On the agenda: Johnstown Special City Council — DATA CENTER (Sep 10)

Special Council Meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2026 - 5:00 PM
AGENDA
1.

Call to Order

2.

Roll Call

3.

Legislation
a.

ORDINANCE 18-2026 AN ORDINANCE PLACING A CHARTER PETITION AMENDMENT
TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN ON A SPECIAL
ELECTION BALLOT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Introduction/Vote

4.

Other Business

5.

Adjourn

Next Regular Council Meeting September 15, 2026

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City of Johnstown
Administrative Offices
www.johnstownohio.org

CITY OF JOHNSTOWN

599 S. Main Street
Johnstown, Ohio 43031
Telephone: 740-967-3177

ORDINANCE 18-2026
AN ORDINANCE PLACING A CHARTER PETITION AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT DATA
CENTERS IN THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN ON A SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT AND DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the City of Johnstown has received a proposed charter amendment which would prohibit
the construction of data centers within the City limits; and
WHEREAS, the Licking County Board of Elections has certified that the petitions achieved the
required number of signatures to place the proposed charter amendment on an election ballot; and
WHEREAS, the City of Johnstown received the petition and the certification from the Licking County
Board of Elections on Wednesday, September 2; and
WHEREAS, despite its best efforts to call a special meeting where at least five (5) Council members
could attend prior to Friday, September 4, to place the petition on the November 4, 2026, general
election ballot, the City was not able to certify the petition to meet this deadline; and
WHEREAS, City Council has called a special meeting September 10, 2026 to direct the Clerk to take
all necessary steps to place the proposed charter amendment on a special election ballot not less than 60
days after the adoption of this ordinance and not more than 120 days after the adoption of this ordinance.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF JOHNSTOWN, COUNTY OF
LICKING, STATE OF OHIO, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The City has received petitions seeking a proposed charter amendment banning data centers
within the City of Johnstown and the Licking County Board of Elections has certified that the charter
amendment petitions received enough verified signatures to be placed on the ballot.
Section 2: The Clerk of Council is directed to take all necessary steps to submit the proposed charter
amendment, petitions, and signatures to the Licking County Board of Elections to place the question on
a special election ballot on ________________________________ [date].
Section 3: It is hereby found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and
relating to the passage of this Ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of the Council and that all
deliberations of this Council and any of its committees which resulted in such formal actions were in
meetings so open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements of the City of Johnstown,
Licking County, Ohio.
Section 4: This Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure that is necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety or welfare of the City, and specifically
because the City must comply with its obligations to forthwith act to place proposed amendment to City
Charter on the ballot; WHEREFORE, this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and
immediately after its adoption.

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Ordinance 18-2026

Date of Introduction/Vote: September 10, 2026
Effective Date:

BY: ______________________

____________________________
Mayor Tiffany Hollis

ATTEST TO:

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

___________________________
Teresa Monroe, Clerk of Council

____________________________
Yazan Ashrawi, Law Director

0130654.0623330 4906-1702-6510v1

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