CITY COUNCIL: Report & Provide Policy Direction on Installation of an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station in Downtown

Meeting Date: 7 June 2011


Prepared by: Sean Conroy,

Plng & Bldg Services Manager

City Council

Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive report and provide policy direction on the installation of an Electric Vehicle

(EV) Charging Station in the downtown.

Description: This proposal includes the installation of an EV charging station somewhere in the

downtown area of the City. The charging station is called the “Blink” and is produced by

Ecotality. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether the Council supports the

installation, and if so, to determine the location for the charging station.

Overall Cost:

City Funds: Year 1: no funds required.

Years 2 –5: approximately $240 a year.

Grant Funds: Installation and first-year costs are paid for by a grant.

Staff Recommendation: Provide policy direction to staff.

Important Considerations: In 2010, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments

(AMBAG) received a grant to install public EV charging stations in various jurisdictions

in the region. AMBAG performed an analysis based on several factors to determine

priority locations for charging stations. Carmel-by-the-Sea was selected as a priority

location.

The grant covers the installation of the charging station, a year of prepaid network

support, and a five-year, prepaid warranty for the station. At the end of five years, it will

be up to the City to determine whether it would like to renew the contract to maintain the

station.

Decision Record: The Planning Commission made recommendations to the City Council on

April 26, 2011.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _____________________

John Goss, Interim City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA


DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND BUILDING

STAFF REPORT

TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS

THROUGH: JOHN GOSS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR

FROM: SEAN CONROY, PLNG & BLDG SERVICES MANAGER

DATE: 7 JUNE 2011

SUBJECT: RECEIVE A REPORT AND PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION

ON THE INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

(EV) CHARGING STATION IN THE DOWNTOWN

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more popular with many automotive companies

releasing, or preparing to release, new EV models. The increased popularity of EVs will lead to

the need for accessible public charging stations. In 2010, the Association of Monterey Bay Area

Governments (AMBAG) received a grant to install public EV charging stations in various

jurisdictions in the region. AMBAG performed an analysis to determine priority locations for

charging stations in the region. Carmel-by-the-Sea was selected as one of the priority locations.

A representative from AMBAG will make a brief presentation during the hearing regarding this

proposal.

The grant covers the installation of the charging station, a year of prepaid network support and a

five-year, prepaid warranty for the station. At the end of five years, it will be up to the City to

determine whether it would like to renew the contract to maintain the station.

AMBAG is proposing to install a one-space charging station known as the “Blink.” The

machine is black and white in color, is between 40 and 60 inches in height, and is similar in size

to a multi-space parking meter. The station would either be installed in the sidewalk for an onstreet

parking space or in a public parking lot. A vehicle would simply pull into a parking space,

pay for a recharging session and plug the adapter into the vehicle. A typical charging session

would be 2-4 hours in length. This may require that a longer time limit be allowed for the EV

space as most commercial spaces are limited to two hours.

The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether the Council supports AMBAG’s proposing

to install a charging station in the City, and if so, to determine an appropriate location.

The Planning Commission reviewed this project on April , 2011 and recommended the following

priority locations:
 
1) Devendorf Park: The Commission determined that some location around Devendorf


Park would be the preferred location for the EV charging station. The Commission

recommended specifically that the space on Junipero Avenue at the southeast corner

of the park be the priority location. The Commission expressed some concern with

placing the charging station directly on Ocean Avenue.

2) Either the North lot of Sunset or Vista Lobos: These lots are City owned and are

locations where vehicles can park for extended periods of time.

Other sites considered, but not recommended by the Planning Commission included Harrison

Memorial Library, the Murphy Park and City Hall.

EVALUATION

Location: If the Council is supportive of the EV Charging Station, some criteria that the

Council may want to consider when reviewing possible locations include:

• Visibility.

• Accessibility.

• Access to a power source.

• Impacts to adjacent uses.

Staff met with the EV installer to discuss the locations proposed by the Planning Commission.

Due to the lack of sidewalk width, and the slope of the sidewalk (ADA concerns), the installer

strongly discouraged using the Junipero side of Devendorf Park.

Staff’s preferred location is the space on the southeast corner of the park on the Ocean Avenue

side. This location would be highly visible as you enter the City from Ocean Avenue, would be

easily accessible, is close to a power source and would not be located in front of any businesses.

The charging station could replace the existing green 30-minute space on the northwest corner so

that no long-term parking space would be lost due to the installation of the station. The EV

installer was supportive of this location.

The EV installer was also supportive of using one of the first three spaces at the north end of the

Sunset Center north lot. These spaces are flat and located near a power source.

If the City was interested in installing more than one station at some point in the future, it might

make since to place multiple stations at this location.

The EV installer did not support the use of the Vista Lobos lot. The only flat spaces that would

comply with ADA requirements are located several hundred feet from a power source, requiring

extensive trenching and excavation.

Operation: A typical charging session lasts between two to four hours. The charging station

would operate much like a parking meter where a patron would pay for a charging session at a

set rate. The City can work with the operator to establish a set rate to ensure that all costs are

recovered related to energy bills and operation.
 
Budget: There would be no direct costs to the City during the first year of operation. Years two


through five would require the City to assume the network support fees, which are expected to be

about $240 a year.

RECOMMENDATION

Provide policy direction to staff.