BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday not to vote on proposed regulations governing data center development in the city. The vote to postpone passed. The vote being postponed did not.

Residents gathered outside City Hall prior to Tuesday's meeting to protest the data centers, which residents described as disruptive. The Council noted the residents. The residents noted the Council. The meeting proceeded. The vote was postponed to a date that has not been determined. Council members indicated the date would be determined when it was determined.

The data centers remain operational. They operated during Tuesday's meeting. They operated during the protest outside Tuesday's meeting. They are expected to continue operating until the Council votes, at which point the Council's decision may or may not affect their operation depending on the nature of the vote, which has not occurred.

A resident who attended the meeting said she expected the Council to act. She did not specify a timeline.

Proposed regulations would govern how data centers are permitted in Birmingham. The proposed regulations have not been voted on. They therefore govern nothing at this time. A council spokesperson confirmed they are still proposed.

The next scheduled Council meeting has been calendared. Whether data centers will appear on that agenda has not been confirmed. The agenda is typically released the week of the meeting. This reporter will review it at that time.

Data centers were contacted for comment. One data center did not respond. This is consistent with how data centers communicate.