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2nd Floor
San Clemente, California
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AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
Meeting Date: June 17, 2025 Agenda Item: 11T.
Submitted By: Community Development
Prepared By: Jonathan Lightfoot, City Planner
Jessica Gatny, Assistant Planner
Subject:
..titl e
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO NEGOTIATE NECESSARY BUDGET REVISIONS TO A $1.8 MILLION GRANT AWARD FOR CLEAN MOBILITY OPTIONS (CMO) VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM’S 2023 MOBILITY PROJECT VOUCHER, TO ENABLE
THE PURCHASE OF ALTERNATIVE, QUALIFYING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND FINDING
THE PROJECT STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE § 21080.25. ..body
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Summary:
Before the City Council is a proposed budget revision for the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program Grant, which enables the purchase of alternative, qualifying electric vehicles along a new public transit route. The proposed Resolution (Attachment 1) would direct staff to negotiate necessary revisions to the project budget to reallocate up to $400,000 of the $1,800,000 grant from vehicle operations funds to vehicle purchase capital costs (for total capital costs not to exceed $628,000) with no changes to the City’s previous commitment of $534,000 in matching funds for operations, and reiterate CMO program commitment and compliance with CMO program requirements.
Background:
On March 4, 2025, City Council authorized acceptance of $1.8 million grant award for The CMO Voucher Pilot Program. The CMO Voucher Pilot Program provides funding for community-driven mobility projects that increase residents’ access to key destinations by providing clean transportation options. All projects funded by CMO must directly benefit residents of a low-income community or a disadvantaged community (DAC). The project area must either be DAC as defined by SB 535, a low-income community or household as defined by Assembly Bill 1550 or Tribal land within DACs or low-income communities.
As identified in the March 4, 2025 City Council Agenda Report (Attachment 5), the first phase of the program included outreach and engagement with the community. Additionally, staff can recommend changes to the vehicle type or route to the Program Administrator as a result of community outreach findings. The initial CMO grant proposal designated four MotoEV Electro Transit Buddy vehicles at a total budgeted cost of $228,000. However, limitations such as speed restrictions and street-legal compliance issues with the vehicles were identified. After further 1 Attachment 4
Meeting Date: June 17, 2025 Agenda Item: 11T.
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
discussions with the vendor’s sales and procurement team, it was determined that an alternative vehicle type would be necessary for the program.
Additional constraints, such as fixed-route ADA compliance requirements, further limit the availability of suitable vehicles on the market. To identify viable alternatives, staff explored options listed on the California HVIP website, which includes vehicles potentially eligible for incentive funding, pending availability. In addition, staff attended the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo to gather further insights into the current available vehicle options.
As a result, staff identified three alternative vehicle options: 1) Hometown Trolley, 2) KarsanDamera Mini Bus, and 3) EV Star Mobility Plus Shuttle. Images and descriptions of these vehicles are provided in Attachment 2. To gather public input, these options were presented at three community events: the Earth Day Fair on April 26, 2025; the Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 3, 2025; and the Annual San Clemente Car Show on May 31, 2025. Additionally, a map of the service areas and nearby amenities (Attachment 4) was also presented to collect community input, helping inform the number and placement of transit stops.
The first two events showcased all three vehicle options (Attachment 2), along with estimated costs and passenger capacities, to help inform public feedback. Following these events, staff analyzed the collected data, price points, and capacity metrics, and subsequently narrowed the selection to two vehicle options (Trolley or Shuttle). For the final community event, staff updated the presentation poster (Attachment 3) to feature only the two remaining options, detailing the features and benefits of each. Additionally, the shuttle image was revised – replacing the original plain white shuttle with a more visually engaging depiction of two shuttles featuring colorful vehicle wraps.
The survey results of the engagement sessions are as follows:
Events Option #1:
Trolley
Option #2: Mini
Bus
Option #3:
Shuttle
4/26/25 15 8 3
4/3/25 37 10 5
4/31/25 38 n/a 35
Community engagement data initially indicated a strong preference for the Trolley; however, responses from the final engagement session were nearly split between the Trolley and the Shuttle(s).
A key distinction between the alternative vehicle options is cost. Both vehicle options are substantially more expensive than the small electric shuttles cited in the original grant application, but two shuttles (approximately $300,000 each) can be acquired for approximately the same cost as a single trolley (approximately $550,000 to procure a model consistent with CMO Program requirements). Another significant difference is the level of service: with two shuttles, wait times would be reduced, and the shuttle vehicles would be better suited to navigate narrow streets if the route did not follow arterials.
2 Meeting Date: June 17, 2025 Agenda Item: 11T.
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
The data collected for the desired transit stop locations identifies numerous desired stops within and adjacent to the grant service areas (Attachment 4), which indicates a higher level of service could be warranted and supports the selection of multiple Shuttles, rather than a single Trolley.
Another factor to consider is the driver(s) costs, which is still expected to be the greatest cost of the program. Given the shift from four vehicles to one or two, staff costs are expected to be reduced enough to offset the increased vehicle purchase costs. Accordingly, staff are not requesting City Council authorization for additional City funding or grant match beyond the $534,000 that was authorized in March 2025. The grantor has indicated they are amenable to an amendment to their grant agreement and budget to enable the City to purchase the desired vehicles and that operational funds may be shifted from reduced driver costs.
Due to recent changes with the existing e-trolley manufacturer – including the adoption of a new electric chassis supplier and extended lead times – staff recommends proceeding with the acquisition of two electric shuttles in order to provide the service required by the grant terms and desired by the community. Staff proposes that the selection of the final make and model be made by staff through evaluation of price, lead time, and reliability ratings.
Council Options:
Approve Resolution No. 25-103, directing staff to negotiate necessary budget revisions to the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program Grant to enable the purchase of the alternative, qualifying electric vehicles, and finding the project statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQ) under California Public Resources Code § 21080.25.
Continue the item and direct staff to provide additional information.
Environmental Review/Analysis:
The City of San Clemente’s proposed project under the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program is statutorily exempt from CEQA under California Public Resources Code § 21080.25 because it involves a new transit service on existing public right of way within an urbanized area.
Recommended Actions:
Staff Recommendation ..recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Resolution No. 25-103, which would:
1. Direct the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate necessary budget revisions to the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program Grant, to enable the purchase of the alternative, qualifying vehicles consistent with City Council recommendation and requirements of the grantor; and
2. Find the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program, as modified, statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to California Public Resources Code § 21080.25.
3 Meeting Date: June 17, 2025 Agenda Item: 11T.
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
..endAttachments:
1. Resolution 25-103
2. Community Engagement Poster – Vehicle Options 1
3. Community Engagement Poster – Vehicle Options 2
4. Community Engagement Poster – Desired Transit Stop Location Map
5. Resolution 25-18 and March 4, 2025 Agenda Report
Notification:
None.
4 Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. 25-103
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING STAFF TO
NEGOTIATE NECESSARY BUDGET REVISIONS TO A $1.8
MILLION GRANT AWARD FOR CLEAN MOBILITY OPTIONS
VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM’S 2023 MOBILITY PROJECT
VOUCHER, TO ENABLE THE PURCHASE OF
ALTERNATIVE QUALIFYING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND
FINDING THE PROJECT STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE § 21080.25
WHEREAS, the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (“CMO”) provides funding for community-driven mobility projects that increase residents’ access to key destinations by providing various clean transportation options; and WHEREAS, on February 21, 2023, the City Council of the City of San Clemente directed City staff to apply for a grant under the CMO Voucher Pilot Program’s 2023 Mobility Project Voucher (“MPV”); and
WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente, qualifies as a voucher applicant per the Implementation Manual for the Clean Mobility Options (hereinafter “CMO”) Voucher Program (hereinafter “Program”); and
WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente, as Lead Applicant, submitted a Mobility Project Voucher Application on March 1, 2023, for the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (“CMO”), which application was for the procurement of light or medium duty battery electric vehicles to serve local mobility needs for the AB 1550 Low-income Communities west of Interstate 5, south of Avenida Pico, and north of Avenida Valencia; and WHEREAS, CALSTART, as the CMO Program Administrator, desires to contract with City of San Clemente for, and City of San Clemente desires to provide mobility services described in its application for the CMO MPV; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente is eligible to receive funding through CMO, a statewide initiative funded by California Climate Investments and California Energy Commission Clean Transportation Program Investments, and administered by California Air Resource Board’s Program Administrator team to provide funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California; and WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente will comply with the requirements of the program and on March 6, 2025 the City Council passed a resolution to accept CMO voucher funds in the amount of up to $1,800,000 for the San Clemente NEV Circulator Program for FY 2024/25 through 2029/30; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Clemente staff have reviewed commercially available vehicle models and associated costs of procurement and operation, and procurement of any 5 Resolution No. 25-103 Page 2
qualifying commercial vehicles will require a revision to the grant agreement to reallocation or potion of operations costs to capital costs, in order to provide the service required by the grant terms and desired by the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Clemente does hereby find, determine and resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. That based on the record as a whole, as may be revised to enable purchase of alternative qualifying vehicles, the project is hereby determined to be statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code § 21080.25 because it involves a new transit service on existing public right of way within an urbanized area.
SECTION 2. That the City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized and directed to negotiate revisions to Agreement Number MP23W2A-11G, previously approved by City Council on March 4, 2025, to reallocate up to $400,000 from vehicle operations funds to vehicle purchase capital costs (for total capital costs not to exceed $628,000, with no changes to the City’s previous commitment of $534,000 in matching funds for operations, reiterate the City’s CMO program commitment and compliance, and solicit draft contract agreements with the CMO Program Administrator Team and a qualifying vehicle provider.
SECTION 3. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________________, _______.
ATTEST:
___________________________
City Clerk of the City of
San Clemente, California
__________________________
Steve Knoblock, Mayor of the
City of San Clemente, California
6 Resolution No. 25-103 Page 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 25-103 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on the _______ day of _______________________, _________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of _________________, ________. __________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
____________________________
Elizabeth A. Mitchell, City Attorney
7 Karsan-Damera e-JEST $290,000 10 Passengers, 2 fold-down seats, 1 ADA (& 9 max standing) Clean Mobility Options Voucher Program (CMO) CMO is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all eligible disadvantaged and low-income communities and tribal governments, to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient and affordable transportation options. For eligibility requirements, application information and to contact the technical assistance team, please visit: www.cleanmobilityoptions.org. $1.8 Million CMO Grant Project to Expand Transit Options Funds to be utilized for Vehicles & Drivers Vehicle & Route Selection Guided by Public Input Year-Round Route to Connect Business & Commercial Centers to Neighborhoods & Existing Routes Green Power Motor Company EV Star Mobility Plus $201,000 18 Passengers, 2 wheelchairs, & driver Hometown Trolley-Motiv $350,000 - $450,000 30 Passengers (configurations vary) Option 1 Trolley Option 2 Mini-Bus Option 3 Shuttle Attachment 2 8 Clean MobHlty Option$ Voucher Program (CMG} Clean ~Mo~ility Options (,~ • .<', - ~'<; ~ AA~«-<} - - f~ -, IU .lj • .l i1 .J - - \ ' ., ,' .......... 'II a -- \~ ~ , ' 1· -~ ... , 1,·' ·" ' ·~··· ' / ~. 'i'. ,, is-!'! . I .· 1 '.' '. · . i>1: .• . ',, I I lo,,' ,, ,.., .· 1 ~, ,, \1)f 1•1 r..-)~ , ... , i ' -=-- . '\. ' '~ .\ . ,,, _ _ ,, ' Details:
• $200,000 - $300,000• 18 Passengers & 2 wheelchairs• $60k HVIP Zero-Emission Incentive• Range: 150 miles• Charging: Level 2 (8h) & DCFC (2h)• Weight: 14,330 lbs. “CMO is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourcedcommunities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all eligible disadvantaged and low-incomecommunities and tribal governments, to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient and affordabletransportation options. For eligibility requirements, application information and to contact the technicalassistance team, please visit: www.cleanmobilityoptions.org.” Details:
• $480,000 - $520,000• 30 Passengers & 2 wheelchairs• $85k HVIP Zero-Emission Incentive• Range: 105 miles• Charging: Level 2 (3.75-8 hours)• Weight: 26,000 lbs.
Clean Mobility Options Voucher Program (CMO)
$1.8 Million CMO Grant Project to Expand Transit Options • Funds to be utilized for Vehicles & Drivers• Vehicle & Route Selection Guided by Public Input• Year-Round Route to Connect Business & Commercial Centers to Neighborhoods & Existing Routes
Option 2Hometown Trolley
Option 1Electric Shuttle
PROS
• Lower Cost – Could Acquire Two Vehicles• Shorter Wait Times with Two Vehicles• Nimble on Narrow Streets PROS
• Higher Capacity for Passengers• Matches Existing Trolleys• Open-Air Attachment 3
9 10
Number of Pins by Looation
• 1 .4
• 5.9
- 10-13
• 14-18
19-22
•SWvk:e.Areas
- Shopping [)jlibict:I
Parks
Trolley~ .
• Blu~Une
- Red Une
-Greenune:
• Blueand Red Une.
II Green and Red Une
Attachment 4