Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute all related forms and agreements that will allow the City to receive $140,125.03 from the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) in California Air Resources Board (CARB) Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentive grant funds for the Battery-Electric Bus (BEB) Charging Station.

In July of 2017, the California Assembly and Senate passed AB 617 directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop the Community Air Protection Program (CAPP).  To support AB 617 requirements, the Legislature has appropriated incentive funding, Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentives, to be administered by air districts in partnership with local communities, to support early actions to address localized air pollution.  PCAPCD released a call for projects and staff submitted Roseville’s Battery-Electric Bus (BEB) Charging Station for consideration.  PCAPCD has tentatively approved this project for funding in the amount of $140,125.03 under this program, pending a grant agreement.

The project includes the purchase and installation of chargers to support the initial deployment of battery-electric buses.  In addition to the chargers, the station will include associated equipment and infrastructure to deploy the first five (5) battery-electric buses and support future planned chargers for the transit charging station.

Based on conceptual design, the estimated total cost for the project is $575,512.  Authorization of the CAP grant will allow the City to receive $140,125.03 towards this project. Additional funding for the project includes an allocation of $365,512 in Low Carbon Transit Operation Program (LCTOP) funding.  Staff will present a complete funding plan at a future date for the remaining funds needed to complete the project. General Fund resources will not be used for the project.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §15060(c)(3) and §15378. The CAP Grant Authorization meets the above criteria and is not subject to CEQA.

While no environmental review is required at this time for the grant authorization, staff will conduct further environmental analysis during the charger station design process. Staff’s initial review of CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) is that design and construction will also be exempt from CEQA.

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Dominick Casey, City Manager