Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ev Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves plan to operate city EV chargers; limit set on annual operating expenditures
Summary
Ordinance 503-2025 authorizes the Office of Sustainability and Public Works to operate and maintain five city electric vehicle charging stations, impose charging fees and place a $100,000 per‑year cap on operations/maintenance expenditures without further council action; revenue collection to a sub‑fund is permitted.
The committee approved Ordinance 503-2025, as amended, which authorizes the director of public works, on behalf of the Office of Sustainability, to contract for management and operation of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations and to charge fees for their use.
Committee discussion focused on an amendment capping expenditures from the newly created sub‑fund at no more than $100,000 per year for the initial term and each renewal; council members and department staff clarified the cap applies to expenditures (operations and maintenance) and not to revenue the stations may generate. Staff said the five charging stations in question are already paid for and the ordinance establishes an operations model: vendors collect fees, the city deposits them to a sub‑fund, and the sub‑fund pays electricity, maintenance and related costs. The administration explained the $100,000 figure gives room for annual operating costs—staff estimated about $80,000 per year for five stations (including electricity and routine maintenance) and said 25–30¢ per kilowatt‑hour charges would allow the sub‑fund to cover costs at current usage levels.
Committee members asked for clarity about how future station purchases or larger capital outlays would be handled; staff said expenditures beyond the $100,000 cap or capital expansions would return to council for authorization. Built‑environment sustainability staff noted that publicly available mapping services (PlugShare) list about 300 publicly accessible charging points in the broader Cleveland area; the office will compile precise city‑level station counts and locations for future reporting.
After discussion and brief Q&A, the committee recorded the ordinance as approved. The transcript recorded committee approval but did not include a roll‑call tally. Staff said they will return with operational metrics and maps of charging locations and will coordinate rate-setting to ensure the sub‑fund covers electricity and maintenance costs.
