Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
09/1/26 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Rochelle Clayton
Ordinance
Doc ID: 6554
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1050-2026 OF THE CITY OF BARSTOW ADDING CHAPTER 15.11 REGARDING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND HYDROGEN FUELING STATIONS, AND CHAPTER 15.05 REGARDING HEARINGS AND APPEALS,
TO THE BARSTOW MUNICIPAL CODE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the Council approve by second reading Ordinance No. 1050-2026 establishing a streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.
DISCUSSION:
Background and Purpose
At its regular meeting on August 19, 2026, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1050-2026, considered public comment, and considered the administrative report. This ordinance is now before the City Council for adoption. Below is additional background information and a discussion, which was also provided at the August 19th regular meeting.
Government Code section 65850.7 requires cities to establish expedited, streamlined permitting processes for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The legislation is intended to reduce the time and cost associated with permitting zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
Cities must use standardized checklists to identify the requirements for expedited review, accept electronic applications, and generally limit review to compliance with applicable health and safety requirements.
Proposed Ordinance
The proposed ordinance adds Chapter 15.11 to establish a streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations, as required by state law. It directs the Building Official to make application materials available online, accept electronic applications, and administer the process through standardized checklists. Applications would receive a limited administrative review focused on compliance with applicable health and safety requirements, rather than discretionary review.
The proposed ordinance also adds Chapter 15.05 to establish general procedures for hearings and appeals under Title 15. The chapter requires advance notice of public hearings and establishes a process for appealing administrative decisions by City staff to the Planning Commission. It further provides a process for appealing Planning Commission decisions to the City Council, with appeals generally required to be filed within 10 days. These appeal provisions are particularly relevant to the streamlined permitting process because Chapter 15.11 allows the Building Official to require a conditional use permit when substantial evidence indicates that a proposed charging or hydrogen fueling station could have a specific adverse impact on public health or safety, and expressly provides for appeals of that determination through the Chapter 15.05 procedures.
CEQA
Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
09/1/26 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Rochelle Clayton
Ordinance
Doc ID: 6554
AGENDA ITEM
Staff has determined that adoption of the proposed ordinance and resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines in that the actions involve general policy and procedure making, and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that they will have a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This process would streamline procedures but does not impact costs associated with permit review.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council take the following actions:
1. Adopt Ordinance No. 1050-2026, adding Chapter 15.11, relating to electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling stations, and Chapter 15.05, relating to hearings and appeals, to the Barstow Municipal Code.
2. Direct the City Clerk to publish and post a summary of the ordinance and a certified copy of its full text in accordance with Government Code section 36933(c)(1) and all other applicable publication and posting requirements.
3. Waive the full reading of Ordinance No. 1050-2026 and read the ordinance by title only, pursuant to Government Code section 36934.