City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 5, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 2023-140, Amending Title 11-Building Regulations of the Gonzales City Code by the Addition of New Chapter 11.56 Streamlined Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council introduce, waive reading and read by title only Ordinance No. 2023-140, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Amending Title 11-Building Regulations of the Gonzales City Code by the Addition of New Chapter 11.56 Streamlined Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
BACKGROUND
In 2015, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill 1236 (2015, Chiu, codified as Government Code Section 65850.7), which requires local jurisdictions to adopt an ordinance to create an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations. An electric vehicle charging station is any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle. AB 1236 was followed by AB 970, adopted in 2021, which adds specific binding timelines to the review period for the application for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station based on parking requirements and the size of the proposed electric vehicle charging station(s) (EVCS). The law was developed to further the availability of charging infrastructure to help drive the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. The rationale behind these laws is that the faster charging stations are installed, the sooner California’s air quality improves, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, and local economic benefits are captured.
The Planning Commission on August 14, 2023 recommended in Resolution No. PC2023-07 that the City AGENDA
ITEM
7 Council consider and adopt the attached ordinance establishing procedures for expedited, streamlined procedures for permitting of electric vehicle charging stations.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
AB 1236 and AB 970 apply to all charging station installations, including: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging; public and private charging stations; light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric vehicle charging stations; and stations that are installed as the accessory or primary use of a site. AB 1236 and AB 970 likewise apply to essential components and infrastructure necessary for charging station function. All cities and counties, including charter cities, in California, are required to comply with AB 1236 and AB 970. AB 970 shall become operative on January 1, 2022, for every city, county, or city and county with a population of more than 200,000 residents. This section shall apply beginning on January 1, 2023, for every city, county, or city and county with fewer than 200,000 residents.
Per the requirements of AB 1236, the streamlining process includes the establishment of a checklist containing objective requirements for the installation of an electric vehicle charging station and a process for electronic submittal of permit applications. The proposed checklist is provided in Exhibit A. The content of the checklist requires the permit applicant to check the features of the existing electrical service such as rating in amperes, system voltage, connected or calculated load, spare capacity in amperes, voltage and ampere rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, circuit rating of the electric vehicle supply equipment, location of the electric vehicle supply equipment, if ventilation is/or is not required, and clearances of the charging equipment to comply with all applicable building and fire safety laws.
The checklist also assists the applicant in confirming that the location of the electric vehicle supply equipment will comply with any vehicle clearance requirements in the City’s Zoning Ordinance.
Government Code Section 65850.7 provides that the City’s checklist may be based on the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California:
Community Readiness Guidebook” of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
The establishment of a streamlined permitting process for the installation of EV charging stations (EVCS) is in keeping with the intent of General Plan policies meant to improve air quality in the City. 2010 General Plan Goal HS-6 provides that the City will work to provide clean, healthy air for the residents of Gonzales as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases consistent with State law. This goal can be achieved in Gonzales by encouraging the implementation of a variety of measures to reduce dependency on gas-powered automobiles. Improving accessibility to EVCSs will serve to encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles, thus reducing dependence on vehicles dependent on fossil fuels for operation.
Providing more charging opportunities by streamlining the process by which EVCSs may be installed will make owning and operating electric vehicles easier and more convenient, thus encouraging this alternative means of transportation. As such, it can be seen that the new Chapter 11.56 is consistent with the goals of the Gonzales General Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA)
It can also be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed provisions of the new Gonzales City Code Chapter 11.56 will have a significant impact on the environment. The new provisions are administrative in nature, do not approve any specific physical development, and do not have the potential to result in individually or cumulatively significant effects on the environment. Therefore, the proposed amendments set forth in Chapter 11.56 are exempt from environmental analysis per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
How the Recommendation Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: As more and more electric vehicles come into the fabric of society, the city will be prepared to accommodate new charging station proposals in an “over the counter” approach.
Even small-town charm can accommodate electric vehicles.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____ No____ N/A
Explain: As more and more electric vehicles come into the fabric of society, the city will be prepared to accommodate new charging station proposals in an “over the counter” approach.
Even small-town charm can accommodate electric vehicles.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing, and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. X Yes ____No ____ N/A Explain: As more and more electric vehicles come into the fabric of society, the city will be prepared to accommodate new charging station proposals in an “over the counter” approach.
Even small-town charm can accommodate electric vehicles.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes No X N/A
• Housing Yes No X N/A
• Recreation Yes No X N/A
• Environment Yes No X N/A
• Education Yes No X N/A
Explain: N/A
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council may direct that the City of Gonzales Zoning Table Matrix be revised to include EV charging Stations as permitted uses across all zones of the City. The City may want to require that new parking lots include a percentage of EV charging stations, and that additional areas be configured to accept new charging stations later should the necessity arise.
BUDGET IMPACT
None. Planning Division, Building Official, and administrative time will be incorporated into our daily standard operating regimes. Electrical and construction permits will offset inspection and correction notice expenses.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council introduce, waive reading and read by title only Ordinance No. 2023-140, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Amending Title 11-Building Regulations of the Gonzales City Code by the Addition of New Chapter 11.56 Streamlined Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, with or without incorporating one or more of the alternative enhancements introduced above.
Attachments:
1. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 2023-07
2. Ordinance No. 2023-140 with Exhibit A