to weigh in on the enterprise zone terms or on additional regulations on these rapidly evolving data processing facilities. The Hillsboro Enterprise Zone will be up for renewal in 2028. The council will have to vote on it in 2027. Three decades of economic development policy have made Hillsborough one of the most fiscally resilient cities in the state. We have modest taxes, excellent libraries, well-funded fire and public safety, abundant parks. Not everyone favors growth, but we should weigh those real benefits as we consider trade-offs and future regulations. Governing is a process. Good decisions require a shared understanding of facts, so the sourcing of information really does matter to us. In the meantime, while we engage in this process, there is a state moratorium on data center enterprise zone tax abatement applications for about a year. And our current enterprise zone ordinance, like I said, is up for renewal next year or in two years, but has to be voted on next year. We'll use this time to review our current policies and consider new regulations and policies as we prepare to complete uh a complete review of our enterprise zone ordinance in 2027. I'm now going to turn it over to Simone Bricks to begin this work session. Good evening, Council. Um thank you, Council President Harris, Simon Brooks, Assistant City Manager for the record. Um, before we begin, I'd like to let everyone know that there are flyers available on the table to my right over there, um, that include a QR code that links to the city's data centers in Tillsboro frequently asked questions web page, which was updated yesterday with the most current information available. Staff from our finance, economic, and development water, and communications teams have worked diligently to prepare both the FAQ and tonight's work session. We have a significant amount of information to cover, and we have worked to present it in a way that is informative, accessible, and responsive to the interests that both council and community members have expressed in data centers, specifically data centers in Hillsborough. So if we can bring up the presentation. Okay, there we are.