TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Tony Olmos, Public Works Director
Sona Coffee, Environmental Programs Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Approve Grant Agreement with South Coast Air Quality Management District and Appropriate $45,000 for the Purchase of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, of which $22,485 is Reimbursable by the Grant (Public Works Director Olmos).
APPROVE AGREEMENT AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Approve grant agreement with South Coast Air Quality Management District;
2. Appropriate $45,000 from the AB 2766 Subvention Fund to purchase electric vehicle charging and monitoring equipment (of which $22,485 is reimbursable by the grant); and
3. Authorize City Manager to execute contract.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City is eligible to receive $22,485 in matching funds from the South Coast Air Quality Management District under their Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) Local Government Match Program. Grant funds are to be used to install electric vehicle infrastructure. If the City wishes to utilize this grant funding, $45,000 will need to be appropriated from the AB 2766 Subvention Fund in order to receive matching funds in the amount of $22,485.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2012, City Council held a study session to review options for providing public electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Manhattan Beach. The study session reviewed several locations that would be eligible for electric vehicle charging stations, and the City has installed stations at these locations as grant funding has become available.
A goal of the MSRC program is to replace standard vehicles with electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants resulting from standard vehicles. The City has recently received funding from the Local Government Match Program to support this goal through the purchase of a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle for the Parks and Recreation Department, as well as through the purchase of electric vehicle charging stations for public use and the City fleet.
Six publicly available charging stations have been installed to date, four stations in the Civic Center parking garage and two stations in parking Lot 4 in North Manhattan Beach on Rosecrans and Highland Avenue.
These stations do not have monitoring capabilities, so the City cannot yet easily track the use of these stations. Monitoring infrastructure does exist that can provide this information, and the equipment is compatible with the charging stations in the City.
DISCUSSION:
The City has supported electric vehicle technology as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the community's climate protection initiatives. Electric vehicle ownership by residents has increased in Manhattan Beach, as has the presence of electric vehicles in the City. To support this growing need, the City installed several electric vehicle charging stations for the community. Grant funding is available to purchase additional charging stations, as well as monitoring technology to better assess and manage the charging stations. If City Council allocates matching funds for the purchase of this equipment, the City Manager will execute a contract with the MSRC Local Government Match Program (Attachment 1).
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
There are several locations in Manhattan Beach that are potentially suitable for electric vehicle charging stations, but not all locations are wired for electricity yet. However, locations in the Metlox parking garage and parking Lot 3 in downtown Manhattan Beach are setup to install electric vehicle charging stations, and would offer EV drivers additional parking spaces to use when dining or shopping in Manhattan Beach. Attachment 2 shows a map of the electric vehicle charging station locations.
The City has standardized charging stations with the Clipper Creek technology, and staff requests City Council approval of matching funds for the purchase of four additional Clipper Creek electric vehicle charging stations.
Electric Vehicle Monitoring Technology
The electric vehicle charging stations that have been installed to date seem to be very well used by the public, but without monitoring capability staff does not have access to information such as the number of vehicles using the charging stations at any given time. Further, since the charging stations are not part of a network, users cannot monitor the status of their vehicles, reserve a charging station ahead of time, or identify the availability of a parking space before arriving in the parking garage.
Technology is available that can provide users with the information needed, without tying the City into a proprietary software system or a for-profit charging system. Aside from the data on usage that would become available, electric vehicle monitoring equipment will also provide the City with the opportunity to assign specific parking or charging requirements, such as parking hours or parking fees during certain times.
Grant funds are available to purchase this technology, as well as purchase the electric vehicle charging stations. If funds are approved, Staff recommends the purchase and installation of five Liberty Access Hydra monitoring systems to support each of the areas electric vehicle charging stations are scheduled to be installed. The Liberty Access Hydra systems would be owned by the City, and are compatible with existing charging stations.
Electric Vehicle Parking in Manhattan Beach
Staff recommends following posted parking regulations and continuing with the 2-hour parking limit while the electric vehicle is charging. Currently, the metered fees are waived during this period, and overnight parking is allowed depending on the parking regulations posted. If City Council would like to revisit the parking hours or fees for electric vehicles, staff can return with more information.
CONCLUSION:
To continue to support electric vehicle technology and provide additional electric vehicle parking spaces in Manhattan Beach, Staff recommends City Council allocate $45,000 from the AB 2766 Subvention Fund for the Local Government Match Program grant to purchase electric vehicle charging and monitoring equipment.
Attachments:
1. MSRC Local Government Match Program Contract
2. Electric Vehicle Charging Locations in Manhattan Beach