Indio council asks staff to draft policy for high‑water, high‑energy developments

Council Member Oscar Ortiz asked the Indio City Council to direct staff to develop a policy that would give the city legal flexibility to deny or condition large developments that have high water or energy demands, or that occupy expansive land footprints.

"I would like our council to consider a new policy for any development that would include a very high water use or a very high energy use or a very high expansive land use," Ortiz said, citing data centers, warehouses and other large uses as examples. He said the policy should also allow the city to negotiate community benefits, such as local hiring or school resources, when projects are otherwise compatible with city zoning.

Councilmembers and staff discussed legal risk and process. City staff noted that a zoning amendment would require review by the planning commission before returning to the council, and that moratoria and zoning tools can carry legal constraints if not carefully drafted. Mayor Pro Tem Foreman and other members signaled support for directing staff to draft language and bring it back for further review.

The discussion did not produce a formal vote; councilmembers broadly agreed to have staff prepare draft ordinance language and return the proposal via the planning commission. The next procedural step is for staff to prepare draft language for the planning commission’s review so the council can later consider adoption or any moratorium language.