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Council approves first reading to exempt hospitals from Goleta's EV reach code; second-reading public hearing set
Summary
On a unanimous first-reading vote, the council approved an amendment to the city's EV reach code to exempt hospital alteration projects in the hospital overlay district from the local reach requirement. Staff said the exemption applies only to the city's local reach code (state standards remain in effect) and explained the change will be returned
The City Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance amending the City of Goleta's Green Building Code (Title 15, Chapter 15.12) to exempt hospital alteration and renovation projects located in the hospital overlay district from the city's EV reach code.
Staff reminded council that the state building and EV requirements remain in effect; the requested change would limit the reach-code coverage the city applies locally to avoid potentially imposing additional costs on hospital renovation projects in the city's limited hospital overlay district. The staff report summarized outreach (including contact from Cottage Hospital) and described that other cities reviewed did not have the same exemption.
Council voted to introduce the ordinance on first reading; because the change affects the building code, state rules require a public hearing at second reading, which staff scheduled for the next council meeting with public notice to follow.
Vote: First reading passed unanimously by roll call (Smith=Yes; Kiriakou=Aye; Reyes Martin=Aye; Kasdan=Aye; Mayor Perotti=Aye). Staff will post public notice and return for second reading and public hearing.
What it means: The first-reading vote directs staff to proceed to the legally required second reading and public hearing; the effect, if ultimately adopted, would be a narrow local exemption limited to retrofits/renovations in the designated hospital overlay district and would not remove any state-required EV infrastructure standards.
