REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Ursula Luna-Reynosa, Director of Community Development
Subject:
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Adopt Ordinance No. 4166 expediting the Permit Process for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations on Private Property
Approved for introduction January 22, 2019 - Vote: 6-0-1 (Delgleize out of room) and Continued from February 4, 2019
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Statement of Issue:
Transmitted to City Council for consideration is an ordinance to create an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations on private property.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Ordinance No. 4166, “An Ordinance of the City of Huntington Beach Adding Chapter 17.62 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Regarding Expedited Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting.”
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Alternative Action(s):
The City Council may make the following alternative motions:
1. Do not adopt Ordinance No. 4166 and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
At the February 4, 2019 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to ensure that applicants are clear regarding signage regulations for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS). Staff has added the following language to the Commercial EV Charger Checklist to further clarify signage limitations:
Signage - EVCS instructions/ identification signage shall be allowed as long as it is incorporated into the EVCS and not a separate structure. One sign per EVCS not to exceed 2 sq. ft. in area. No other signs (including advertising of any kind) shall be permitted on the EVCS, except as specified. State or federal government required signs encompassed within an EVCS shall not be regulated.
As the checklist is not an exhibit to the Ordinance, it can be changed without necessitating an amendment to the Ordinance. Therefore, even with the proposed changes to the checklist, the City Council can still hold the second reading of the Ordinance.
The City Council will have the opportunity to discuss the City’s Sign Ordinance as it relates to EVCS’s in greater depth as part of the Phase II Zoning Code Update. Staff anticipates that the Phase II Zoning Code Update will be brought to the City Council for consideration by the end of 2019.
Environmental Status:
The proposed Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Guidelines Section 15061, subdivision (b)(3), which applies where there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed ordinance establishes a streamlined/expedited permit process for EV-charging stations. No development or physical changes to the environment would occur as a result.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and Maintain City Service Delivery
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance No. 4166 adding Chapter 17.62 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code
2. EV Charger Checklist (Residential)
3. Commercial EV Charger Checklist - REVISED