REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement with National Car Charging, LLC for Electric Vehicle Charging Installations to Extend the Term Through December 31, 2026
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
Sustainability
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara (City) and the State of California have developed significant goals related to expanding the availability of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers to encourage the electrification of the transportation sector to help the City meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 55% below the 2008 baseline levels by 2035. For the Silicon Valley Power (SVP) service area, the California Energy Commission (CEC) EV model shows a projected increase from 2,200 EVs in 2018 to more than 24,000 EVs by 2030.
With the projected rise of EV adoption and the incoming development of multi-unit housing in the City, the City has been planning and implementing projects to optimize opportunities to use state and local funding to expand EV charging infrastructures. In alignment with SVP’s 2018 Strategic Plan and SVP’s Integrated Resource Plan, an EV Ready Community Blueprint was developed by SVP to ensure the City is able to meet the community’s EV charging needs.
On June 25, 2019, the City Council approved the EV Ready Communities Blueprint for submission to the CEC. The blueprint was a significant effort that included contributions from residents, businesses, the Community Development Department, the Public Works Department (Traffic and Fleet Management Divisions), electric vehicle service providers, and financial institutions. The blueprint also incorporated data from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency and Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The EV blueprint identified EV adoption scenarios, established priorities, and created action plans to set Santa Clara’s EV future in motion.
Among the priorities identified in the City’s EV Ready Community Blueprint are City fleet electrification, City funded/owned charging, and new curbside charging standards which require extensive infrastructure buildout and planning for logistics. On July 2, 2019, the City adopted the City Managers Directive 135 “Green Fleet Policy” to optimize the fleet, and to make every effort to purchase and use the lowest emission vehicles such as alternative-fuel vehicles and EVs. According to the Green Fleet Policy, EVs are to be procured only when fueling infrastructure are in place at City operated or local commercial fueling stations to support the operation of these vehicles. Since 2020, 63 EV vehicles have been added to the City’s fleet. In January 2021, SVP and other City departments, including the Fleet Division of Public Works, collaboratively developed a Fleet Electrification Plan based on analysis from the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE). This plan outlined steps, both short and long-term, to transition the City's fleet to zero-emission vehicles. The plan identified fleet EV charging needs, and the timelines needed for implementation. In 2023, California legislators passed the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation requiring state and local government and private fleets to ensure 50 percent of vehicle purchases are zero-emission beginning in 2024 and 100 percent by 2027. Therefore, the City has focused efforts on installing EV charging infrastructures to support the City’s fleet transition to EVs.
On April 7, 2020, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with National Car Charging, LLC (NCC) for EV Charging Installations in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000, and to execute future amendments to the agreement (RTC #20-245).
On June 4, 2024, the City executed Amendment No. 1 to amend the scope of services and pricing schedule based on the City’s latest contract template with no change to the maximum compensation.
DISCUSSION
The agreement with NCC allows for standardization and centralization of all Cityowned EV chargers used for public, fleet, and workplace charging throughout the City. SVP will continue to coordinate these efforts with public-private partnerships for privately funded EV chargers at City facilities.
Table 1 highlights the EV chargers that have been installed from 2020 to 2024, while Table 2 lists the remaining EV chargers currently under construction.
Table 1 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed Between 2020 And 2024
|
Location |
Type |
Number of Charging Ports |
|
Santa Clara City Hall |
Public |
6 |
|
Triton Museum of Art |
Public |
6 |
|
Santa Clara Community Recreation Center |
Public |
5 |
|
Mission Branch Library |
Public |
3 |
|
Larry J Marsalli Park and Dog Park |
Public |
5 |
|
Santa Clara Utilities Center |
Public |
2 |
|
Henry Schmidt Park |
Public |
3 |
|
Santa Clara City Hall |
Fleet |
7 |
|
Santa Clara Police Department |
Fleet |
6 |
|
Santa Clara Park Services Center |
Fleet |
6 |
|
Santa Clara Corporation Yard |
Fleet |
6 |
|
TOTAL |
|
55 |
Table 2 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Currently Under Construction
|
Location |
Type |
Number of Charging Ports |
|
Machado Park |
Public |
5 |
|
Santa Clara Utilities Center |
Fleet |
12 |
|
Santa Clara Corporation Yard - Water Dept. |
Fleet |
6 |
|
Santa Clara Convention Center (BLINK replacement) |
Public |
5 |
|
TOTAL |
|
28 |
The term of the agreement is set to expire on February 28, 2025. Staff recommend authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute Amendment No. 2 to extend the term through December 31, 2026, with no change to the maximum compensation. This extension will allow for the completion of the EV charging stations listed in Table 2, which were delayed due to supply chain issues.
Staff request further authorization for the City Manager to negotiate and execute future amendments to the agreement that do not extend the term or increase the maximum compensation, such as adding or deleting services consistent with the scope of services in the agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations as this action solely extends the agreement for the continued procurement and installation of EV Charging Stations which are small installations.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement will not increase the maximum compensation of $2,000,000. Funding for Amendment No. 2 is available in the Electric Utility Capital Fund in the Electric Vehicle Charging Project.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine that the proposed actions are categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement with National Car Charging, LLC for EV charging installations to extend the term through December 31, 2026, with no change to the maximum compensation, subject to the review and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
3. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take any actions necessary to implement and administer the Agreement as amended, including negotiating and executing future amendments to add or delete services consistent with the scope of services that do not extend the term or increase the maximum compensation, to be funded by the Silicon Valley Power Capital Fund, as applicable and subject to the appropriation of funds and the review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Manuel Pineda, Chief Electric Utility Officer
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement with National Car Charging, LLC
2. Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with National Car Charging, LLC