COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT - REGIONAL PUBLIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION

REGIONAL PUBLIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the Town of View Royal participate in the CRD led Regional Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network project grant application to the ICIP CleanBC Communities Fund grant program;

AND THAT the Town of View Royal supply sites found in Attachment 1 of the June 9, 2022 report from the Senior Planner titled “Regional Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network Project Grant Application” to install four level 2 public EV charging stations.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING’S COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To consider proposed resolution to support a CRD-led grant application that includes the commitment of Town land for the installation of two Level 2 chargers (each with two ports for a total of four charging stations) for electric vehicles

DISCUSSION

The Town has an opportunity to locate two Level 2 chargers (each with two ports for a total of four charging stations) for electric vehicles in a public place. On behalf of municipalities in the region, the Capital Regional District will be submitting a grant application by June 24, 2022 to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Green Infrastructure – CleanBC Communities Fund for a regional public electric vehicle (EV) charging network project. The grant would cover the installation of Level 2 (240 volt) EV charging stations on both CRD and municipal land, with City of Victoria and Malahat Nation seeking Level 3 (DC fast charger) stations as well. More detail on the proposal can be found in Attachment 2, the CRD staff report to the CRD Environmental Services Committee.

Preliminary Locations

Staff worked with the CRD to allocate two potential EV charging stations in View Royal as shown in Attachment 1, with siting to be finalized if the grant is approved:

1. Town-owned parking lot for overflow from Thetis Lake (80 Atkins Road)
2. View Royal Park parking lot (1300 Pheasant Lane)

These met the siting criteria for locating charging stations include the following:

• Dedicated parking stall
• Publicly accessible 24 hours a day
• In a safe location
• Walkable to amenities
• Close to community hubs, recreation sites, workplaces, and higher density residential areas
• Visible to motorists and pedestrians
• Electricity must be available to the site
• Hospital and school properties are excluded

Other locations were considered but not included in this grant application for various reasons:

• New multifamily developments in the Eagle Creek Village and Erskine Lane area will have EV charging available on site
• It is anticipated that shopping centres will be installing EV charging stations in the future; for this reason, on street charging stations near shopping centres where multifamily residences tend to cluster were not considered at this time
• The parking lot at Thetis Lake Regional Park does not qualify as a potential site for this grant because it is not accessible 24 hours a day, but CRD staff has indicated they intend to monitor for other funding opportunities
• Elements Casino provides one charging station for its guests

Council Resolution

To participate, a Council resolution is required to commit to allowing the charging stations to be installed on Town-owned land. There is no required financial contribution from the Town as the CRD has pledged to cover the grant’s requirement for a 26.67% contribution. The grant would cover incidental such as power supply, line painting and signage.

If the grant is approved, there will be a discussion at another time on whether the CRD or the Town will own and operate the charging stations.

The proposal can be supported because it would support the electrification of transportation, one of the key “Big Moves” in the Community Climate Action Strategy.

NEXT STEPS

If Council approves the resolution, a certified copy will be forwarded to the CRD to be included in the grant application. A decision on the grant is expected in late 2023.

RECOMMENDATION

SUBMITTED BY: J. Chow, RPP, MCIP, Senior Planner

REVIEWED BY: L. Chase, RPP, MCIP, Director of Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Preliminary EV station locations
2. May 18, 2022 CRD staff report to CRD Environmental Services Committee