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Rules committee approves $1.2 million for building-inspection EV chargers
Summary
The Rules Committee approved a $1.2 million appropriation from the Building Inspection Fund to install electric-vehicle chargers for building-inspection fleet vehicles; the measure passed 6-0-1 after discussion on infrastructure, safety and operations.
The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee on Sept. 2 approved a $1,200,000 appropriation from the Building Inspection Fund to install electric-vehicle charging stations limited to use by building-inspection vehicles.
The measure passed the committee 6-0-1, with Council Member Terrence Freeman abstaining and saying his employer may do work on the project.
Committee members and staff said the appropriation funds installation of charging infrastructure for a recently acquired fleet of electric vehicles used by building-inspection staff. "Currently, we're doing it through a third party," said Richard Reichert, Administrative Services, describing present practice where staff use fuel/charge cards at commercial vendors while the city builds in-house infrastructure. "That was our plan initially… then we're working on the infrastructure. That'll be part 2 of this." Reichert said the vehicles in question are lower-risk fleet units used for routine inspections and that the funding is restricted to the planning department's use.
The committee discussion focused on how the vehicles are charged now, where chargers will be located and safety and security. Past President Randy White asked about charger placement in garages and raised the risk of charger-related fires; Reichert said the committee has considered locating chargers on rooftops of parking garages and noted available data shows most fires reported involve hybrids rather than full EVs. Council Member Al Amaro urged that the project include safeguards to prevent unauthorized vehicles from using the chargers.
Public comment touched on the item before the committee discussion. John Nooney, a resident who said he was addressing several agenda items, urged the committee to consider private-sector partnerships and said the agenda language indicated building occupants would be responsible for electric charges associated with charging city vehicles. That statement reflected the public comment he made; committee staff described the project as funded from a departmental source with no general-fund impact.
Committee members said the appropriation comes from departmental funds and will not affect the city general fund. The vote returning approval was recorded later in the meeting as "6 yays, 0 nays, 1 abstention."
