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Port Orchard staff back Puget Sound Energy plan for two public EV chargers pending technical review
Summary
City staff told the Land Use Committee that Puget Sound Energy’s outreach shows support for two public EV charging locations — likely at Givens Field and one downtown site — and that the city will bring a contract to council after PSE’s technical analysis.
The Port Orchard Land Use Committee discussed Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) proposal to install public electric-vehicle charging stations in the city and said staff is comfortable advancing two of three candidate locations pending PSE’s technical analysis.
Nick Bond, community development director, told the committee that a public survey and PSE’s preliminary review have narrowed viable sites to two downtown options and the Givens Center at Givens Field. “We’ve essentially told PSE we’re comfortable proceeding with two of the locations, probably the Givens Center as long as it is feasible from a technical standpoint,” Bond said. He added PSE discounted locations in front of residences because of parking impacts and removed some survey sites that lacked suitable power poles.
Committee members asked about the city’s responsibilities and next steps. Eric Warden, council member, asked whether vandalism or repairs would be PSE’s responsibility; Bond answered that the work and maintenance would be PSE’s and the city is only granting permission to use the public right-of-way. Bond also said a council-approved contract will be required before installation and that PSE had requested a multiyear commitment (Bond recalled a ten-year minimum, saying “I don’t quote me on the number of years, but I think that’s what I recall them saying”).
Bond described three candidate downtown sites: a pole outside the 600 Kitsap building on Klein, a pole in the alley near city hall (which would support only one charging stall), and a pole across Prospect Street from the 730/740 Prospect buildings (the pole on that side is owned by the PUD and would require PSE to install its own pole). He said PSE appeared confident about the Klein and Givens poles and that the Givens location could support a “double hung” charger serving two stalls if the power capacity is sufficient.
Committee members discussed parking controls and enforcement. Bond said the city would need a minor amendment to the parking code to create EV-only stalls with signs and suggested a time limit (he proposed a four-hour zone) to ensure turnover. Several members said bringing the contract to a council meeting would be appropriate once PSE completes its technical analysis; Bond said staff could report the committee briefing in committee reports if a full presentation is not needed.
Bond described broader regional grant funding behind PSE’s rollout: “I think they have quite a bit of grant money to deploy this throughout the region,” he said, calling Port Orchard PSE’s first foray in the city but noting additional deployments could follow.
Topics not resolved at the meeting included final site selection (dependent on PSE’s technical work), the length of the contractual commitment, and exact permit/parking-code language. Staff said they will return with the technical analysis and a draft contract for council consideration.
Ending: If PSE’s forthcoming technical analysis confirms feasible power and pole ownership, city staff expect to present a contract to the full Port Orchard City Council for approval; until then the committee’s action is limited to direction that staff may continue coordination with PSE.
