Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ev Charging topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves EV-charger purchase order and directs staff to pursue chargers at hospital and downtown
Summary
The council authorized a purchase for electric-vehicle chargers under a grant and directed staff to pursue both the approved downtown installation at 123 North H Street and concurrent funding to add chargers at Lompoc Valley Medical Center.
The City Council voted Sept. 2 to authorize a purchase order for electric-vehicle charging equipment and to direct staff to pursue a parallel project at Lompoc Valley Medical Center while retaining the planned downtown installation at 123 North H Street.
City staff described an existing Air Pollution Control District (APCD) clean-air grant the city was awarded in 2023. "We received an offer for a $187,000 grant and had an anticipated cost of about $525,000," a staff member identified in the record as Steven said, describing the original scope for chargers on North H Street.
At the meeting staff recommended approving a purchase to secure chargers and then deciding whether to proceed with the downtown location or amend the grant to support chargers at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center. Steven said the APCD is flexible and that the city had an extension from the grant through 2027.
Yvette Cope, the hospital's chief executive, spoke in public comment and asked the council to partner with the medical center on parking and electrification: "We just really need some support and partnering ... We have a transformer, getting these EV parking spots, it's now $2,100,000," Cope said, describing the hospital's parking and infrastructure costs and the project timeline.
Council debate centered on competing goals: supporting downtown economic activity by siting chargers near businesses on H Street and helping the hospital address an urgent parking and electrification need that could accelerate construction of a staff and visitor parking project. Council members noted the grant would cover only a portion of the hospital's electrical infrastructure cost.
The council approved a motion that the staff proceed with the immediate procurement and to move forward with the planned 123 North H Street project while simultaneously pursuing additional funding opportunities for chargers at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. The motion was made by Council member Victor Vega and seconded by Council member Ball.
Staff said the recommended equipment order includes a mix of level 2 chargers and a DC fast charger (the staff report identified four level-2 chargers and one DC fast charger in the purchase plan). The APCD indicated the current application round could fund up to $250,000 for a project meeting certain criteria and that the city could re-scope to seek larger matching funds for a hospital project.
Councilors emphasized that both projects could proceed if additional funding is found. Staff will return with grant agreements and any required memoranda of understanding with the hospital if the city secures APCD or other funding.
No formal change to the original resolution accepting the APCD grant was recorded; the council's direction authorizes procurement to keep the procurement timeline and to pursue a parallel hospital project and future grants.
