SR-510-012
CP:SM\EPWM\O;p\STAFFRPT\FEEWAIVE.DOC
Council Meeting: January 8, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Waive Permit Fees for Installation of Electrical
Service for Electric Vehicle Chargers and Solar Photovoltaic or Solar
Thermal Systems; Recommendation to Restrict Parking Spaces Equipped
with Electric Vehicle Chargers to Electric Vehicles Only and Direct the
City Attorney to Draft Necessary Ordinance Changes; and
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Make
Recommendation to Waive Parking Meter Fees for Certified Alternative
Fuel Vehicles
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that City Council waive permit fees for installation of electrical
service for electric vehicle chargers and solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems.
This report also recommends that parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle
chargers be restricted to electric vehicles only, and that parking meter fees at all City
parking meters be waived for certified alternative fuel vehicles. The report also
recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to make any necessary
ordinance changes to the Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
In response to the State?s energy situation, approximately 30 percent of Santa Monica
residents reduced their electricity consumption by 20 percent or more during the
summer months and qualified for the State?s financial incentive program. The public?s
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increased awareness about energy is beneficial for both the community and the
environment, and is consistent with many Council-adopted policies, including the
Strategic Energy Plan and the Green Building Design and Construction Guidelines.
Over the last several years, the City has demonstrated its commitment to energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and the use of alternative-fuel vehicles through the
implementation of various programs. Through its participation in the Regional Energy
Efficiency Initiative (REEI), Community Corporation Housing is being retrofit with
energy efficient lighting systems and heaters, residents have purchased low-cost
compact fluorescent lamps, and small businesses are being offered energy efficient
lighting systems for half price. The City has installed electric vehicle chargers at six
different locations throughout the City and is currently developing a feasibility analysis
of Santa Monica?s solar energy potential.
DISCUSSION
On April 24, 2001, the City Council adopted a resolution revising various fees related to
the building permit, plan check, and inspection process. The fees were set to recover
the City?s costs for providing plan check and inspection services. Waiving certain of
those fees could act as an incentive to realizing the City?s energy goals, and could
persuade the public to invest in more efficient systems for their homes and businesses
as well as create an incentive for the purchase of electric vehicles. Several California
cities (Oakland, San Diego, San Jose) have waived fees for design review and
installation of renewable energy distributed generation technologies, including solar
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photovoltaics and solar thermal panels.
Permit Fees
Staff recommends that the fee structure be amended and that permit fees be waived for
the following types of projects:
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Installation of new electrical service for electric vehicles or installation of electric
vehicle chargers.
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Installation of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.
The waiver would apply only if the type of project listed above was the only permitted
work occurring at the specified location. Fees would not be waived for any permits
related to a new construction or substantial remodel project. Property owners/permit
applicants will not be exempt from design review or inspections, but will only be exempt
from paying permit fees.
Restricted Parking Spaces
In 1999, the City received a State grant to install electric vehicle charging stations at
five locations: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Airport, City Hall, Santa Monica Place,
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and Montana Avenue at 11 Street. Electric vehicle drivers have been supportive of the
City?s efforts, but often find that the parking spots equipped with chargers are occupied
by non-electric cars. Electric vehicle drivers may be stranded when they cannot
recharge their vehicles. Staff recommends that all of these parking spaces and any
others subsequently installed by the City be designated for electric vehicles only and
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that the Police Department be directed to issue parking tickets to violators. Staff also
recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to make any necessary
changes to the Municipal Code to allow enforcement to occur.
Parking Meter Fees
The City of Los Angeles recently adopted a 12-month pilot program allowing alternative
fuel vehicles to park for free at City meters. Those vehicles displaying Department of
Motor Vehicle (DMV) Clean Air Vehicle Decals are allowed to park at on-street and off-
street parking meters in the City without depositing coins into the meters. The decal
allows drivers of ZEV (zero-emission), ULEV (ultra-low), and SULEV (super-ultra-low)
alternative-fuelled vehicles to drive in the high-occupancy lane on freeways. Before
issuing the identifying stickers, the DMV certifies that the applicant vehicle is on the list
of qualified vehicles or meets the emission standards through personal inspection. The
stickers, which have a one-time application fee of $8.00, are placed on the right rear
bumper and the right and left rear quarter panels on the qualifying vehicle and are valid
for the life of the vehicle. Staff recommends that Santa Monica adopt a similar pilot
program. Vehicles displaying the decal will still have to comply with the 2 hour posted
time limit and parking restrictions. The 12-month pilot program would begin immediately
upon Council?s approval. At the end of the pilot, staff will assess the participation in the
program, enforcement experience, and any revenue impacts and report back to Council
with a recommendation.
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BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
The City receives relatively few permit applications for installation of solar photovoltaic,
solar thermal, or electric vehicle charging systems annually and the net loss in revenue
from this fee waiver would not be significant. Similarly, approximately 1,200
alternative-fuel vehicles are privately owned in all of Southern California. It is therefore
not anticipated that the loss of parking meter revenue from those vehicles parking in
Santa Monica would be significant.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Waive permit fees for installation of electrical service for electric vehicle
chargers, and solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems;
2. Restrict parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle chargers to electric
vehicles only; and
3. Waive parking meter fees for certified alternative-fuelled vehicles.
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make
4. Direct the City Attorney to draft any necessary changes to the Municipal Code
and to return to the City Council with recommended ordinance for adoption.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning and Community Development
James Butts Jr., Chief of Police
Susan Munves, Energy and Green Building Programs Coordinator
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