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Approve a funding agreement between Solano County and the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) recognizing STA as the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) State Earmark’s agent to administer $250,000 in funding for the Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Network, with implementation by Solano County at 275 Beck Avenue in Fairfield; Delegate authority to the County Administrator, or designee, to execute any and all documents required for the administration of the grant; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request to recognize $250,000 one-time grant funding from the State Earmark funds (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of General Services (GSD) recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a funding agreement between Solano County and the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) recognizing STA as the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) State Earmark’s agent to administer $250,000 in funding for the Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Network, with implementation by Solano County at 275 Beck Avenue in Fairfield;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator, or designee, to execute any and all documents required for the administration of the grant; and
3. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) to recognize $250,000 one-time grant funding from the State Earmark funds (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY:
In 2015, STA received a grant from the California Energy Commission to conduct STA’s Solano Electric Vehicle Transition Program, which provides a comprehensive approach to reducing barriers to the deployment of EVs in Solano County. STA adopted their Solano EV Program Final Report in 2018. STA has supported and continues to plan to leverage its discretionary funds in efforts to support the expansion of EV projects. Most recently, STA has secured State Earmark funding from Caltrans to improve access to a reliable, affordable, and equitable EV Infrastructure Network by increasing the deployment of EV chargers. STA received its Board’s approval to enter into a funding agreement with Solano County on May 10, 2023, providing $250,000 of these funds for use by Solano County on any phase of EV infrastructure implementation. The funding agreement (Attachment A) is now submitted for corresponding approval by the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total estimated conceptual cost for implementing ten EV Charging stations is $772,000 (Attachment B), to be located at 275 Beck Avenue in Fairfield. The conceptual cost, based on known costs for similar work, includes escalation for the first planning year. The STA/Caltrans grant funding will offset $250,000 of the total implementation cost. Additional funding of $522,000 will be needed to fund the overall project, and staff will return to the Board at a later date to request approval of funding for the remainder of the project. In the meantime, grant funding can be used for project planning, design, and updated cost estimating, until additional funding is available for construction.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
California Executive Order N-79-20 was signed on September 23rd, 2020, setting a goal for in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks to be zero emission by 2035. A further goal of the State is that one hundred percent of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the State be zero-emission by 2045 for all operations where feasible, and by 2035 for off-road vehicles, drayage trucks, and equipment. Further installation of EV charging stations is needed to address the increasing demand for available power in the transition to EVs.
GSD recommends the Board approve the funding agreement and approval of the ATR recognizing the one-time grant funding of $250,000 to offset the estimated total project cost. GSD will return to the Board to request approval for the remaining estimated funding need of $522,000 in the future, with the project cost estimate further refined as the project design progresses.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The Board could choose not to approve the funding agreement. This action is not recommended as receipt of the one-time grant to implement Electric Vehicle Infrastructure will support the County’s efforts to meet future EV charging demands per the Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations.
2. The Board could choose not to approve the ATR. This is not recommended as the ATR will enable GSD to utilize the grant funds to add EVs Charging Stations at Solano County Health and Social Services Building at 275 Beck Avenue in Fairfield.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department of General Services and the County Administrator’s Office have been consulted. The Solano Transportation Authority reviewed the conceptual project estimate and approved the one-time funding estimate to offset total project conceptual cost.
County Counsel was consulted during the STA grant agreement process and as to form for signing the funding grant agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION