PREPARED BY: GREG ADAMS DATE OF MEETING: 12/18/17
SUBJECT:
TITLE
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO SETTING FORTH PROCEDURES FOR EXPEDITING PERMITTING PROCESSING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Waive first reading; introduce Ordinance
Body
executive summary
In 2015, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill 1236 (2015, Chiu, codified as Government Code Section 65850.7), which requires local jurisdictions with a population less than 200,000 residents to adopt an ordinance to create an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations on or before September 30, 2017.
An electric vehicle charging station is any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station which delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle. AB 1236 may refer to the recommendations in the most current version of the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS
The ordinance setting forth procedures for expediting permitting processing for electric vehicle charging systems is consistent with Policy Area: Amenities/Quality of Life, Policy Item 5. GREEN/LEED Building Standards, as listed in the FY2017-2021 Council Priority Work-plan, effective November 1, 2017.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project, but if a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the proposed project has been determined to be categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, Section 15311 Accessory Structures, and Section 15061(b)(3) with no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and the City Manager is directed to ensure that a Notice of Exemption is filed with the County Clerk.
BACKGROUND
Assembly Bill 1236, which amended Government Code Section 65850.7, required jurisdictions with a population less of than 200,000 residents to establish procedures for expedited, streamlined processes for permitting of electric vehicle charging stations. The amendments to Section 65850.7 include the requirement for a jurisdiction to adopt an ordinance for the expedited, streamlined process on or before September 30, 2017. The ordinance also mandates that a jurisdiction adopt a checklist of requirements with which a permit application for an electric vehicle charging station will be eligible for expedited review.
This process includes the establishment of a checklist containing objective requirements for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station and a process for electronic submittal of permit applications. The content of the checklist requires the permit applicant to check the features of the existing electrical service such as rating in amperes, system voltage, connected or calculated load, spare capacity in amperes, voltage and ampere rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, circuit rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, location of the electric vehicle supply equipment, if ventilation is/or is not required, and clearances of the charging equipment to comply with all applicable building and fire safety laws. The checklist also assists the applicant in confirming that the location of the electric vehicle supply equipment will comply with any vehicle clearance requirements in the City’s / County’s Zoning Ordinance. Section 65850.7 requires that the City’s checklist may be based on the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
Assembly Bill 1236 also clarifies that a jurisdiction shall not condition approval of a permit for an electric vehicle charging station based on the approval of an association as defined in California Civil Code, Section 4080, such as a homeowners’ association.
Staff recommends that City Council hear the staff report, allow public comments, waive the first reading of the ordinance, and introduce the attached ordinance, given Government Code Section 65850.7’s requirement that local agencies adopt such an ordinance to create an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations. Most of the procedures, such as electronic submittal of plans, are currently in place and comply with the requirements of the Assembly Bill and staff is assuring that full compliance with the expedited, streamlined process requirements is in place.
FISCAL IMPACT
As this ordinance relates to expediting the permitting processing for electric vehicle charging systems on private property, staff does not anticipate that this ordinance will have any direct fiscal impact on City resources.
ATTACHMENTS
Proposed Draft Ordinance
Checklist