City staff reported that federal and state grant funding secured last fall remains available and that the city will install eight new electric vehicle chargers at City Hall in early June.

The decision follows prior council approval of the project. “That money is still available for the state of Maine,” the staff member said, adding that installation is lining up with Versant Power, Revision and the public works team and is expected around June 10. The chargers will accept credit-card payments; staff said the city plans to set a market rate of about $0.36 per kilowatt-hour and will monitor usage.

The staff member said two charging spaces will be reserved overnight for the two city electric vehicles that will be parked at City Hall and monitored for use. The staff member also said the city will limit continued operation of existing free public chargers once the new paid chargers are online and will issue a press release before the change. “Two of those spots will be reserved for the two city EV that we have,” the staff member said.

Staff estimated annual electricity costs for the old free chargers at roughly $7,000–$8,000 and said donations collected to date do not cover that cost. The staff member said the new pay stations should offset that cost and could allow the city to recoup chargers’ operating expenses within about a year even with modest use. The staff member also noted potential future additions of chargers at other sites such as Harbor Park.

No new formal council motion or vote occurred during this meeting; staff said the council previously approved the project last fall and that staff would proceed with contract coordination and a press release once installation dates are definitive.

Implementation steps and next reporting: staff said they will report back to the council on charger revenues and monitor usage of the city vehicles and public spaces. The staff member also said two existing free chargers on Franklin Street would be removed when the new chargers are operational.