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City staff seeks 'Charging Smart' EV‑readiness designation, aims for bronze now and higher later
Summary
City staff told the Climate Action Commission they expect to qualify for the Charger Smart program's bronze EV‑readiness designation in November and outlined near‑term actions — permitting improvements, a municipal fleet analysis and staff training — needed to reach higher designations.
City staff told the Climate Action Commission Aug. 13 they are pursuing a “Charging Smart” EV‑readiness designation that evaluates local permitting, utility engagement, education and municipal fleet actions and awards bronze, silver or gold levels based on completed program actions.
Jacob (city staff) described work with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and PG&E, and listed actions the city has completed and actions still required to reach silver or gold. Staff said they expect to qualify for the bronze designation in November and that continued progress could move the city to silver or gold at later review windows.
Jacob summarized the program and the city’s progress: “The smart program is an EV readiness program… The designation criteria is organized into [categories] — planning, regulations, utility engagement, education and incentives, government operations and shared mobility,” he said. He noted the city has already earned points for an existing climate action framework, online permitting and a municipal permitting code section that treats EV chargers as an accessory use in all zoning districts.
Staff identified next steps that would add points toward a higher designation: drafting a municipal fleet electrification policy and a fleet analysis, staff training for permitting and inspection best practices, and a clearer, user‑facing web page that explains permitting steps and incentives for homeowners and businesses. Jacob said PG&E engagement identified the power‑upgrade and service constraints that often determine the cost and feasibility of installations — a commonly cited barrier for site owners.
Commissioners asked how the designations relate to funding and incentives. Jacob and staff said the designation itself is recognition and best‑practice validation rather than a direct funding source, but the designation and completed program actions can make the city more competitive for grants and partnerships. Commissioners emphasized that streamlining permitting, clarifying fees and providing public education would have immediate local impact even before any grant funding was available.
Staff said the silver designation requires specific documentary steps (for example, an existing fleet analysis) that the city does not yet have, but that the city can continue to accrue program actions after a first designation and apply for upgrades at future review windows.
Ending note: Staff will continue to pursue the program and return with clearer permitting fee information and proposed web resources; commissioners asked staff to follow up with a concise description of the resident permitting process and typical permitting costs for residential charging installations.
