Item No. 12
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – REGULAR AGENDA
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RACHAEL LONDER, MANAGEMENT ANALYST II
DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2024
SUBJECT: Approval of Funding for the Installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure at Holbrook-Palmer Park through Peninsula Clean Energy’s EV Ready Program
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council discuss and decide if the Town should allocate $300,000 to install EV Charging Infrastructure at Holbrook-Palmer Park through Peninsula Clean Energy’s EV Ready Program
BACKGROUND
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is soaring; nearly 50 percent of personal vehicles purchased last year in San Mateo County were electric. About one of every seven, or 14%, of Atherton's 6,261 vehicles are electric, supporting the Town in reaching its climate action goals of a 49% reduction of 2005 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In alignment with this broad community interest, the State’s goal to have all new vehicles sold be electric by 2035 and the Town’s Climate Action Plan, the Town installed two EV chargers with the capacity to charge four vehicles at a time as a part of the new Town Center. These stations were activated in August 2022 and now have an average of 50 monthly charging sessions.
There remains an opportunity to install chargers at Holbrook-Palmer Park that can be shared by residents and employees and set up the Atherton fleet for the transition to EVs. The Town’s Department of Public Works initiated a study with Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County’s not-for-profit, community-led electricity provider, through their EV Ready Program. In the Spring of 2022, Peninsula Clean Energy provided Atherton with free site design assistance and generated a Charging Evaluation Report for EV charging at three sites in Holbrook-Palmer Park. In addition to design assistance, Peninsula Clean Energy is offering funding of up to $5,000 per Level 2 charging connector. On April 19, 2023, the Council approved $60,000 to install four chargers with eight charging ports at Location 1 and Location 2 (see Table 1). Staff released a Request for Proposals, and all four responses exceeded the cost estimate provided by Peninsula Clean Energy and approved by the Council. Peninsula Clean Energy shared two potential reasons for higher costs than initially scoped in the Charging Evaluation Reports – 1) They likely used a cheaper alternative EV Charging Opportunities at Holbrook-Palmer Park
APRIL 19, 2023
to ChargePoint for Level II charging in their estimation, and 2) Labor costs have escalated since the reports were completed on April 28, 2022.
ANALYSIS
The Council reviewed the Charging Evaluation Reports for the three locations in Holbrook Palmer Park and selected to move forward with the Entry Lot and Jennings Pavilion during the April 19, 2023, Council Meeting. The full reports for the Entry Lot and Jennings Pavilion are attached and are summarized in Table 1. Additionally, staff have provided a truer cost for each location based on the RFP that closed in November 2023.
Table 1. EV Charger Locations in Holbrook Palmer Park
Location Original Estimates from
Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE)
Updated Estimates Based
on RFP
Entry Lot Four Level 2 Ports
Estimated Cost - $44,000
PCE Rebates - $20,000
Total Net Cost to Town -
$24,000
Four Level 2 Ports
Estimated Cost - $150,000
PCE Rebates - $20,000
Total Net Cost to Town -
$130,000
Jennings Pavilion Four Level 2 Ports
Estimated Cost - $50,000
PCE Rebates - $20,000
Total Net Cost to Town -
$30,000
Four Level 2 Ports
Estimated Cost - $150,000
PCE Rebates - $20,000
Total Net Cost to Town -
$130,000
As currently budgeted by the Council ($60,000), the Town cannot move forward with installing any Level II chargers as scoped in Peninsula Clean Energy’s Charging Evaluation Reports. The Council may approve funding of up to $300,000 to complete the installation of chargers as decided during the Regular City Council Meeting on April 29, 2023. Once funding is approved, staff will conduct a formal, competitive procurement procedure, including coming back to the Council to execute a contract once a vendor is selected.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funding offered by Peninsula Clean Energy covers $5,000 per charging port installed. The Town would be required to pay the additional amount needed to install 8 charging ports at the Entry Lot and Jennings Pavilion. It is recommended that the Town budget $300,000 for this project.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area F – Be Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, and Well-Planned
POLICY FOCUS
EV Charging Opportunities at Holbrook-Palmer Park
APRIL 19, 2023
In 2006, the California state legislation passed Assembly Bill (AB) 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 committed the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Local jurisdictions across California, including the Town of Atherton, adopted a local Climate Action Plan (CAP) to assists with the State’s effort to reduce GHG emissions. The Town’s Climate Action Plan first adopted on October 19, 2016 exceeded this 2020 goal by reducing GHG emissions by 27% below 2005 levels by 2019. The single largest contribution to achieving this goal was creating and participating in Peninsula Clean Energy. In September of 2016, the California legislature approved Senate Bill (SB) 32, which extends the state’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas from 2020 to 2030. Under SB 32, the state will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 49% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Now that Atherton has 100% GHG-free electricity and directive with SB 32, the Town has updated the CAP to further reduce emissions by identifying strategies for electrifying transportation and buildings. Installing EV chargers at Holbrook-Palmer Park will support achieving the Town’s climate goals by enabling more community members to drive electric vehicles.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission
ATTACHMENTS
1. Charging Evaluation Report for Entry Lot
2. Charging Evaluation Report for Main House