CC SR 20221004 J - EV Charging Ordinance
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/04/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to adopt Ordinance No. 664 amending Title 15
(Buildings and Construction) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to add Chapter
15.44 (Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations) setting procedures for electric vehicle
charging systems.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Ordinance No. 664, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 15.44 (ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGING STATIONS) TO TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION)
SETTING PROCEDURES FOR THE STREAMLINE REVIEW AND PERMITTING
OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS (CASE NO. PLCA2022-0007).
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Krista Yost, Assistant Planner
REVIEWED BY: Ken Rukavina PE, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Ordinance No. 664 (page A-1)
To view the September 20, 2022, City Council staff report, click on the following link:
https://rpv.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=4232&meta_id=107004
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On September 20, 2022, Ordinance No. 664 (Attachment A) was presented to the City
Council and introduced for first reading. Ordinance No. 664 amends Title 15 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to create an expedited, streamlined permitting
procedures for electric vehicle charging stations, in accordance with Government Code
Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71, and to reduce the City’s reliance on fossil fuels and its
carbon footprint by encouraging electric vehicle use.
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Adoption of Ordinance No. 664 aligns with FY 2022-23 City Council Goal – Quality of Life
– Maintain and Improve the Quality of Life of Rancho Palos Verdes Residents under the
the project: adopt streamlined electric vehicle (EV) permit policies.
This evening, Ordinance No. 664 is presented for its second reading and adoption. If
adopted, the ordinance will go into effect after 30 days from the date of adoption.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff to revise Ordinance No. 664 for re-introduction and/or second reading
at a future City Council Meeting.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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ORDINANCE NO. 664
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 15.44
(ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS) TO
TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION)
SETTING PROCEDURES FOR THE STREAMLINE
REVIEW AND PERMITTING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE
CHARGING SYSTEMS (CASE NO. PLCA2022-0007)
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes promotes and encourages the use
of alternative or renewable forms of energy including fuel-efficient electric vehicles; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill No. 1236 (“AB
1236”), adding Section 65850.7 to the Government Code, which requires local agencies
to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited and streamlined permitting process for
electric vehicle charging systems; and
WHEREAS, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill No. 970 (“AB 970”) in
2021, which updated the requirements set forth in Government Code Section 65850.7
and added a new Government Code Section 65850.71 pertaining to processing of electric
vehicle charging system applications; and
WHEREAS, AB 970 requirements were operative for cities with a population of
less than 200,000 residents effective January 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, creation of an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric
vehicle charging stations would facilitate convenient charging of electric vehicles and help
reduce the City’s reliance on fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes desires to adopt
an ordinance to comply with the requirements of California Government Code Sections
65850.7 and 65850.71.
NOW, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
CALIFORNIA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by this reference.
Section 2. Chapter 15.44 (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) of Title 15
(Buildings and Constructions) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code is hereby
added to read:
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Ordinance No. 664
Page 2 of 5
15.44.010 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
A. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of this section is to promote and
encourage the use of electric vehicles by creating an expedited, streamlined permitting
process for electric vehicle charging stations while promoting public health and safety
and preventing specific adverse impacts in the installation and use of such charging
stations. This section is also intended to comply with California Government Code
Sections 65850.7 and 65850.71, including successor statutes and amendments thereto.
B. Definitions. The following words and terms as used in this section shall
mean:
“Building official” shall mean the Building Official for the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes and shall include their designee.
“Electronic submittal” shall include submittal of a document or application
including but not limited to by one of the following methods:
1. Electronic mail or email.
2. The internet.
3. Facsimile.
“Electric vehicle charging station” or “charging station” means any level of electric
vehicle supply equipment station designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the
California Electrical Code, including any amendment or successor statute thereto , and
which delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug -in electric
vehicle. Electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle charging supply equipment
shall refer to equipment including, but not limited to, the follow ing: conductors (including
ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors), electric vehicle
connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatus
installed specifically for the purpose of transferring energy between the premises wiring
and the electric vehicle.
“Feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact”
includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed
by a city, county, or city and county on another similarly situated application in a prior
successful application for a permit.
“Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and
unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety
standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed
complete.
C. Expedited electric vehicle charging station permitting . Electric Vehicle
Charging Stations which qualify for expedited permit processing , pursuant to Government
Code Section 65850.7, including any amendment or successor statute thereto, shall be
subject to the procedures set forth in this section.
D. Expedited Review Process. Consistent with Government Code Section
65850.7, including any amendment or successor statute thereto, the building official shall
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Ordinance No. 664
Page 3 of 5
implement an expedited permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations and
adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall
comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The City’s adopted checklist will
be published on the City’s publicly accessible website.
E. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Permit Application and
Processing.
1. All electric vehicle charging stations shall be subject to the following
standards:
a. An electric vehicle charging station shall meet all applicable
safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical
Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as
Underwriters Laboratories and where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities
Commission regarding safety and reliability. Electric vehicle charging
station systems and equipment shall also conform to all applicable
provisions and requirements of the California Building Code.
b. The installation of electric vehicle charging station systems
and equipment shall be in accordance with the City’s adopted electric
vehicle charging station checklist established by the building official.
c. All electric vehicle charging stations shall be installed only
after approval by the building official and only after issuance of the
necessary building permit and any and all other permits required by the
City relating to the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical characteristics of
the system.
2. Upon installation of an electric vehicle charging station, the applicant
shall be responsible for obtaining authorization and approval to connect the
electric vehicle charging station to the local utility provider’s electrical grid. In the
event the City owns or operates an electric utility into which connection is
proposed by the applicant, the application shall demonstrate compliance with the
City’s utility interconnection policies prior to approval.
3. The building official shall condition the permit as deemed necessary
in order to mitigate or avoid specific, adverse impacts of the charging station.
4. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, including any
amendments or successor statutes thereto, the building official shall not condition
the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of
such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section
4080.
Section 3. The City Council finds that the adoption of this ordinance is exempt
from having to comply with the requirements of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Section 15061(b)(3) which states: “CEQA only applies to project which have the potential
for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty
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Ordinance No. 664
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that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the
environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” There is no possibility the City’s activity
in adopting this ordinance, as mandated by the State, will have a significant, adverse,
effect on the environment.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause,
phrase, or portion of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or place, is
for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this
ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance,
and each and every section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion
thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 5. Certification and Posting. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to
be posted in three (3) public places in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 36933 of the Government Code. The City
Clerk shall further certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall cause
this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the
Book of Ordinances of the Council of this City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall go into effect at 12:01AM on the
31st day after its passage.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on this 4th day of October 2022.
David L. Bradley, Mayor
ATTEST:
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
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Ordinance No. 664
Page 5 of 5
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify that
the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 664 passed first reading on September 20, 2022, was duly adopted by the
City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on October 4, 2022, and that
the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
__________________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
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