Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute a First Amendment to the Agreement with Blink Charging for up to $136,000 to Deploy a Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charger at Jean Sweeney Park.
This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (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 26541642)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On October 23, 2025, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) awarded a $136,000 grant to the City of Alameda (City) for a public fast EV charger at Jean Sweeney Park as part of the Public EV Charging Pilot Program. Authorization for the Interim City Manager to execute all necessary documents with ACTC to accept the grant funds and approve the local grant match was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 mid-year budget. Matching funds for the grant will be fully provided by the EV charging provider, Blink Charging. Staff is seeking to amend the service provider agreement with Blink to implement this grant.
BACKGROUND
Expansion of public EV charging is a priority established by the City Council and documented in the Alameda 2040 General Plan, Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), and City Council Strategic Plan (Project CC2). The City launched the Public EV Charging Pilot Program to 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. Key actions included selecting two providers (It’s Electric for curbside and Blink for City-owned lots) through a competitive process, forming an interdepartmental working group, and entering no-cost agreements for site evaluation and installation. City Council has adopted policies and agreements to enable implementation, including approving a Master Licensing Agreement and an ordinance enforcing EV-designated parking. Feasibility studies, engineering and design work for EV charging sites are now in progress.
In April 2026, the City Council was presented with a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Readiness Award from the California New Motor Vehicle Board recognizing Alameda for demonstrating leadership in fighting climate change, contributing to Californians’ health and economy, and reducing harm to the community by becoming ZEV-ready.
DISCUSSION
Status of Public EV Charging Program - Curbside Locations
City Council approved Blink Charging as the charging provider for City-owned parking lots. To date, chargers have been deployed and are now available for use at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park. These chargers were installed at Blink’s own expense.
The amendment of the agreement with Blink will allow implementation of a public fast EV charging station at Jean Sweeney Park funded by the awarded ACTC grant funds.
Staff will return to City Council at a later date to provide updates on deployments at additional City-owned parking lots and curbside locations. Future chargers will be deployed as grant funding becomes available. Depending on site feasibility, the City and Blink are exploring the feasibility of installing future chargers in City lots at Central Ave Lot C, Bay Farm Library/Leydecker Park, Washington Park and West End Lot W as well as upgrading chargers at the Civic Center garage. The City is also working with charging provider It’s Electric to deploy EV chargers at selected curbside locations throughout the City.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the first amendment to the service agreement with Blink, funded by the ACTC grant.
• Direct staff to proceed with a different approach. This will either require General Fund dollars to support the capital expenses or cause delays in implementation of the program until other funds can be identified.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Previous City Council action accepted the grant award from ACTC and requested new appropriations that resulted in an increase in the budget for C66300 of $136,000 as part of the FY 2025-26 mid-year budget.
There is no financial impact to the General Fund for the approval of the agreement amendment. The ACTC grant provides $136,000 reimbursement for expenses. Blink will provide the required matching funds in accordance with the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) grant requirements, as administered by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), with final amounts subject to eligible project costs and program requirements.
City Council previously approved the original contract with Blink, and the agreement amendments are presented below:
Table 2: Blink Agreement History
|
Contract |
City Council Approval Date |
Authorized Amount |
|
Original Contract |
June 2, 2024 |
$0 |
|
This Amendment |
March 17, 2026 |
$136,000 |
|
Total |
|
$136,000 |
As is common with grants, Blink will incur expenses and seek reimbursement through the City from ACTC for their costs. Sustainability and Resiliency Division staff time is not included in this grant amount, which is already funded through the General Fund; however, the providers will be paying permit fees that will cover Public Works and Building Division staff time to process the relevant permits.
Without the grant, the City would need to either provide General Funds or seek other grants to implement the pilot program. The ACTC grant utilizes state vehicle registration funds.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with adopted City policies in the 2023 Strategic Plan and CARP. 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 the CEQA 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 on-road transportation accounts for 54% 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 Interim City Manager to execute a first amendment to the agreement with Blink Charging for up to $136,000 to deploy a public EV fast charger at Jean Sweeney Park.
Respectfully submitted,
Abby Thorne-Lyman, Acting Planning, Building, and Transportation Director
By,
Danielle Mieler, Sustainability and Resilience Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. First Amendment
2. Agreement