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Residents press council for assurances on data center water use and local hiring; supporters say project brings opportunity
Summary
During public comment, a community group urged the council to require the new data center to use recycled water, build and pay for recycled‑water infrastructure, and prioritize hiring Gilroy residents; another speaker urged council support for data‑center investment as economic development.
Two public commenters addressed a data‑center project under construction near Gilroy. Landon Sulovva, speaking for a group called Stop the Data Center, urged the council to require assurances from the project proponent that the facility would not strain local water and power systems, would use recycled water for operations and would pay for the required recycled‑water infrastructure, and would prioritize hiring Gilroy residents rather than out‑of‑area workers.
"We request that Amazon work with us to provide assurances on the validity of that claim," Sulovva said, asking the council to encourage the project holder to meet community demands.
A second commenter, Ron Kirkish, urged a supportive stance on data‑center and AI investments, arguing the city needs economic opportunity and that local firms benefit. "We need it and this city can use it too," Kirkish said.
Council members acknowledged the concerns raised in public comment and noted staff comments later in the meeting that the data‑center developer was funding a recycled‑water pipeline to the site; any formal conditions or requirements would be addressed through the project's entitlement and permitting processes rather than by immediate council ordinance at this hearing.
