Palm Desert to end city-run EV charging costs, seek private operators

The Palm Desert City Council voted unanimously Sept. 25 to end the city's financial responsibility for public electric-vehicle charging stations and to pursue a new site-license program that would let private operators install, operate and maintain chargers on city-owned or managed property. City staff told council members the city currently operates 18 stations (15 active, 3 under repair) and spends about $50,000 a year on electricity, software and maintenance for those units. Chris Gary, principal planner in public works, said most existing chargers were installed with grant funding and have historically been free to use, a model that has largely been phased out elsewhere. Council members said they do not believe the municipality should be subsidizing the cost of electricity for private vehicles. Council member Predetto moved to adopt staff recommendations to terminate existing agreements and pursue a private-site license framework; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0 (Council members Nastandi, Perdido, Quintanilla, Mayor Pro Tem Truby and Mayor Jan Harnick voting yes). Under the staff plan, the city would: 1) terminate vendor agreements and end the ongoing general-fund obligation for the stations; 2) restore site conditions where host sites do not want responsibility; and 3) issue a solicitation for private operators to propose site-license arrangements for chargers on city-managed property. Staff recommended keeping stations on city property operational during a transition period while a new program framework is developed. During discussion council members asked staff to document the total number of private-sector chargers in the city and to ensure any future solicitation allows the city to require reasonable public-interest terms. The environmental resources committee recommended that non-city sites be turned over to property owners and that the city not fund electricity or install advertising as part of the program. The council did not adopt a final contract with a private operator on Sept. 25; staff will return with a draft site-license solicitation, proposed evaluation criteria and sample terms for council review before any new agreements are executed. The decision removes an ongoing $50,000 annual obligation but does not eliminate public charging in Palm Desert; staff emphasized several privately owned chargers already operate in the city and would remain available to EV drivers.