Rio Vista Bans Data Centers, Invests $426K in Water Infrastructure

The Rio Vista City Council moved decisively on Aug. 18 to shield its small-town infrastructure from the demands of the AI era, unanimously adopting an emergency moratorium on data center development while advancing more than $400,000 in engineering work to shore up the city's aging groundwater system. In the background, a new disclosure about California Forever's formation of its own water agency signaled that regional growth pressures are intensifying.

• Council unanimously imposes emergency ban on data center development, citing threats to water, energy, noise, and quality of life in a small community
• $426,000 in water infrastructure engineering approved for Well 17 design, state revolving fund loan applications, and environmental consulting
• Waste container ordinance tightened to require trash bins stored out of public view at all times, targeting blight on Second Street and in older residential areas
• California Forever reportedly forms its own water agency as the developer pursues legislative end runs around CEQA and LAFCO
• Council flags Flock camera privacy concerns and El Niño preparedness for upcoming agenda items

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Data Centers Blocked: Emergency Moratorium Takes Effect Immediately

Why it matters: Rio Vista joins a growing list of small communities nationwide pushing back against data center development, which demands enormous quantities of water and electricity — resources a Delta town of roughly 10,000 cannot spare.

Where things stand: The council adopted the urgency ordinance 5-0, meeting the four-fifths supermajority threshold required for the ban to take effect immediately. The City Manager explained that while the municipal code already prohibits uses not expressly allowed, the council directed staff at its Aug. 4 meeting to formalize the prohibition for transparency and to begin drafting a permanent ban.

"Communities nationwide are experiencing the repercussions from accelerating data center land uses, including increased demands for energy and water consumption, increased noise, crime and security issues, diminished air quality, pollution, aesthetic impacts and decreased property values and quality of life to surrounding neighborhoods, especially in smaller communities such as ours," said the City Manager.

Public commenters reinforced the council's concerns. Kevin McNamara, a public commenter, was blunt: "Data centers across this country have demonstrated that they are not good neighbors. They use excessive amounts of water, they use excessive amounts of electricity, they are noisy, they run 24/7, and they just damage the quality of life wherever they are."

Chris Arus, a member of the Municipal Utilities Rate Committee, raised an additional issue: stormwater. Data centers' massive impervious surfaces, he noted, don't absorb water — a particular problem in a Delta community already managing drainage challenges.

Councilmember Sarah Donnelly noted she had made her position on data centers clear both at a previous meeting and in Sacramento.

Decisions: The moratorium initially runs for 45 days and may be extended twice — first for 10 months and 15 days, then for up to one year — for a maximum of two years. The ordinance requires a written report on measures taken to alleviate conditions before expiration. Staff will concurrently draft a permanent prohibition ordinance. (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0)

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Council Strengthens Trash Rules After Blight Complaints

Why it matters: Overflowing trash cans lined up on public sidewalks, abandoned mattresses, and containers permanently parked on front lawns have become a visible quality-of-life problem in Rio Vista's older residential core — particularly along Second Street, where apartment buildings with eight or more cans create what Councilmember Donnelly described as an eyesore and a potential ADA compliance issue.

Where things stand: The council introduced and waived the first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code Sections 8.12.030 and 8.12.040. Councilmember Donnelly, who initiated the request, described the conditions she sees in her neighborhood. "My neighbors keep their cans on their front lawn. And so when I'm out there to look at the sunset, that's what I get to look at," she said.

Councilmember Lisa Duke pushed for stronger language, requesting that containers be kept out of view — not just on trash day. The City Attorney proposed adding language that containers shall be out of public view at any time outside scheduled collection days and allowable times, and recommended deleting an exception clause that had allowed containers stored immediately adjacent to a residential building to satisfy the ordinance.

The other side: Vice Mayor Rick Dolk raised enforcement concerns, asking whether the new rules would be complaint-based. The City Manager confirmed they would be, noting the city had just contracted Will Dan for code enforcement services since the community services officer position is vacant. "We retained Will Dan, which was previously providing training to the community service officer, but now they would actually be doing the work themselves. They started today," the City Manager said.

The council also amended the retrieval deadline from 12 hours to 24 hours after pickup, based on input from Councilmember Duke and public commenter Ed Vetrano, who noted that the Trilogy HOA already uses a 24-hour standard.

Decisions: First reading waived, 5-0. The amended ordinance removes the residential exception clause and adopts the 24-hour retrieval window. Second reading is scheduled for the next meeting. (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0)

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$426K in Water Engineering Moves Rio Vista's Infrastructure Forward

The basics: Rio Vista's water system relies entirely on groundwater wells. The city is advancing a slate of capital projects to add supply redundancy and modernize aging pipelines and pump stations.

Why it matters: These task orders position the city to design a new production well, prepare applications for low-interest state financing, and complete environmental review — the essential precursors to construction on projects the community has been waiting on for years.

Where things stand: The council approved three interconnected task orders:

• $238,042 to Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers (LSCE) for engineering design, permitting, and technical support for the Well 17 Production Well and Pump Station Project, located near Rio Vista High School. Staff reported that a preliminary hydrogeologic investigation confirmed the site can produce groundwater meeting the city's quantity and quality objectives. (Agenda item 7.01, passed 5-0)

• $120,000 to HydroScience Engineers for preparation of three Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) construction financing application packages covering the water pipeline improvement project, Wells 16 and 17, and the storage and booster pumping project. (Agenda item 6.08, passed 5-0)

• $68,000 to Kimley-Horn for environmental consulting supporting the SRF environmental package. (Approved on consent as part of agenda item 6.09)

Councilmember Duke questioned whether certain streets — South 3rd, Montezuma, and 7th — were omitted from the pipeline project scope and was told those may be sewer-funded streets rather than water lines.

What's next: All three items align with the city's strategic priority 1.1 for deferred maintenance and well construction. The DWSRF applications, if successful, would unlock low-interest state loans for construction.

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California Forever Forms Its Own Water Agency

Why it matters: If California Forever succeeds in bypassing CEQA and LAFCO through budget trailer bills, it would circumvent the local land use controls that Rio Vista and neighboring jurisdictions rely on to manage growth in Solano County.

Where things stand: The City Manager reported no direct meetings with California Forever but said staff is spending considerable time monitoring legislation and responding to media requests. Councilmember Donnelly reported giving a presentation alongside Princess Washington and other elected officials expressing concerns about the developer's legislative push, describing it as "an end run" on a project whose actual scope remains unclear.

Mayor Edwin Okamura disclosed that at a Solano County Water Agency meeting, it was reported that Jan Sramek, California Forever's founder, has started his own water agency. "California Forever or Jan Sramek has actually filed to or has started his own water agency," Mayor Okamura said. The mayor attended a reception following an Aug. 5 legislative day organized by Greenbelt Alliance and Solano Together.

What's next: The council will continue to receive updates on California Forever as legislative developments unfold.

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Council Requests Reports on Surveillance Cameras and El Niño

Councilmember Donnelly requested two future agenda items with council consensus. First, she wants staff to present on the city's Flock camera usage, including data retention policies and assurances that federal agencies cannot access the data. "I've heard from a lot of constituents about our Flock cameras and our use of Flock cameras — how long we're accessing the data," she said, noting the Flock company had been collecting data for 30 days and there were efforts to reduce that to seven.

Second, she requested a presentation on El Niño preparedness, noting that projections suggest this could be the worst El Niño in nearly 80 years of records, bringing not just heavy rain and runoff but super tides. Mayor Okamura noted the topic had come up at recent meetings and that while El Niño could go either direction, having systems and policies in place is critical.

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Minor Items

• Community donations recognized: Council pulled two consent items to publicly thank donors. RioVision donated $1,668 for shade sails at Sierra Park, with Chris Arus presenting a ceremonial check. Mickens Kitchens and More LLC donated $10,300 in pool facility improvements; owner Mr. Mickens noted his wife is a fourth-generation Rio Vista resident. Both resolutions passed 5-0.

• Consent calendar approved 5-0: Aug. 4 meeting minutes, July revenue and expenditure report, budget vs. actual report, checks register, and monthly planning/code enforcement report.

• Vehicle fire response confirmed appropriate: Acting Chief Panicorvo reported that officers followed proper protocol during an April vehicle fire in the police department parking lot. Officers cleared occupants but did not attempt to fight the engine compartment fire, as they lacked proper PPE. "Police officers do not have proper personal protective equipment to take firefighting actions on an engine compartment fire," he said. All active vehicles carry fire extinguishers and the department is in compliance with California Fire Code Title 24, Part 9.

• Measure K road improvements underway: Airport Road closure scheduled Aug. 20–27; Somerset Road single-lane closure on Aug. 19. The City Manager thanked the community for passing Measure K.

• Recycling report corrected: The city's electronic annual recycling report was amended — Rio Vista is actually exceeding its diversion target, not falling short as previously stated.

• Four candidates file for two council seats: Vice Mayor Rick Dolk, Robert Butler, Gloria Thibault, and Leslie Codling Deshay. Commission vacancies announced for the Airport Advisory Commission, Measure K Oversight Committee, and Public Safety Commission.

• Delta Breeze night bus service ending: The extension, funded by a $30,000 YOLO Solano Air Quality Management District grant, wraps up at month's end.

• West Nile virus detected: Councilmember Walt Stanish reported three mosquitoes in the district tested positive for West Nile virus.

• Hoga Bites festival this Saturday: Vice Mayor Dolk promoted the event, expecting more than 5,000 attendees with light shows. Public commenter Ed Vetrano praised the recent Jet Ski races organized by the Downtown Business Owners Association and urged the city to brand itself as the "wind and water capital of the Delta."