Dozens Demand Data Center Moratorium, Council Approves Peregrine Police Platform

More than two dozen residents used the Oct. 5 special meeting of the Pittsburg City Council to demand a binding moratorium on a proposed data center. Several said council members had publicly claimed a "pause" that no ordinance, resolution or vote has ever established. The council's only formal response was a 4-0 vote for a future presentation on the data center advisory group. The same night, it renewed a $350,000 police data platform and passed its full consent calendar over objections to both.

• Data center opposition dominates public comment, with residents demanding a written 90-day or 2-year moratorium.

• Council votes 4-0 for a public timeline on the 20-member data center advisory group.

• $350,000 Peregrine police data platform renewed 4-0 despite opposition from every public commenter on the item.

• Consent calendar passes without changes amid Brown Act claims and allegations of a pre-signed contract.

• Police tout one of only two state-certified Spanish courses for officers in California.

1 Big Thing: The 'Pause' Residents Say Doesn't Exist

Why it matters: Speakers said council members told a Sept. 23 NAACP candidate forum that a data center moratorium was in place. No ordinance, resolution or vote was cited, and the Nov. 3 election is weeks away.

The basics: Commenters said phase 1 of the data center was approved around November 2024. Phases 2 and 3 are pending. The City Manager formed a 20-member advisory committee to develop a framework for data centers and other major projects.

Where things stand: The clerk reported 39 in-person and six Zoom speaker cards, and Mayor Dionne Adams limited comment to two minutes. Most speakers targeted the data center. They cited noise they put at 92 to 96 decibels, 36 to 37 backup diesel generators, rising electricity rates, water and cooling-system risks, and property values. They also cited the project's proximity to John Henry Johnson Park, the Dream Course and a middle school.

"I am requesting a 90-day moratorium on approvals, grading, and building permits for the Pittsburg AI Data Center that supposedly was approved in November of 2024," said Pamela Rock, public commenter. She also asked for a project-level environmental impact report, a health risk assessment and public release of air quality modeling.

"On September 23rd at the NAACP candidate forum, a council member told the public that a moratorium on data center development is in place," said Pauline Johnson, public commenter. She asked for a public correction at the next meeting.

One commenter played audio that the next speaker said was the mayor: "We're actually in a pause right now within the city of Pittsburg. So this advisory committee was formed to create a framework for data center and major projects." The speaker's identity was not confirmed on the record.

"You approved this data center 500 feet from our children's school," said Jessica Rojas, public commenter. She demanded a written moratorium covering all phases.

The other side: Several speakers framed the project as environmental injustice in a predominantly Latino and Black community. Others alleged conflicts of interest involving PG&E and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, plus nondisclosure agreements. Council did not address these claims on the record.

A resident named Jacob filed a written complaint about Planning Commission Chair Sarah Foster, who also sits on the advisory committee. "Ms. Foster described opposition to the data center as having 'undercurrents of anarchy with domestic terrorist vibes,'" he said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Under future agenda requests, Mayor Adams revisited a discussion from the prior meeting. "We had talked about the community advisory group and providing the public a timeline and the objective of that group," she said. The City Manager said formal authorization was unnecessary and he would bring a presentation. The motion, made by Adams and seconded by Councilmember Juan Banales, passed for the record.

Vote: For: 4 (Adams, Banales, Jelani Killings, Arlene Kobata). Against: 0. Absent: 1 (Vice Mayor Angelica Lopez).

The vote offers residents a public accounting of the committee, which they call closed-door. It is not a moratorium vote.

What's next: The City Manager said he would return with a presentation as soon as possible. No date was set.

Peregrine Police Platform Renewed Over Surveillance Fears

Why it matters: Peregrine is the only platform the Contra Costa County District Attorney accepts for electronic case filing. Critics say the contract allows broad data use and automatic renewal.

Where things stand: The resolution authorizes a three-year renewal covering 2026 to 2029. It is capped at $350,000, or about $115,000 a year, including training and subscription. The renewal was due in July but was delayed by contract negotiations. One commenter said the item was originally placed on the consent calendar.

Captain Cassandra Wilkerson said the department has used Peregrine since 2019 for crime analytics, resource allocation and response-time tracking. "Peregrine is the only platform authorized by the DA's office for electronic case filing," she said. "Peregrine is not public-facing. It doesn't monitor any data." Councilmember Kobata asked about additional operations and maintenance costs. Staff said the cost is all-inclusive.

The other side: All seven public commenters on the item opposed it. "Peregrine can use, access, and store, reproduce, process, transmit, and display customer data and can retain usage analytics in perpetuity even when the contract is through," said Lynn Doherty, public commenter. She also flagged license-plate reader data, phone extraction data and auto-renewal terms.

"That is a civil liberties violation," said Theresa, public commenter. Other speakers linked the vendor to Palantir and Flock. Faith, a public commenter, contrasted the cost with Monday library closures. Angelica, a public commenter, warned that AI policing leads to misidentification in communities of color.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Killings praised the transparency slides and moved approval. "It is a tool. But we also once again want to remind that there is a human element," he said.

Vote: For: 4 (Killings, Banales, Kobata, Adams). Against: 0. Absent: 1 (Lopez).

Police keep their filing and analytics platform through 2029. Critics' specific contract concerns went unanswered on the record.

Consent Calendar Passes as Critics Allege Brown Act Flaws

Why it matters: Items 12 through 16 passed without debate. Commenters alleged that one contract was signed before approval and that another purchase skipped local bidding during a deficit.

Where things stand: Item titles were not read aloud. Commenters described the items as follows:

• Item 12: Doherty said written public submissions are missing from the minutes and the city's online portal.

• Item 13: CEQA consultant work on the Suisun Trails project, which commenters said was split from the on-hold Baywalk project and needs its own review.

• Item 14: A nearly $1M vehicle purchase piggybacked on another city's bid. Matthew, a self-described ASE-certified mechanic, asked that it be tabled pending maintenance records.

• Item 16: A consultant agreement funded by an $800,000 brownfields grant. "First of all, the contract was signed September 1st of this year," Doherty said.

"So this whole consent calendar is voidable by that government code," said Theresa, citing Government Code 54954. Staff did not respond to the Brown Act claims on the record.

The software question: Item 15 was the only one to draw council discussion. It funds the final year of the Accela permitting software. Doherty objected to borrowing $300,000 from GHAD No. 2 for a new system while still paying for Accela. Wolfgang, who helps businesses navigate City Hall, said the system is hard to use for owners whose first language is not English. "One of the greatest roadblocks for attracting businesses is just not making it easy," he said.

"This is the last year of the Accela contract," the City Manager said. He added that a Tyler permitting module will launch in July 2027 and that staff are building a feedback survey for each transaction.

"I fully expect that when we go to Tyler, that we are measuring that, that we're asking people for their opinion, whether it's through surveys or other touch points," said Councilmember Banales.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Killings moved approval, and the calendar passed by electronic vote. The tally was not read aloud. Vice Mayor Lopez was absent.

Police Launch State-Certified Spanish Course

Lt. Corey Smith and Cpl. Fernando Salamanca presented an 8-hour Basic Spanish for Law Enforcement course certified by the state's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). "It should be noted this is only one of 2 basic Spanish law enforcement classes that are in the state of California, and we hold one of them," Smith said.

Salamanca leads a team of instructors who are all native Spanish speakers. The first session was held Oct. 1, with the next on Oct. 8. Mayor Adams asked how officers keep up the skill. "The way to reinforce it is by practice," Salamanca said, describing practice with residents at local stores. Councilmember Kobata tied the course to the department's real-time translation devices.

One public commenter later contrasted the training investment with the city's lack of Spanish translation for data center information.

• Closed session: Council reviewed the City Manager and City Attorney and directed its labor negotiator on unrepresented employees. No reportable action was taken.

• Housing Authority Governing Board: The interview for the open seat was tabled because the applicant did not appear.

• Proclamations: Mayor Adams honored Air Synergy Inc., Sisters Three of Pittsburg, RP Books, Lutong Bahay and the Italian American Club.

• State update: Jessica Cisneros, a representative of Assemblymember Avila-Farias, said six of 11 bills were signed, including AB 1627.

• Contracting critique: Council candidate Iztacuautli Hector Gonzalez cited reports of up to $11M spent without competitive bidding.

Looking ahead: The council adjourned to Oct. 19, 2026. Watch for the City Manager's advisory group presentation and any response to residents' requests for a public correction on the moratorium claims before the Nov. 3 election.