TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Kelvin Parker, Community Development Director
DATE:July 11, 2023
SUBJECT: California Automated Permit Processing Program Grant RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program Grant in a not-to-exceed amount of $80,000 for implementation and compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 379 (Wiener, 2022).
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time to prepare the report is included in the Adopted FY 2023-24 General Fund Budget. $80,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2023-24 General Fund Budget and the costs for the configuration and implementation of the software and staff training to comply with SB 379 will be fully offset by the grant.
BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill 129, Budget Act of 2021, provides $20 million in State funding through the California Energy Commission (CEC) to support the CalAPP grant program which helps reimburse cities for the cost of establishing an online solar permitting system. CalAPP is intended to encourage local governments to enhance permitting processes and accelerate processing and turnaround time with an automated system.
SolarAPP+ is a web-based platform that local governments are eligible to use for residential solar installation permits. This software was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The only CalAPP-approved SolarAPP+ software vendor currently is Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance). The SolarAPP+ web tool is available to the City through a no-cost agreement with Alliance.
CalAPP Program Grant
July 11, 2023
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1 Additionally, SB 379 (Wiener, 2022) requires all cities and counties in California to implement an online, automated permitting platform. SolarAPP+ automates and standardizes building permit processes for simple residential rooftop solar systems. The platform asks the contractor a series of questions to verify the solar system’s design meets State regulations and runs an automated code compliance check. If the plan complies with all the requirements, it automatically issues a permit so the installation of the solar system can begin.
SB 379 requires a city, or county with a population greater than 50,000, to implement the requirements of SB 379 by September 30, 2023. Grant funding has been made available to assist in developing, setting up, and implementing the automated platform.
Cities are required to begin reporting annually to the CEC within one year of implementing an online, automated solar permitting system. This annual reporting requirement will sunset on June 30, 2034, unless extended by legislation.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Staff applied for, and the City was awarded, an $80,000 grant to implement SolarAPP+ (Attachment #1). This web-based application is the only software available currently and will allow residential contractors to submit and pay for their solar permit application online, track their projects, schedule inspections, and receive final sign-off after installation.
The streamlining effort is a solution only for licensed contractors working on residential properties. This is designed to facilitate faster permitting for solar panel installation. This technology is currently developing and is emerging to establish compliance with permit requirements. The grant is structured for the City to receive reimbursement for system configuration, consultant development, staff training, and integration into the existing land management system. Staff has an existing agreement in place with Park Consulting Group Corporation to assist with the system configuration and integration.
The reporting to the CEC must include:
•The number of permits issued for residential solar energy systems and residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems; and
•The relevant characteristics of those systems.
CalAPP Program Grant
July 11, 2023
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1 COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
PREPARED BY: Jesse De Anda, Building Official
Attachment:
Attachment #1 –Grant Agreement
CDD:450-10\H:\COMMON\City Council\CC Agenda Items\2023\07112023\SolarApp Grant\Staff Report.docx