CITY OF POMONA COUNCIL REPORT
August 21, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Anita D. Gutierrez, Development Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMATED PERMIT PROCESSING (CALAPP) PROGRAM GRANT RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following resolution (Attachment No. 1):
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-149 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMATED PERMIT PROCESSING (CALAPP) PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($80,000) AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 OPERATING BUDGET BY INCREASING REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Action on this item is to enter into an agreement with California Energy Commission to accept the California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program grant funding in the amount of $80,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption of Resolution 2021-34 (Attachment No. 1) will accept one grant award from the California Automated Permit Processing (CALAPP) Program Grant which will reimburse the City up to $80,000 for eligible expenses related to the implementation of the automated solar permitting platforms, as mandated under the Solar Access Act (Senate Bill 379) between April 28, 2023, to May 31, 2027. This action will also amend the FY 2023-24 operating budget by increasing revenue estimates in the amount of $25,000, 215-1410-40873-58781; $55,000, 215-1712-40873-58781 and appropriations in the amount of $80,000. The appropriations will be split using the following breakdown of accounts: 215-1410-51012-58781, $25,000; 215-1712-51012-58781, $25,000; and 215-1712-52285-58781, $30,000.
DISCUSSION:
In September 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Solar Access Act (Senate Bill 379), requiring cities and counties to automate their permitting for residential rooftop and energy storage systems by adopting SolarAPP+ (Solar Automated Permitting Platform) or functionally equivalent software. SolarAPP+ is an online platform that automates and standardizes building departments’ permitting processes for simple residential rooftop solar systems.
The California Energy Commission runs the California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) program, which awards grants to cities and counties that adopt SolarAPP+ or an equivalent automated solar permitting platform. While SolarAPP+ is free for municipalities, the grants are designed to cover the costs of adoption and incentivize building departments to prioritize adoption.
The Pomona Development Services Department has been awarded a CalAPP grant in the amount of $80,000. The grant was noncompetitive and based on population size. This funding will be used to cover expenses related to implementing the SolarAPP+ software. The CalAPP Grant Agreement (Attachment No. 2) provides funding for expenses, including:
Ongoing in-house staff labor costs associated directly with the adoption and maintenance of the platform Ongoing third-party or consultant time associated directly with the adoption and maintenance of the platform Ongoing staff training and education specific to the platform Ongoing training events for local installers specific to the platform COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports the 2021-2022 City Council Priorities and Goals; Priority 1: Fiscal and Operational Responsibility; Goal C: Obtain additional grant funding and other revenues to help achieve City goals.
Prepared by:
_____________________
Vinny Tam
Senior Planner
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2023-149
Attachment No. 2 – CALAPP Grant Agreement
Acceptance of the California Automated Permit Processing (CALAPP) Program Grant