DATE: May 13, 2024
TO: Council Sustainability Committee
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Reach Code Amendments to EV Charging Requirements - Discussion and Recommendation to Council
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Council Sustainability Committee (CSC) reviews this report and makes a recommendation to Council to adopt an ordinance amending the Reach Code to modify the City’s electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements.
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SUMMARY
Hayward’s current Reach Code took effect on January 1, 2023. The Reach Code ordinance modifies and goes beyond the State building code to require:
• All new non-residential buildings that include natural gas infrastructure, must be “electric ready”, meaning they have the wiring, electrical capacity and space needed to be converted to an all-electric building in the future.
• All new buildings, and modifications to existing buildings resulting in new parking spaces, must have electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure above and beyond that required by the California Green Building Standards Code.
There are updated requirements in the California Building Code (CalGreen) that take effect on July 1, 2024, including several related to EV charging infrastructure. This new CalGreen code, even with the updates, will still require less charging infrastructure than Hayward’s current Reach Code. However, if Hayward’s Reach Code is not revised to incorporate the new technical requirements from CalGreen, then the Hayward Reach Code will become unenforceable and fewer EV chargers will be required for new development. Staff is seeking direction from the CSC and a recommendation to the full Council to adopt an ordinance that would update Hayward’s Reach Code.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report