TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Clifford G. Finley, Public Works Director
DATE:February 27, 2024
SUBJECT: Southern California Edison Easement for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure at Newbury Park Library (CI 5569) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Grant of Easement to Southern California Edison (SCE), as necessary and as approved by the City Attorney, for purposes of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at the City’s Newbury Park Library (CI 5569) at 2331 Borchard Road and authorize the City Engineer to execute all necessary documents for the dedication of the easement on City property (APN 658-0-101- 060).
2. Find that this project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 C.C.R. Section 15301.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $255,726.74 remaining budget in project CI 5569. There is no cost for the Grant of Easement. 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 (ZEVs) in California to five million by 2030. In 2023, EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 25 percent of new vehicle sales in California and in Ventura County (California Energy Commission, 2023, https://www.energy.ca.gov/zevstats).
Under the State’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, by 2035 ZEVs will account for 100 percent of all 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 was the
SCE Easement for EV Charging Infrastructure at Newbury Park Library (CI 5569) February 27, 2024
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8 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 identified as priority sites for adding EV chargers due to their convenient locations and surrounding amenities.
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 under CI 5569 (Attachment #1).
On August 30, 2022, City Council authorized the acceptance of $98,999 from SCE to partially offset the costs of these installations. 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. At the January 24, 2023, City Council meeting, City Council approved a construction contract for the charger infrastructure work to Preferred Power Solutions, Inc. (PPS).
The installation of new equipment by SCE is necessary to support the anticipated added load from the EV chargers at both libraries. To conduct and maintain these infrastructure upgrades, SCE requires easements at each site. On September 12, 2023, City Council approved a Grant of Easement to SCE for the installation of EV charging infrastructure at Grant Brimhall Library.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
SCE has completed its upgrades at Grant Brimhall Library. Construction by PPS is awaiting delivery of switch gear, which is expected to arrive at the end of March 2024. Construction is expected to be completed within two months of equipment delivery.
To install new supporting electrical infrastructure at Newbury Park Library, SCE requires an easement on the library parcel (APN 658-0-101-060) in the planter bed between the sidewalk and the surface parking lot. Attachment #2 shows the preliminary plan drawing from SCE with the easement location marked.
Staff is requesting City Council approval of the grant of an easement to SCE now, in order to move this project forward and take advantage of grant funding due to expire May 1, 2024. This would allow the legal description of the easement to be SCE Easement for EV Charging Infrastructure at Newbury Park Library (CI 5569) February 27, 2024
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8 finalized under review by the City Engineer and City Attorney concurrently with the completion of the final engineering.
Staff has reviewed this Project and determined that it is exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to a Class 1 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.
This project meets City Council’s Top Ten Priorities #6, “Public Works + Infrastructure Investments.”
CIP PROJECT PRIORITY (as outlined in FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 CIP Program Budget): Priority Three – Nice to do and would contribute to quality of life, but not essential.
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 Maps
Attachment #2 – Draft Plan for SCE Electrical Infrastructure showing Easement location for Newbury Park Library
DPW:850-20\etm\ev\Council\2024\022724\CI 5569\SCE Easement for EV Charging Infrastructure staff report.docx