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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4259 City of Palo Alto (ID # 4259) Policy and Services Committee Staff Report Report Type: Meeting Date: 11/19/2013 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Ordinance for EVSE Requirement for all Single Family Constructions Title: Recommendation to City Council to Adopt an Ordinance for Electric Vehicles Supply Equipment Requirement for all New Single Family Residential Constructions From: City Manager Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt the attached ordinance, along with the necessary findings to require that all new construction of single family housing install the necessary circuitry for EV chargers. Executive Summary The Palo Alto City Council in their regular City Council meeting of September 23, 2013 directed staff to draft an ordinance that would require that all new construction of single family housing include the necessary circuitry for EV chargers and to return to the Policy and Services Committee, prior to returning to Council. The attached ordinance would require, in close proximity to an on-site parking space, the wiring and panel capable to accommodate, at minimum, the equivalent of one 50-amp, Level 2 EV charger. Background At the regular City Council meeting of September 23, 2013 the City Council directed the staff to follow through on the following items 1. Review the Electric Vehicle (EV) permit process, and procedures for station installations to streamline the process and insure that it is customer friendly. 2. Adopt code changes requiring that all new construction of single family housing to install the necessary circuitry for EV chargers and a draft program to bring about greater implementation of EV charging stations at commercial, multi-family and mixed use facilities, potentially including Utilities Department or City incentives, and to come back to the Policy and Services Committee with recommendation followed by City Council. City of Palo Alto Page 2 3. Consider ways to encourage and support EV use in the City of Palo Alto and the Bay Area including the following concepts and return to the Policy and Services Committee with recommendations to ensure that Palo Alto is one of the most EV friendly Cities in America. 4. Additional suggested recommendations might include: a) ensuring that all new hotels are required to install EV charging stations and to the extent feasible that all existing hotels are required to install EV charging stations, b) Review the permitting fee structure for EV charging equipment to reduce costs, or develop cost incentives for the permits in such a way that it is streamlined and efficient. 5. Announce at the EV celebration to be hosted at Palo Alto City Hall on September 25, 2013, that Palo Alto will be a leader in the nation in the installation of EV stations by mandating that all new single family housing units be required to install the necessary rough in circuitry. 6. Return to P&S and subsequently to Council with alternatives on a pilot residential curbside EV charging program. 7. Return to P&S and subsequently Council with a draft program to bring about greater implementation of EV charging stations at commercial facilities, potentially including Utilities Department or City incentives to ask staff to consider revising fee structure based on the number of stations at number of potential EV station banks. The minutes from the September 23, 2013 Council meeting are included as Attachment B. In response to the Council direction of September 23, 2013, staff is bringing to the Policy and Services and subsequently to the Council an ordinance requiring that all new construction of single family housing install the necessary circuitry for EV chargers. Staff is anticipating bringing the remaining items to the Policy and Services and subsequently to the Council in the early part of next year. Discussion Mobile sources account for well over half of the emissions that contribute to ozone and particulate matter and nearly 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions in California. In order to help meet California’s health-based air quality standards and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, significant gains are needed in the transportation sector in terms of reduced petroleum usage. Governor Brown's Executive Order of March 2012 directs state government to support and facilitate the rapid commercialization of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), with a target of having 1.5 million ZEVs on California roadways by 2025. In order to meet this goal and in order for electric vehicles to proliferate, it is important that early consumers have a positive experience and that facilities be readily available to provide convenient charging stations for the electric vehicles. City of Palo Alto Page 3 According to a 2012 study completed by the California Center for Sustainable Energy in coordination with the Air Resources Board, approximately 1,000 new plug-in vehicles are being sold in the state every month and, in total, Californians own more than 12,000 plug-in electric vehicles (roughly 35% of all plug-in vehicles in the United States). This ordinance is developed in response to numerous requests by stakeholders to provide building standards that will meet current and future demands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in single-family dwellings. This ordinance will encourage and support use of electric vehicles as an alternate means of transportation. The provisions for EVSE are intended to provide low-cost strategies that offer choice and savings in design for homeowners wishing to purchase an electric vehicle without necessitating retroactive installation of higher capacity electrical wiring and supply equipment for charging electrical vehicles. With this ordinance, the City of Palo Alto (CPA) will require that new detached single family dwellings be plumbed, with panel capacity for at least one Level 2 EVSE. This will require the underground raceways and related underground equipment to be installed at the time of initial construction. Also with this initial construction, the main service panel should be capable of accommodating at least one dedicated 240 Volts/50 Amperes branch circuit. In discussions with the EVSE Task Force, the EV advocacy members were encouraging that staff recommends at least one Level 2 EVSE for each indoor parking space which would mean two car garages would be required to install two dedicated circuits. This would require the electrical panel to be upgraded. In discussions with the development community, PA Utilities, and members of the Development Center Advisory Group (DCAG), and other members of the design and construction community, the cost for potentially mandating the circuitry and capacity for the additional EVSE would be overly burdensome. Mandating an additional dedicated 50 amp circuit would mean an additional cost in upgrading the panel, possibly upgrading the transformers that supply the home as well as possibly the supply lines that feed the home. This cost could be in the magnitude of several thousands of dollars to the homeowner. Conclusion As currently defined, Level 2 EVSE charging connector allows for electrical circuits as high as 80 amperes. In the near future all major manufacturers plan to launch plug-in electric vehicles equipped with bigger and/or more efficient batteries. Since charging stations themselves are not required by this ordinance, the wiring of the EVSE can be deferred to time when the ownership of the dwellings is decided. This eases the point of entry for would be Electric Vehicle purchasers, provides maximum flexibility for the Electric Vehicle Owner, as well as alleviates increased or unnecessary expenses for the owners who choose not to invest in Electric Vehicles at this time. Resource Impact City of Palo Alto Page 4 With this action there are no resource impacts at this time. Currently, the City charges a fee for the inspection of EV charger installations. As part of the assessment of Development Services related fees, the fee will be analyzed and potentially modified. Policy Implications The Palo Alto City Council directed the staff to bring back an ordinance that would require that all new construction of single family housing include the necessary circuitry for EV chargers. Environmental Review This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. Attachments:  Attachment A: Ordinance Adopting PAMC Section 16.14.370 (DOC)  Attachment B: September 23, 2013 Council Meeting Minutes (PDF) NOT YET APPROVED 131105 dm 0160060 1 Ordinance No. _____ Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting Section 16.14.370 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Adopt Local Amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code and Related Findings The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The adoption and amendment of Section A4.106.8 of the California Green Building Standards Code is justified on the basis of local topographical and geographical conditions. Failure to address and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions could result in rises to sea level, including in San Francisco Bay, that could put at risk Palo Alto homes and businesses, public facilities, and Highway 101 (Bayshore Freeway), particularly the mapped Flood Hazard areas of the City. The aforementioned conditions create hazardous conditions for which departure from California Green Building Standards Code is required. SECTION 2. Section 16.14.370 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is adopted to read as follows: 16.14.370 Section A4.106.8 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging. Section A4.106.8 of the California Green Building Standards Code is added and amended to read: A4.106.8 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging. New detached single-family dwellings shall comply with the following requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE): (a) The property owner shall provide as minimum a panel capable to accommodate a dedicated branch circuit and service capacity to install at least a 208/240V, 50 amperes grounded AC outlet (Level 2 EVSE). The raceway shall terminate in close proximity to the proposed location of the charging system into a listed cabinet, box, or enclosure. The raceway shall be installed so that minimal removal of materials is necessary to complete the final installation. The raceway shall have capacity to accommodate a 100-ampere circuit. (b) Design. The proposed location of a charging station may be internal or external to the dwelling, and shall be in close proximity to an on-site parking space. The proposed design must comply with all applicable design guidelines, setbacks and other code requirements. SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion or sections of the Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the NOT YET APPROVED 131105 dm 0160060 2 fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid. SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. SECTION 5. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of its adoption. INTRODUCED: PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: ____________________________ ____________________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: ____________________________ ____________________________ City Attorney City Manager ____________________________ Director of Planning and Community Environment ____________________________ Director of Administrative Services CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL ACTION Page 1 of 4 Special Meeting September 23, 2013 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 6:04 P.M. Present: Berman, Burt, Holman, Klein, Kniss, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd arrived at 5:10 Absent: CLOSED SESSION 1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS City Designated Representatives: City Manager and his designees pursuant to Merit System Rules and Regulations (James Keene, Pamela Antil, Lalo Perez, Joe Saccio, Kathy Shen, Breena Rowe, Rebecca Burnside) Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union, (SEIU) Local 521; Hourly Unit Authority: Government Code Section 54957.6(a) The Council adjourned from closed session at 6:55 P.M. and Mayor Scharff announced no reportable action. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 2. Presentation by Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Vice Mayor Shepherd moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3-6. 3. Approval for the City Manager to Purchase a Police Records Management System (RMS), and Field-based Reporting Applications in Partnership With the Cities of Mountain View and Los Altos for Palo Alto’s Participation in the Tri-Cities CAD and RMS “Virtual ACTION Page 2 of 4 City Council Meeting Final Action: 9/23/13 Consolidation” Project and Related Budget Amendment Ordinance in the Amount of $100,000 in Contingency Funding from the Information Technology Internal Service Fund. 4. Approval of Crescent Park - No Overnight Parking (2AM-5AM) Trial Program Resident Permit Application and Program Expansion. 5. Council Appointed Officers Committee Recommendation of Appointment of Acting City Auditor. 6. Reauthorization to Engage in a Non-Binding "Smart Cities Alliance Agreement" with the City of Heidelberg, Germany, and Direction on Exploring Future "Smart City" Alliance. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 ACTION ITEMS 7. Colleague's Memo From Vice Mayor Shepherd, Council Members Berman, Holman, and Price Regarding the Building Code and Stalled Construction. MOTION: Council Member Price moved, seconded by Mayor Scharff to direct Staff to: 1) draft an Ordinance that amends the Municipal Code regarding completion of residential construction projects in a timely manner, to include the imposition of time limits for building permits and daily penalties for projects that exceed the life of a building permit, 2) return to the Policy and Services Committee with a brief update and analysis of delays in commercial construction projects in Palo Alto, if similar issues have arisen, along with potential solutions, and 3) this draft shall be reviewed by Council’s Policy and Services Committee for final recommendation to Council. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND THE SECONDER to also return with draft Ordinance revisions to address improved fencing of stalled construction sites. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 8. Colleague's Memo from Mayor Scharff, Vice Mayor Shepherd, and Council Member Price Regarding Electric Vehicles. MOTION: Mayor Scharff moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Shepherd to direct Staff to: 1) review the Electric Vehicle (EV) permit process, and ACTION Page 3 of 4 City Council Meeting Final Action: 9/23/13 procedures for station installations to streamline the process and insure that it is customer friendly, 2) adopt code changes requiring that all new construction of single family housing install the necessary circuitry for EV chargers to come back to the Policy and Services Committee, 3) consider ways to encourage and support EV use in the City of Palo Alto and the Bay Area including the following concepts and return to the Policy and Services Committee with recommendations to ensure that Palo Alto is one of the most EV friendly Cities in America, 4) additional suggested recommendations might include: a) ensuring that all new hotels are required to install EV charging stations and to the extent feasible that all existing hotels are required to install EV charging stations, b) that Staff review the permitting fee structure for EV charging equipment to reduce costs, or develop cost incentives for the permits in such a way that it is streamlined and efficient, and 5) announce at the EV celebration to be hosted at Palo Alto City Hall on September 25, 2013, that Palo Alto will be a leader in the nation in the installation of EV stations by mandating that all new housing units be required to install the necessary rough in circuitry. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF MAKER AND SECONDER to: 1) direct Staff to return to P&S and subsequently to Council with alternatives on a pilot residential curbside EV charging program, and 2) direct Staff to return to P&S and subsequently Council with a draft program to bring about greater implementation of EV charging stations at commercial facilities, potentially including Utilities Department or City incentives. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF MAKER AND SECONDER to change the latter half of 2 to “greater implementation of EV charging stations and/or EV charging banks of stations.” And to add after “including Utilities Department or City incentives” “to ask staff to consider revising fee structure based on the number of stations at number of potential EV station banks.” INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF MAKER AND SECONDER to change number 5) in the original motion to read “announce at the EV celebration to be hosted at Palo Alto City Hall on September 25, 2013, that Palo Alto will be a leader in the nation in the installation of EV stations by mandating that all new single family housing units be required to install the necessary rough in circuitry.” And to change 2) to read “direct Staff to return to P&S and subsequently Council with a draft program to bring about greater implementation of EV charging stations at commercial, multi-family and mixed use facilities, potentially including Utilities Department or City incentives.” MOTION PASSED: 9-0 ACTION Page 4 of 4 City Council Meeting Final Action: 9/23/13 9. Approval of Response to Grand Jury Report on Law Enforcement Public Complaint Procedures. MOTION: Mayor Scharff moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Shepherd to approve the Staff recommended response, Attachment A of the Staff Report, to the 2012-2013 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report entitled, “Law Enforcement Public Complaint Procedures” (“Grand Jury Report”). MOTION PASSED: 9-0 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M.