Administrative
Report
H.16., File # 23-5740 Meeting Date: 3/21/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: LUKE SMUDE, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
TITLE
APPROVE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION FOR THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMATED PERMIT PROCESSING PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT OF $60,000 WITH A TERM ENDING ON MARCH 30, 2027
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California Senate Bill (SB) 129 in 2021 included an appropriation to the California Energy Commission (CEC) to support a grant program for cities to establish online solar permitting programs. The California Automated Permitting Processing Program (CalAPP) was developed to distribute these funds to local jurisdictions. Approving the application to the CEC will allow the City to access its population-based CalAPP grant award of $60,000 to apply to its solar permit streamlining application.
BACKGROUND
Under California SB 379 every city must, “implement an online, automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time or allows the city…to issue permits in real time for a residential solar energy system.” Cities, like Redondo Beach, with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 have a deadline to implement an online permitting system by September 30, 2023.
The CEC has placed Redondo Beach on its proposed award list for the CalAPP program, with a preapproved grant award amount of $60,000, based on its population. Grant funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis to cover the cost of establishing an eligible automated, online solar permitting platform.
The City’s online permitting platform will be implemented through the acquisition of a new software program that is part of a companion item on the City Council’s meeting agenda. Specifically, the new platform is included in the proposed agreement with Charles Abbott Associates, Inc. for the provision of CityTech Permits Pro Software, a CEC-eligible online building permit program. It should be noted the proposed agreement with Abbott has a planned implementation date that will meet the deadline established by SB 379.
COORDINATION
This item was coordinated with the Building Division of the Community Development Department.
The City Attorney’s Office reviewed the proposed Grant Agreement as to form.
H.16., File # 23-5740 Meeting Date: 3/21/2023
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed grant will provide $60,000 of funding for the implementation of the online solar permitting program and related software. There is no matching requirement for the grant funds.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
Agmt - California Energy Commission Grant Agreement with Supporting Documentation