REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Waive Second Reading and take Action on the Adoption of an All-Electric Reach Code Ordinance No. 2034, including Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging, that Amends Chapter 15.36 (Energy Code) and Chapter 15.38 (Green Building Code) of Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the Santa Clara City Code
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection
BACKGROUND
At the October 19, 2021 Council meeting, proposed Ordinance No. 2034 was introduced and passed for the purpose of publication. Pursuant to City Charter Sections 808 and 812 and Government Code Section 50022.3, a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2034 was published on November 3 and November 10, 2021, and copies were posted in three public places. The Ordinance now comes to Council for final adoption.
DISCUSSION
Proposed ordinance No. 2034 would adopt amendments to Chapters 15.36 (Energy Code) and 15.38 (Green Building Standards Code) of the City Code. The City previously adopted the 2019 California Energy Code and 2019 California Green Building Standards Code, but Ordinance No. 2034 would re-adopt those codes with local modifications that would mandate the use of electricity as a power source and limit natural gas plumbing and meters. The ordinance would also increase requirements on new construction to install electric vehicle infrastructure.
Although the Ordinance disallows the use of natural gas in most circumstances, the Ordinance contains exceptions for commercial kitchens and public agency owned emergency centers, if an applicant can establish that an all-electric facility is not feasible. At the October 19, 2021 meeting, prior to voting to introduce the Ordinance, the City Council made a minor modification to the language to state that if all-electric is not feasible, the applicant must also show that, secondarily, the use of propane is also not a feasible option either, before the use of natural gas would be permitted.
Cit...
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