1 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
City Council Study Session on September 19, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER
A duly noticed meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above date via Zoom Webinar at 6:00 p.m.
2 . ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, O’Brien Keighran, Ortiz MEMBERS ABSENT: None
3. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
a. DISCUSSION OF AN UPDATE TO THE CITY OF BURLINGAME’S BUILDING REACH CODE
Sustainability Program Manager Michael discussed the need to update the City’s reach code:
• City’s current reach code will expire December 31, 2022 • Align with State’s Executive Order to be carbon neutral by 2045 • Advance electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to meet anticipated demand (ban on sale of new gas vehicles in 2035)
Sustainability Program Manager Michael discussed building electrification. She reviewed the following breakdown of gas usage in buildings:
Space Heating Water Heating Cooking Clothes Dryer
Residential 37% 49% 7% 3%
Commercial 36% 32% 23% 9%
Electric
Appliance
Equivalent
Heat Pump
AC/Heater
Heat Pump
Water Heater
Induction Cooktop Electric Dryer
2 Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that since the City’s reach code was adopted, nearly three years ago, it has had the following impacts:
• 69 single family home projects
• 41 exceptions for cooktops
• 29 exceptions for a gas fireplace, firepit, and/or barbeque • 19 homes are all electric
• 8 single family building permits are under review
• 1 120-unit multi-family project is in the pipeline
• Zero infeasibility exemptions have been requested
She noted that a lot of the projects that are currently under construction went through prior to the adoption of the reach code.
Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that she is looking for Council feedback on an updated reach code so that she can bring a proposed reach code to the Council in the next month. She reviewed the City’s current reach code for building electrification versus the Peninsula Clean Energy (“PCE”) Model Code:
Single Family Homes Multi-Family Buildings Commercial Buildings Current Burlingame
Reach Code Building
Electrification
All-electric construction
Methane gas allowed for
indoor/outdoor cooking
and fireplace appliances
All-electric construction All-electric construction
For-profit restaurants
may use methane gas for
cooking and must
prewire for future
electric appliances
PCE Model Code Remove allowance for
methane gas for cooking
and fireplaces
No Change No Change
Sustainability Program Manager Michael reviewed EV charging in Burlingame:
Charging Sessions Burlingame
Caltrain Station –
4 Charging
Stations
City Hall – 2
Charging Stations
EVgo – 6 DCFC
Stations in
Downtown
Broadway
Highland Parking
Structure – 23
Charging Stations
August 2021 420 125 327 n/a
August 2022 568 186 590 328
Percentage
Increase
26% 32% 44%
3 Sustainability Program Manager Michael reviewed the City’s current reach code for EV charging infrastructure versus PCE’s Model Code:
Single Family Homes Multi-Family Buildings Commercial Buildings Current Burlingame
Reach Code EV
Charging
Infrastructure
• 1 L2 ready
charging
• 1 L1 ready
charging
• 10% of dwelling
units with L2
ready charging
• 90% of dwelling
units with L1
ready charging
and conduit for
future L2
Offices
• 10% L2 ready
spaces
• 10% L1 ready
spaces
Other
• 6% L2 ready
spaces
• 5% L1 ready
spaces
PCE Model Code No Change Low Power
• 40% of dwelling
units with L2
charging stations
• 60% of dwelling
units with L1
ready charging
OR
High Power
• 15% L2 charging
stations
• 85% L2 ready
charging
Offices
• 20% L2 charging
stations
• 30% L2 capable
Other
• 10% L2 charging
stations
• 10% L2 capable
Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that prior to the Council meeting, staff met with local developers and other stakeholders. She explained that the purpose of this meeting was to understand their opinion of the City’s reach code. She reviewed some of the comments that staff received and staff responses:
• Does it make sense to use propane tanks for backyard barbeque and firepits? Yes. Gas-line installation costs more than propane, and the intention of the reach code is to avoid investing in assets that will be stranded
• Fireplace technology is not yet ready with electric options. There is a wide variety of models available, and many offer heating settings
• Concerned about power outages. Power outages generally occur during peak air-conditioning periods, which is unrelated to heat pumps; power outages affect mixed fuel and all-electric buildings equally; and PCE is growing its battery storage program to enhance resiliency • Allow for fast chargers to offset Level 2 requirements. Agree
4 • EV technology is still evolving; should not rely on Level 2. New EV technology will be able to use existing power wiring. It’s significantly more expensive to install power capacity during retrofits than in new construction
Sustainability Program Manager Michael compared neighboring cities’ reach codes. She noted that the City of San Mateo, County of San Mateo, and Redwood City have all adopted no cooking exceptions for single- family homes. She added that Menlo Park is looking at how to decarbonize existing buildings by 2030.
Sustainability Program Manager Michael reviewed related initiatives:
• Induction cooktop loaner program
• Permit fee waived for new heat pumps
• Heat pumps are being installed in the Library, Parks Corp Yard, and Police Station • New EV charging stations at Community Center
• BayREN and PCE rebates for building electrification and EVs • Inflation Reduction Act investments and tax credits
• Air District considering rules prohibiting sale/installation of gas appliances • Cities considering policies for existing buildings
Councilmember Colson thanked Sustainability Program Manager Michael for working closely with PCE.
She asked about burnout ordinances. She noted that these ordinances refer to when a gas appliance needs to be repaired or replaced, the individual would instead replace it with an electric appliance. Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that burnout ordinances cover existing buildings. She noted that she was asking Council to focus on new buildings.
Councilmember Colson asked about gardening equipment. Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that the State has a mandate for no new gas landscape equipment by 2025.
Councilmember Beach asked what constitutes new building for a major renovation and thus triggers these reach codes. CDD Gardiner stated that in the existing building code, the threshold is 50% of the value of the existing house. He noted that there was a carve out in the current code that if the kitchen or mechanical systems weren’t touched in the renovations, then there is some discretion.
Mayor Ortiz stated that the EV stations seem to be underutilized. He asked how the City’s utilization compares to other cities. Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated that she hasn’t compared it and would get back to Council.
Councilmember O’Brien Keighran voiced concern that if the City adopted a burnout ordinance in the future, many of the older homes don’t have enough electrical capacity in their panels. She also discussed the amount of electrical work that would be required and how this would increase the price tag of projects.
Sustainability Program Manager Michael stated the City of San Mateo’s City Council was discussing burnout ordinances. She noted that one of the policies they are considering is that if a home is to do a panel upgrade, then they should add the breakers for future electric appliances.
5 Councilmember O’Brien Keighran discussed changing fireplaces to electric. She noted that a lot of electric fireplaces are more for show and don’t disseminate heat. She explained that she didn’t think technology had caught up with the optimal use of fireplaces. Therefore, she thought exceptions should still exist.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg stated that he was willing to look at advancing garden equipment requirements ahead of the State.
Councilmember O’Brien Keighran stated that she thought the EV charging stations are underutilized.
However, she explained that she thought they would be used more often as more housing is built.
Mayor Ortiz opened the study session for public comment.
Doug stated that it was important that the City continue to adopt reach codes in order to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. (Comment submitted via [email protected] ).
Meghan thanked the City for their leadership on climate action and asked the City to adopt the strongest reach code possible. (Comment submitted via [email protected] ).
Dashiell voiced support for adopting a strong reach code.
Former Mayor Terry Nagel voiced support for adopting a strong reach code.
Mike McCord stated that he is looking for an aggressive reach code. He asked that exceptions not be made for single-family homes.
Jason Mendelson stated that reach codes are the only way to go for new and existing buildings.
Mayor Ortiz closed public comment.
Mayor Ortiz asked the Council to consider the City’s current reach code and PCE model code regarding building electrification. He noted that the only difference between the two codes was that PCE was asking cities to remove the exception allowing methane gas for cooking and fireplaces.
Councilmember Beach stated that she fully supported PCE and other organizations in developing these model reach codes. She explained that she thought the City should remove the exceptions for cooking and fireplaces.
Councilmember O’Brien Keighran stated that she thought the exceptions should remain.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg, Mayor Ortiz, and Councilmember Colson all agreed that the exceptions for cooking and fireplaces should be removed.
6 Mayor Ortiz asked his colleagues to look at the PCE model for EV charging infrastructure for multi-family dwellings.
Councilmember Colson stated that PCE has done a lot of research on this topic. She added that she supports the PCE model.
The Council agreed with adopting the PCE model for EV charging infrastructure for multi-family buildings.
Mayor Ortiz asked his colleagues to look at the PCE model for EV charging infrastructure for office buildings.
The Council agreed to adopt the PCE model for EV charging infrastructure for office buildings.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ortiz adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Meaghan Hassel-Shearer
City Clerk