Flagstaff adopts citywide electric-vehicle charging fee; removes separate airport fee, sets idling charge

The Flagstaff City Council adopted an ordinance on May 20 adding a new fee for public use of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations to the Flagstaff City Code (Title 7). During a second reading council amended staff’s original proposal by removing a separate airport fee and instead applying the same fee schedule to airport locations.

City staff explained the change was intended to avoid unintended impacts to airport car rental and concierge operations, which sometimes charge rental vehicles for longer than three hours. Staff recommended replacing the separate airport fee with the citywide schedule and adding a 4¢ per-minute idling fee to discourage vehicles from occupying chargers for extended periods. Staff said the idling fee is intended as a simpler approach to achieve the same goal as a posted three-hour limit and that the 4¢/minute rate is a reasonable deterrent given lower demand at some sites.

Council member moved and amended the motion to read and adopt the ordinance as amended; council approved the ordinance on a final vote. The city clerk read the ordinance title into the record and the council adopted it as amended.

Discussion vs. decision: staff recommended harmonizing fees and adding an idling fee (discussion). Council amended the ordinance to remove a distinct airport fee and adopted the ordinance as amended (decision).

Ending: The ordinance updates the Flagstaff City Code (Health and Sanitation chapter) to establish the new EV charging fee structure and an idling charge; staff will implement the updated fee schedule at city locations, including the airport, and handle clerical corrections and effective dates through the clerk’s office.