Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Master License Agreements for the Public Electric Vehicle Charger Pilot Program.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction and Conversion of Small Structures), and Section 15304 (Minor Trenching). (Planning, Building and Transportation 10062032 and Public Works 31041520)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Consistent with previous City Council direction, the City of Alameda (City) is moving forward to expand the availability of electric vehicle (EV) chargers citywide by installing public chargers in City-owned parking lots and curbside locations as part of a pilot program. This strategy is a priority in both the City’s General Plan, Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) and the Strategic Plan (Project CC2). Expanding public EV charging options makes owning an EV more accessible for residents who rent, live in homes without driveways or garages, and those who live in multi-family apartments. Expanding public EV charging also benefits visitors to Alameda as well as those who shop at Alameda businesses.
Staff selected two third-party EV charging providers through a competitive review process and has entered into service provider agreements, applied for grants, developed site selection criteria and identified suitable City owned parking lots and site sponsors to implement the curbside program. The purpose of this staff report is to seek City Council approval of a master licensing agreement to implement the Public EV Charger Pilot Program. Following execution of the licensing agreement, the EV charging providers will seek encroachment and building permits and begin construction.
BACKGROUND
The number of EVs in Alameda is growing rapidly. As of 2023, 8.9% of registered vehicles in Alameda were zero emission electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles, compared to just 2.3% in 2017. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a rule mandating that all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the state be electric vehicles or other emissions-free models by 2035. The City recognizes the need for adequate charging solutions for all residents regardless of income or living situation to encourage the adoption of EVs. Expansion of public EV charging is a priority established by the City Council and documented in the Alameda 2040 General Plan, CARP, and City Council Strategic Plan (Project CC2).
To guide this expansion, the City and the Alameda Housing Authority (AHA) jointly published a request for proposals (RFP) in early 2024 to enter into an agreement with a third-party entity to provide public EV charging stations, including financing, installation, ownership, operation, and maintenance, at little or no cost to the City. As a result of the RFP, the City entered into no-cost agreements with It’s Electric and Blink Charging to evaluate sites and develop a Public EV Charger Pilot Program. The next step is the staff recommended action to enter into licensing agreements with the providers to begin implementation of the program.
By separate action, staff is also requesting City Council adoption of an ordinance adding Section 8-8.9 (Electric Vehicle Charging) to Article 8-8 (General Parking Regulations) to the Alameda Municipal Code. This ordinance would make it unlawful to park in a public parking space designated for EVs, unless the vehicle is connected to a charger. A corresponding fine will also be included as part of the annual Master Fee Schedule update.
DISCUSSION
Master License Agreement
Staff developed a master licensing agreement template that will facilitate implementation of the Public EV Charging Pilot Program (See Exhibit 1). The master license agreements would allow the installation of EV charging facilities within designated public parking lots and within the public right-of-way (license area). Following execution of a licensing agreement, EV charging providers will finalize site design for the license area and obtain encroachment and building permits authorizing construction, per the approved permit. Staff is requesting that the City Council delegate the authority to negotiate and execute master license agreements to the City Manager, subject to the following material terms:
• Term: Five years initial term with option to extend for a second 5-year term by mutual agreement, up to 10 years maximum. City Council may approve any additional extensions.
• Encroachment (License) Agreement fee and all City building permit and encroachment permit fees specified in the City’s Municipal Fee Schedule for each Charging Station Construction/Installation: Undertaken by Licensee in compliance with law and City applicable permit(s).
• Maintenance, Repair and Replacement: Responsibility of Licensee.
• Use: Public EV charging.
• Compliance with Laws: Licensee must comply with current and future laws.
• Insurance: Provided by Licensee in an amount and quality approved by City’s Risk Manager.
• Indemnity: In favor of City and designated City parties.
• Security Deposit: Provided by Licensee in an amount and quality provided by City’s Risk Manager.
Pilot Program
Third party public EV charging in the public right-of-way is a new approach for the City that will expand the availability of EV chargers for residents who rent, live in homes without driveways or garages, and those who live in multi-family apartments. Staff, working with It’s Electric, the selected curbside EV charging provider, solicited interest from property owners and received over 100 requests for charging stations in the public right-of-way. Using selection criteria, a total of 10 potential on-street sites were identified for the first phase of a pilot program. Neighborhood level selection criteria include being within a medium-density residential or mixed-use neighborhood or near commercial and other uses that draw daytime visitors, and a focus on equity priority neighborhoods. Street-level criteria include placing chargers where parking is currently legal and does not have restrictions such as time limits or meters; where chargers will not interfere with existing separate bike lanes or those planned within the next 5 years; near intersections and curb ramps and on both sides of one way streets where possible for improved accessibility; where there is adequate sidewalk clearance and where chargers will not interfere with other above or below ground infrastructure. Additionally, 12 City-owned public parking lots were reviewed and four lots identified for an initial phase requiring minimal electrical infrastructure improvements to support EV chargers with Blink Charging as the charging provider. The chargers in this program can be used with any type of electric vehicle.
To facilitate this and further expand charger deployment, the City was awarded $1,237,000 in grant funding through the Metropolitan Transportation’s (MTC) Charging Infrastructure Program to expand the public EV charging program with Blink Charging and It’s Electric as the charging providers.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the City Manager (or Designee) to Negotiate and Execute a Master License Agreement for public EV charging.
• Request staff to revise any provision in the Master License Agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. City staff will return to City Council to request acceptance of the $1,237,000 grant award from MTC. The required local match of 11.47% of total project cost will be provided by the EV charging providers, It’s Electric and Blink Charging.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Installing public EV charging is consistent with the Alameda 2040 General Plan. Specifically, General Plan Policy CC-6 supports the increase in supply of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations in Alameda. In addition, Strategic Plan Project #CC2 identifies the need to expand EV charging availability across the City. Furthermore, Strategy T6 of the CARP (2025) calls for increasing the availability of EV charging stations citywide. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15303, and 15304, each on a separate and independent basis. Operation and minor alteration of existing facilities and vehicle operations are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA under Section 15301 - Existing Facilities. Installation of EV chargers and ancillary utility equipment is exempt from CEQA under Section 15303 - New Construction and Conversion of Small Structures. Lastly, the project is exempt under Section 15304 Minor Trenching. None of the exceptions to exemptions apply.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Supporting the adoption of EVs will help the City meet its goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by shifting gas powered vehicles towards 100% clean electricity provided by AMP. The City’s 2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory found that transportation accounts for 62% of the City’s GHG emissions, and that expanding EV adoption for those trips that cannot be shifted to walking, biking or transit, is paramount to reducing transportation-related emissions.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute master license agreements for the Public EV Charger Pilot Program in substantially the same form as Exhibit 1.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Danielle Mieler, Sustainability and Resilience Manager
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Acting Finance Director
cc: Allen Tai, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Exhibit 1: Master License Agreement Template