From: Kenneth Frederick
To: Council
Subject: A Public Comment on proposed spending $300K for EV chargers in Holbrook Palmer Park Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:44:16 PM
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Town Council:
With the extreme weather conditions, I may not be able to attend tomorrow’s Council meeting in person and therefore I wanted to submit this public comment in advance. In short, I request that you table any action on the proposed $300,000 funding for EV Charging infrastructure in Holbrook Palmer Park until after the Town completes the planned resident survey later this year. There are several reasons for this request. Although the residents applaud the overall environmental goal, and the Council is, due to its close relationship with Peninsula Clean Energy, more knowledgeable about the value of EV’s than most residents, the expenditure is better considered after the Council fully appreciates the views, needs and goals of our residents. The Council will be better able to prioritize & select new project funding levels after they have a fuller knowledge of the breadth & range of options for improvements in Holbrook Palmer Park.
In addition, many residents are confused as to what “Problem” the Council is attempting to solve by spending $300,000 on additional EV chargers & removing traditional parking spots in the Park. Since all Atherton EV owners are less than 3 miles to the Park, they have a charger at home & have no need for chargers in the Park. The Town employees are in the Town Center area where we already have enough EV chargers for their use. Thus, we must assume that the Council plans to spend the $300,000 as a service to those from other areas visiting the Park.
Although a noble gesture there are probably other projects that Atherton residents would rather have $300,000 of their tax dollars spent on.
Again, I urge you to “table” the proposal and reconsider it with the other options that will be developed in the upcoming Town survey. It would be the prudent fiscal option.
APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AT HOLBROOKPALMER
PARK
THROUGH PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY’S EV READY PROGRAM
Report: RACHAEL LONDER, MANAGEMENT ANALYST II
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 Park through
Peninsula Clean Energy's EV Ready Program
Description: This item is to request $300,000 to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers at