Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
No Menthol Sunday Recognition
Randy Hager Retirement Recognition
National Public Works Week Recognition
Haitian Flag Day Recognition
American Indian Month Recognition
National Mississippi River Day Recognition
George Floyd Recognition and Justice Efforts
Votes (1)
Proposed Moratorium on Data Center Uses
Dissent: Council Members Rainville, Vetaw, Palmisano, Warren, and Sheehan voted against the package of the underlying motion with the Osman amendment.
Moved by Council member Chaudry [00:44:48] (underlying motion) / Vice President Osman [00:52:13] (amendment) · Seconded by Council Member Palmisano [00:48:47] (for underlying) / (unidentified voice) [00:54:55] (for amendment)
Council Member Chaudry introduced an ordinance for a temporary moratorium on data center establishment, reestablishment, or expansion, citing the need to update outdated zoning, evaluate new industries, prioritize smart growth, and protect against significant energy and water consumption impacts. Council Member Shafer expressed concerns about the negative economic impact on investment and job creation. Vice President Osman introduced an amendment to reduce the moratorium period from one year to six months and to exempt data centers less than 350,000 square feet within a defined downtown core, aiming for a balanced approach. Debate ensued regarding the balance between economic development, environmental protection (especially for communities of color), job creation, and the necessity of adequate regulatory framework. Concerns were raised about the 'chilling effect' of a moratorium versus the risks of unregulated growth.
Notable Quotes (9)
This pause is not to be punitive. This is not a ban. This pause is not anti-growth. This pause on data center development is about being ahead of the curve and prioritizing smart growth, future-proofing our city and bringing the public into a process with us as policy makers...
Today, if we support a moratorium, what will be the impact? No expansion plans underway for current data centers that are currently underway can continue. So, no expansion. No new projects can begin and the opportunities for trades work slows.
So, my change will be make it shorter and targeted. Here's what I mean. Um downtown needs flexibility... The smaller data centers under 350 square feet in downtown core can still forward. Um this protects jobs and redevelopment.
Without this temporary moratorium, we are saying that Minneapolis is open for pollution and that anything goes.
Big Tech is not trying to put data centers into every city, suburb, and rural area across the country to serve us. They are building them for profit. That's point-blank end period.
cities in Minnesota do not have the ability to adopt regulations that affect building components and systems that are different than the state building code. Which means cities cannot adopt things like their own energy efficiency standards, their own water use standards.
Data centers pose a risk to our grid to our water and to our environment and that's a fact... A single mid-size data center uses as much energy as 40 to 50,000 homes.
Data centers in Minneapolis aren't poisoning our water. Their current use of water doesn't actually deviate that much from that of other buildings downtown.
My constituents are freaked out about data centers... If the people of Minneapolis are screaming at me that they do not want data centers, then I have to at least listen to that in some way.
Ordinances & Resolutions (21)
General term for resolutions recognizing individuals, groups, or events.
Official declaration recognizing No Menthol Sunday in Minneapolis.
Honorary resolution presented to Randy Hager for his 18 years of service.
Official declaration recognizing National Public Works Week in Minneapolis.
Award-winning environmental project managed by Public Works.
Official declaration recognizing Haitian Flag Day in Minneapolis.
Official declaration celebrating American Indian Month in Minneapolis.
Official declaration recognizing National Mississippi River Day in Minneapolis.
Official declaration recognizing May 25th, 2026, as the sixth year since George Floyd's murder.
The city's code proposed to be amended for a data center moratorium.
The specific ordinance introduced for the data center moratorium.
Proposed ordinance to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for data centers.
City plan referenced in the context of sustainable development.
A request for staff to conduct extensive research and analysis on data center impacts.
City government's adopted plan for achieving climate goals.
Trump administration's executive order accelerating federal permitting of data centers and weakening environmental review.
Guidance from the EPA directing big tech to contaminating sites near municipal water supplies.
Court-enforceable agreement resulting from investigations into MPD's civil rights violations.
Former federal site in East Phillips with arsenic contamination, mentioned in context of data center development.
Active site in East Phillips, mentioned in context of data center development.
Demands for solutions to dismantle systemic racism advocated by activists at George Floyd Square.