Corte Madera committee backs postcard, webinar outreach to spur multifamily EV charging

The Corte Madera Climate Action Committee on June 18 moved to press ahead with targeted outreach to multifamily property owners to increase electric-vehicle charger installations, using a town postcard that highlights Marin Clean Energy (MCE) incentives and technical-assistance offerings.

The committee said the postcards will go to property-owner addresses drawn from county tax and mapping databases and asked staff to add a trackable Quick Response (QR) code to measure engagement. Chair Burdis said the town can mail the postcards without waiting for the next meeting and urged a quick follow-up once a revised draft is ready.

Why this matters: committee members said multifamily housing is a priority this year because shared and assigned parking arrangements present different technical and equity barriers to EV adoption. The committee hopes to convert outreach into site assessments and installations by directing interested owners to MCE’s free technical-assistance program and by arranging property-owner webinars or local presentations.

Committee members summarized presentations the group heard from neighboring agencies and nonprofits. Philip, a presenter from Peninsula Clean Energy, told the committee his agency found higher adoption when they installed a Level 1 outlet in each parking space rather than relying on shared Level 2 stations. Philip said shared Level 2 chargers “really didn’t work” in many retrofit situations because updates trigger Americans with Disabilities Act requirements — such as making stalls van-accessible — which can remove parking spaces and raise costs. He added that Peninsula Clean Energy’s documentation shows steady increases in usage at sites where they provided per-space outlets. Annika Osborne of Cool to Earth reviewed rebate and program options for property owners and prospective tenants.

Committee members and outside speakers emphasized outreach tactics. Peninsula Clean Energy staff reported better response to live, 30-minute webinars for property owners than to direct-mail campaigns purchased from property databases such as CoStar, and recommended offering clear, practical technical alternatives during assessments. Jody Tims, chair of the Fairfax Climate Action Committee, told the Corte Madera committee that “MCE does provide this free technical assistance — it’s kinda really your first step” for property owners unsure about next steps.

Local landlord and committee member Bill described his own retrofit experience and cost range for different configurations. Asked about installation cost, Bill said of his Level 2 wall outlet, “That’s what — that’s the cost I incurred,” when referring to about $2,500 per charger he paid; he contrasted that with larger dedicated stations that include cabinets, meters and payment systems, which the committee heard can approach figures like $13,000 depending on site conditions.

The committee discussed program eligibility and tracking. Members noted MCE’s multifamily rebate program currently requires a minimum of four units and is considering lowering that threshold. Staff said a large share of Corte Madera accounts are enrolled with MCE, and the committee asked staff to request that MCE share any contacts they receive from Corte Madera property owners after the mailing. Committee members also recommended adding a technical-assistance callout on the front of the postcard and making the incentives table on the back clearly labeled as “rebates.”

Next steps: staff will finalize the postcard design, add QR-code tracking if possible, prepare a mailing list of Corte Madera multifamily properties from MarinMap, and follow up with Peninsula Clean Energy and MCE to coordinate potential webinars or joint presentations. The committee also discussed asking Philip to present to the Marin Property Owners Association, and Bill volunteered to share landlord-focused lessons learned if a township outreach event is arranged.