Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Oro Valley Town Council — What They’ll Decide

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Town Council Regular Session

Oro Valley Council Set to Finalize Data Center Rules, Hear Colorado River Briefing

The Oro Valley Town Council on Wednesday, Nov. 18, will consider formally writing new data center rules into the town's zoning code, following a decision the council made on Oct. 28. The council will also certify the Nov. 3 town election results, get a briefing on the federal government's new 10-year plan for the Colorado River, hold public hearings on the groundwork for future development fees and on changes to court fees and traffic rules, and, after a closed-door session, possibly act on the town attorney's performance review.

1. Data center rules move toward the town's rulebook

Regular Agenda, Item 4

On Oct. 28 the council decided how Oro Valley should handle data centers. Ordinance (O)26-14 would turn that decision into binding language in three chapters of the zoning code, the rules that govern what can be built where. Data centers can use large amounts of electricity and, depending on how they are cooled, large amounts of water. That makes these rules relevant to anyone following Oro Valley's debates over growth, water supply and the town's desert character. Once adopted, the code language, rather than the earlier council discussion, is what developers and the town would have to follow.

2. What the new federal Colorado River plan means for Oro Valley

Presentations, Item 1

The council will get an update on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Record of Decision, the federal government's final plan for managing the Colorado River for the next 10 years. Oro Valley relies on Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project canal, and Arizona has already taken deep cuts during the long drought. This briefing is a chance for residents to learn how the new rules could affect the town's water supply, its long-term planning, and possibly what customers pay for water. No vote is scheduled.

3. Council to certify Nov. 3 election results

Consent Agenda, Item C

Resolution (R)26-54 would make the results of the Nov. 3 Oro Valley general election official. Certifying the results is the step that turns election-night counts into final outcomes. The agenda notes the results will be filled in once Pima County delivers its official count, called the canvass. This item is on the consent agenda, which means it will likely be approved in a single vote with other routine items unless a council member asks to discuss it separately.

4. Groundwork for the fees new development pays

Regular Agenda, Item 3, Public Hearing

Arizona law requires towns to update two documents before changing development fees, the one-time charges builders pay to help cover the cost of new roads, parks, public safety facilities and other infrastructure that growth requires. The first is a "land use assumptions" forecast of where and how much the town will grow. The second is an "infrastructure improvement plan" listing the projects those fees would pay for. This hearing reviews updates to both. It does not set new fee amounts, but it shapes how much growth will pay for itself versus how much falls on existing taxpayers, and which projects get funded. Residents can comment in person, or virtually if they register online at least 24 hours before the meeting.

5. Changes to municipal court fees and traffic rules

Regular Agenda, Item 2, Public Hearing

Ordinance (O)26-15 would amend the section of the town code that sets fees charged by Oro Valley's municipal court and the section governing traffic control devices, such as signs and signals. The agenda does not describe the specific changes. Still, court fees affect anyone who goes through the town court, including for traffic tickets, and traffic rules affect everyone who drives in town. As a public hearing, it is open to comment in person or virtually with advance registration.

Source: Town of Oro Valley Agendas

This preview was generated automatically by Claude Opus 5.5 from the Town of Oro Valley's published council agenda, and published at 8:00 AM MST on November 13, 2026 without human review. Read more about how this is made.