Auburn City Council Enacts Data Center Moratorium Amid Other City Business
The Auburn City Council unanimously passed a data center moratorium. The council also addressed concerns about automated license plate readers, police accountability, and updates on several city projects including water treatment and infrastructure.
The Auburn City Council recently convened, with a significant outcome being the unanimous passage of a data center moratorium. This decision, described as the "biggest headline" of the night, indicates a pause on new data center developments in the city.
Beyond the moratorium, the meeting featured extensive public comment and council discussion on the city's use of automated license plate readers supplied by Flock Safety. Residents raised privacy concerns and called for the termination of the Flock contract and a moratorium on AI surveillance technology. Councilors discussed placing the Flock issue on an upcoming work session agenda and considering new regulations for data privacy.
City Manager Jennifer Haines provided updates on several major projects, including the activation of a powdered activated carbon treatment system for harmful algal blooms and progress on the $6.9 million Lake Avenue Bridge project. The council also unanimously approved seeking a $962,500 grant from NYSERDA for a geothermal HVAC modernization project affecting Memorial City Hall and police and ambulance facilities, aiming to upgrade aging systems ahead of City Hall's centennial in 2030.