The San Antonio City Council will take up how and where data centers can be built in the city when it meets Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Norma S. Rodriguez Council Chamber at 114 W. Commerce Street. The same A Session agenda has the 2027-2032 bond program allocations and a three-year, $21.1 million Microsoft agreement. The agenda was posted late on Oct. 21.
This is a preview of what the documents say. The vote has not happened, and nothing here predicts its outcome.
Item 5: Where data centers can go
Item 5 is an ordinance amending Chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, “related to Data Center regulations.” The agenda memo (packet page 7) says Development Services held four stakeholder input sessions after the issue went through two Council committees, then drafted two sets of amendments:
- Option A would allow data centers “by-right” in intense commercial zones and industrial zones if they meet minimum standards, such as distances from homes and schools, landscaping and fencing. Only projects that miss those standards would need an “S” Specific Use Authorization rezoning from Council.
- Option B would require an “S” every time, giving Council room to tailor standards to each project.
A third option, introduced by Mayor Ortiz Jones, was presented to Council on Oct. 14. On Oct. 20 the Zoning Commission reviewed all three and, according to the memo, “recommended a combination of several options.” The memo does not say which parts of which options. It lists no fiscal impact.
Analysis: the practical difference is who decides. Under Option A, a project that meets the written standards proceeds without a Council vote. Under Option B, every project comes to Council. What the Zoning Commission’s blend looks like, and what the mayor’s option contains, are not in the memo. Ojo: read the attachments when they post.
Item 7: The 2027 bond program
Item 7 asks Council to approve a resolution on 2027-2032 Bond Program allocations and project recommendations, with an update on the community input process. The memo says voters “may consider” the next program in 2027. The last one, approved May 7, 2022, had six propositions and 188 projects totaling $1.2 billion.
Staff plans to bring project recommendations to Council in January 2027 after community input. It also proposes four advisory Community Bond Committees: Streets, Bridges and Sidewalks; Drainage and Flood Control; Parks and Municipal Facilities; and Affordable Housing. Each would have 32 resident representatives. The memo prints no dollar allocations; those would be in the briefing itself.
Item 6: The state legislative wish list
Item 6 approves the city’s State Legislative Program for the 90th Legislature, which begins Jan. 12, 2027. Bill filing opens Nov. 9, 2026. The memo lists four top priorities: CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System, a Downtown Sports and Entertainment District, flood infrastructure, and the South Texas Parkway. It states no immediate fiscal impact.
Two consent items with dollar figures
- Item 21, Microsoft: the city would use a State of Texas Department of Information Resources contract (DIR-CPO-5237) with SHI Government Solutions for its Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. Estimated total: $21,136,000.94 from Nov. 1, 2026 to Oct. 31, 2029. Year one is $6,884,143.80; later years depend on future budgets.
- Items 16 and 17, Edwards Aquifer easements: two Uvalde County conservation easements over the recharge zone, 110.94 acres for $756,866.51 and 3,656.93 acres for $5,117,983.90, about $5.87 million combined. The second is split between the 2015 Proposition 1 aquifer fund ($1,507,396.29) and the San Antonio Municipal Facilities Corporation ($3,610,587.61). The memo says the Conservation Advisory Board recommended the River Springs easement on Aug. 26, 2026.
What is not known yet
The text of the data center amendments Council will vote on, the bond allocation figures, and the outcome of any vote are not in the documents read for this preview.
How to weigh in
Sign up to speak at SASpeakUp.com by choosing the meeting. The agenda says in-person and online registration both close 15 minutes before the meeting begins, and City Clerk staff are on site 45 minutes early. Questions go to the City Clerk at 210-207-7253.
Ahí está. Read the agenda. — Val