Aurora City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance Monday that would block new data centers in areas zoned mixed-use office/institutional, where facilities could be close to homes, schools and assisted-living communities. The measure would not ban data centers across the city, and council members are scheduled to take a final vote Oct. 26. If approved, the ordinance would likely take effect 30 days later. The city has nine existing data centers, with five more at various stages of development. No data center development applications have been submitted for the zoning areas covered by the proposed restrictions. Public commenters urged the council to go further, including by imposing a citywide moratorium. Some Green Valley Ranch residents spoke against the proposed Trident data center, but the area’s zoning is not covered by the ordinance. Speakers called for changing that zoning to stop the project, drawing cheers from the audience. The meeting also became a protest over Aurora’s police leadership. Dozens of residents held signs bearing the faces of Black men killed by police and called for the removal of Police Chief Todd Chamberlain. Activists and community members staged a sit-in, saying they would remain at City Hall until officials met with them and agreed on a termination plan. They cited concerns about fatal police shootings and transparency. MiDian Shofner, CEO of Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership, said demonstrators wanted both a termination date and a strategy for removing Chamberlain. As of 10 p.m. Monday, the group remained in the building. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Coombs and Public Safety Committee Chair Rob Andrews said they were working to schedule a meeting with concerned residents at the earliest opportunity. City Manager Jason Batchelor also said he welcomed discussions. Batchelor defended the department’s record, saying total crime was down 10% from the same point last year and 38% from September 2024, when Chamberlain became chief. He also cited a recent city survey in which nearly 74% of respondents rated the police department’s performance fair, good or excellent, compared with 57% in a similar survey at the start of the state-mandated consent decree in 2022. The city says it is in substantial compliance or between 75% and 99% complete on all consent decree requirements. It is also hiring a manager for its Office of Public Safety Accountability; applications closed in September, and candidate review is underway.