TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Clifford G. Finley, Public Works Director
DATE:September 12, 2023
SUBJECT: Southern California Edison Easement for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure at the Grant Brimhall Library
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the Grant of Easement to Southern California Edison (SCE) Company and authorize the City Engineer to execute all necessary documents for the dedication of the easement and right-of-way on City property (APN 677-0-100-365) for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure (CI 5569) at the City’s Grant Brimhall Library at 1401 East Janss Road.
2. Find that this project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under a Class I categorical exemption (14 C.C.R. Section 15301).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time required to review and process the easement is included in the Adopted FY 2023-24 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
Over 2.5 million EVs have been sold in the U.S., half of them in California. The State has set a goal of increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in California to five million by 2030. Currently, EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles amount to over 25 percent of new vehicle sales in California, and by 2035 ZEV will account for 100 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold.
In June 2018, City Council adopted a Sustainability Plan for Municipal Operations, establishing the foundation for environmentally friendly, fiscally responsible, and sustainably minded City operations. One of the key strategies identified in that plan was the development and implementation of an EV Charger Plan. In Fall 2020, the City participated in developing the Ventura County EV Ready Blueprint and surveyed current and potential EV drivers to identify priority locations within the City to install EV Chargers. Based on this Blueprint, the City’s two libraries were
SCE Easement for EV Charging Infrastructure at Grant Brimhall Library September 12, 2023
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1 identified as priority sites for adding EV Chargers due to their convenient locations and surrounding amenities (Attachment #1). On May 20, 2022, the City Manager approved Task Order No. 2 with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for engineering design, preparation of contract documents, and support services for the installation of four EV Charging Stations (8 ports) at the Grant Brimhall Library and three EV charging stations (6 ports) at the Newbury Park Library.
On August 30, 2022, City Council authorized the acceptance of $98,999 from SCE to partially offset the costs of these installations. At the January 24, 2023, City Council meeting, City Council approved a construction contract for the charger infrastructure work to Preferred Power Solutions, Inc. After a competitive Request for Proposal process in November 2022, EvGateway was chosen as the preferred EV network services provider for the City’s public and fleet chargers. Under a five- year site agreement, EvGateway will be responsible for the maintenance, collection of user fees, and operation of a 24/7 bilingual customer service hotline for the EV Chargers at the two City libraries.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
New equipment will be installed by SCE at the Grant Brimhall Library to support the added load from the new EV Chargers. To conduct and maintain these infrastructure upgrades, SCE requires an easement. The Grant of Easement document and plan drawing for the Grant Brimhall Library is provided in Attachment #2.
SCE does not currently have adequate capacity to add the EV Chargers at the Newbury Park Library. SCE is evaluating options to upgrade the power for that area and expects it will take three to four months before they have a solution. After the engineered drawings are completed and approved by SCE, staff will return to the Council with a proposed layout and associated easement for the Newbury Park Library EV Chargers.
The City has reviewed this Project and determined that it is exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to a Class I categorical exemption (14 C.C.R.
Section 15301) because it involves the minor alteration of existing facilities with improvements that would lead to negligible or no expansion of use beyond the use existing at this time.
SCE Easement for EV Charging Infrastructure at Grant Brimhall Library September 12, 2023
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1 COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
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.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
PREPARED BY: John Brooks, Sr. Analyst
Helen Cox, Sustainability Division Manager
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Vicinity and Location Map
Attachment #2 – Grant Brimhall Library Grant of Easement DPW: 850-20\etm\ev\Council\2023\091223\SCE Easement for EV Chargers at City Libraries staff report.docx