Bob Yancy said:
If, for whatever reason we do not approve this project on Thursday night, there's quite a few things I'd suggest we do going forward:
1) I'd like to get an independent consultant to advise us on the data center industry overall.
Current trends. Who are the common end users of data centers. Where have they failed, and why? Where have they worked, and why? Beyond the decibel numbers, has the constant low hum led to problems next to neighborhoods, and how far away do they truly need to be in order to quell those complaints? And what about small or mid-size data centers? I've read articles that say that's an untapped market. Might we as a city develop a "powered data park" ourselves and energize the site, deriving much greater value from this land as it appears the proposed buyer is trying to do? We already own a best-in-class electric utility in CSU. How can we leverage that taxpayer asset to the benefit of this site, if at all?
2) the Midtown Business Park: IF we don't approve this, I have questions about the location of the industrial park itself. Is it properly placed? Given the neighborhoods, the Langford, the new Costco and the exciting new mixed use development coming in next to it, with a potential housing development as well- and the Lowe's, what exactly is the highest and best use of that considerable amount of land? Were it housing, a family could literally bike or walk to Costco or a future restaurant. We are in a housing crisis, not a lack of data centers crisis in College Station. Have circumstances and development in that area changed to a point where we need to rethink that location altogether as an industrial park?
3) What's our plan for the next business park if we sell this now? Will we not have one? If we do, where would it be? Down Fitch toward 30? That's a business corridor already. Might that be a good place for a business park? The payment from selling it now would be more than enough to acquire land there in a voluntary annexation acquisition.
I like to approach things from 50,000 feet. I don't like building new public works facilities with no plan for what to do with the current site. I don't like to enter into real estate contracts in order to "figure out" if something is feasible in water and power consumption later until extensive early due diligence is done which I know yields important insights, just as it already has for me on this project. I don't like to enter into a contract with anyone until I know their corporate history, when they were formed and by whom, when they were last bought and by whom, what is their legal history and has their business model changed recently, and why. I don't like entering into contracts with people I've never met or seen. Staff can see to the contractual X's and O's after I've looked them in the eye and heard their plan. If something goes south after we enter a deal and the taxpayer asks me questions about how we got into it, "I'm sorry I never met these people I've no clue" does not cut it. I also don't like entering into real estate contracts on a student tower with renderings not approximating anything close to what we think we might want. Conceptual drawings are crucial to any development project.
And most of all, I want citizen engagement early. If that's small, intimate meetings with nearby neighborhoods or merchants in the area, or open workshops or surveys or council led ambassadorial efforts with our constituents, or all of the above- I want the bosses to know early on where our head is at and with due respect to staff and my colleagues- I will never change on that. I just won't.
I made my initial post on this data center from that mindset. I was 24 hours early in doing so. I jumped the gun by a day because a) I was certain I had been told this was ready for public dissemination and b) we've had an informal policy of not discussing posted agenda items, which again, is apparently no longer in effect. For jumping the gun by a day, I apologize to my colleagues and to staff. For the citizens getting a heads up on what we are looking at beyond just an agenda post, I make no apology.
We'll hear this Thursday night. A lot of hard work has gone into it by the proposed buyer and seller and it deserves an objective hearing.
See yall Thursday.
Respectfully and transparently always,
Yancy '95
#1
Enough wasted money. We know that the power grid is in terrible shape nation wide. Without increased generation and upgrading the grid, data centers should not even be a topic of conversation.
Interesting choice of words describing our city owned utility company "Best in Class". What class is that? The class that produces no electricity? This is not a knock on CSU. Its just that data centers are all about power consumption. ERCOT is the big dog and regulator for these massive data centers. When it comes to power generation and regulatory issues, CSU doesn't even have a seat at the kids table.
#2
Just another messy issue. Also what percentage of Costco shoppers could carry their purchase back home on a bike, Its a warehouse store.
#3 and the rest:
Isn't the seller the City of College Station? Why word it, "a lot of hard work has gone into it by the proposed buyer and seller"? Its like the best in class utility that produces no electricity. It feels like canned marketing statements.
To me, a business park is not even on my top 10 list of things I feel the city should focus on. You say you like to approach things from a 50,000 ft view. However, that also creates problems. Something similar to, "can't see the forest for the trees". You talk about these subjects such as data centers, business parks, and event centers while completely missing the mark from taxpayers.
The issue is not always the direct points you think you are arguing about. The issue is trust.
When people bring up Macy's, the subject being discussed is trust, not Macys. We know you cannot change the past, but you can make decision that earn out trust. Just like I told my kids when they started their first jobs; build trust and credibility because you will make mistake and need that bank bult up. You do this by getting simple easy wins at the beginning, not necessarily by trying to save the world.
You communication on this forum is great but ultimately your decision-making matters more. To me, the council needs to build credibility with the residents by making good decisions. Like any relationship, the council needs to show us they can take care of the small things first before we trust them with the big things.
While you may bring up , event centers and data centers; people like me don't trust anyone in the council with the ability to make these big decisions. It doesn't matter what yalls resume says, it is what we have lived for a long time here.
I challenge you and the rest of the council to earn our trust. Here are just a few things within your power that will help your credibility and earn the trust of the taxpayers.
#1 Start Small and make good decisions.
Take care of the small things first and we will trust the council with bigger things.
#2 Leaders don't say, "Do not complain unless you offer a solution". That kills trust quickly.
If a poster here complains, it's not their job to have a solution. Even if they approach you with not the greatest tone. You are the elected official and they are bringing the problem to someone they believe can do something about it.
I want and encourage my employees to bring up problems. Sometimes it can get frustrating but that's how small things do not become big things. And many times the solution is above their pay grade or out of their scope in the workplace. If I see a large crack in an overpass should I not contact TXDot because I am not an structural engineer and have no idea how to repair it?
#3 Hold people accountable.
This is the #1 thing you can do and probably the hardest for you. The city manager and some city employees have made absolutely terrible decision and are still employed. They have never been held accountable or even called out by the council. Only the council has the power to fire some of these employees.
Your adversity to address this issue in the past really reduced your credibility with me.
If you could just realize this is all about trust and start small, in a few years; I may even donate to buy a brick in the new Bob Yancy Event Center.
