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.
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