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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20180403 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 03, 2018 4:00 PM, City Council Chambers MEETING AGENDA I. Approach to a Cultural Arts Discussion II. Additional EV Charging Station in the Garage P1 Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Sarah Roy, Executive Director, Red Brick Center for the Arts Gena Buhler, Executive Director, Wheeler Opera House Jeff Woods, Manager, Parks & Recreation THRU: Sara Ott, Assistant City Manager DATE OF MEMO: March 30, 2018 MEETING DATE: April 3rd, 2018 RE: Cultural Arts Initiative REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff requests direction on whether to establish a taskforce that would examine the role of the cultural arts in Aspen. The goal of this taskforce would be to envision how to further support and enhance the cultural arts and the cultural arts’ economy. The objectives of the taskforce would be to: 1. Host community dialogue on the status of the cultural arts in Aspen. 2. Engage community stakeholders in a visionary process about where the future of the cultural arts should be in Aspen. 3. Hire and direct a third-party consultant in preparing an industry analysis to understand the economic influence of the arts in Aspen. 4. Develop recommendations for City Council related to the City’s support of the cultural arts. Membership would be determined by application and City Council appointment. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On January 9th, 2018, City Council agreed to let staff initiate research into how municipalities support the cultural arts through organizing entities such as an arts commission. BACKGROUND: Staff researched cities with prominent cultural arts identities including Santa Fe, NM; Santa Monica, CA; and Austin, TX and what directives and support they offer for the arts. These cities have an arts commission that oversees a range of art programs and initiatives. These conversations revealed that the arts do play a significant role in the cultural and economic fabric of these cities and can be supported in a variety of ways. Additionally, staff contacted organizations such as Americans for the Arts and Colorado Creative Industries to gather information about state and national discourses around supporting the arts. These conversations P2 I. Page 2 of 3 showed that cultural arts and their allied organizations significantly improve and influence communities throughout Colorado and the Nation. Concurrently, staff met with leaders of organizations and businesses involved in the cultural arts in Aspen. Staff asked their thoughts on the idea of a collaborative effort to support and celebrate the cultural arts in Aspen. Most responses from these meetings have been very receptive and positive with common themes focused on formulating specific goals of the effort and how the organization should be structured. Staff recommends furthering the conversation and consideration. DISCUSSION: The Aspen Area Community Plan describes a vision for the future of the Aspen area to help guide community decision-making. A central theme of the plan is the rediscovery and reinvigoration of the Aspen Idea. The Community Plan defines the Aspen Idea as: “a legacy that has established Aspen as a place to cultivate lifelong education, civic engagement, physical health, personal responsibility, spiritual development and an environmental consciousness. It is a fundamental awareness that mind, body and spirit can be fully integrated parts of a whole and balanced person, and this interconnectedness entails the cultivation of all three. At a basic level, this valuable concept can help provide balance to our community and to our individual lives.” The cultural arts play an essential role in the actualization of the Aspen Idea which touches upon and influences every aspect of this progressive philosophy. Aspen is home to many robust and timeless cultural arts establishments that serve to enrich the lives of our community. Additionally, the cultural arts are a critical component of the local economy and create a diversity of jobs. Staff is requesting direction on formalizing a process to create a community discussion on the cultural arts. Staff proposes the formation of a taskforce that would lead these efforts and proposes offering various forums for discussion. Staff proposes the taskforce host community wide education opportunities and conversations through a panel discussion series. This series would feature speakers who are well-informed and practiced in how communities can support, enhance and promote the cultural arts. The intent of the panel discussion series would be to learn how other communities govern such a collective effort. The panel series will address why supporting the Arts is important and how it can be done. The focus will be to have a variety of viewpoints and ideas represented. Following the panel discussion series staff would continue to engage the community by gathering responses and ideas on supporting the cultural arts. As the process unfolds additional forums and conversations may be needed to assure maximum opportunities for community involvement and participation. Staff is proposing to focus on the education component and creating opportunities for dialogue. P3 I. Page 3 of 3 Following the panel discussion series an active and engaging facilitation would occur with the community stakeholders to articulate a vision for the future of cultural arts in Aspen. The intent would be to open a dialogue among the group on how the City could support and encourage their work and to discuss a vision of collaboration between non-profits, local businesses, individuals and the local government. Ultimately, the task force would return to City Council with recommendations of specific actions that could be taken to implement the vision. FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS: Staff estimates it will cost $30,000 to host a three panel discussion series including travel and lodging expenses. Staff estimates an additional $15,000 for an outside facilitator to convene the discussions and to compile the communities’ responses and ideas. Costs necessary for the third-party consultant to develop an industry analysis and the role the cultural arts play in Aspen’s economy are not included in the above totals and will be presented after staff and the taskforce have developed strategies further. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Appoint a task force to achieve the outlined objectives: 1. Host community dialogue on the status of the cultural arts in Aspen. 2. Engage community stakeholders in a visionary process about where the future of the cultural arts should be in Aspen. 3. Hire and direct a third-party consultant in preparing an industry analysis to understand the economic influence of the arts in Aspen. 4. Develop recommendations for City Council related to the City’s support of the cultural arts. If City Council directs this project to move forward, staff will prepare the necessary ordinance and application process. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: P4 I. Page 1 of 4 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Laura Armstrong, Climate and Sustainability Programs Associate THRU: CJ Oliver, Director of Environmental Health & Sustainability Mitch Osur, Director of Parking and Downtown Services DATE OF MEMO: 3/23/2018 MEETING DATE: 4/2/2018 RE: Purchase and Install of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Supplemental budget request for $36,094 to purchase and install two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Rio Grande Garage. Upon project completion, $12,520 of those funds would be reimbursed by a grant from the Colorado Energy Office, thereby reducing the final project cost to $23,574. The cost breaks down to: • $12,000: two electric vehicle charging stations– 4 plugs total • $11,827: electrical work • $8,986: 5-years of pre-paid warranty and networking costs • $3,281: 10% project contingency of. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: • In 2014, Aspen City Council created a Best Year Yet (BYY) Goal to examine clean fuel options. This led to a study, conducted by Clean Cities, concluding that EVs present the largest opportunity for Aspen to achieve its carbon reduction goals in transportation. • In December 2015, City Council approved the purchase of a Level 3 DC Fast charger to be installed in the Rio Grande Parking Garage. • On September 12, 2016, City Council approved the addition of 2 all-electric Nissan Leafs to the City of Aspen fleet. • On January 17, 2017, Aspen City Council adopted the Aspen Community Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan and directed staff to pursue the installation of additional public charging infrastructure. • On May 8th, 2017, Aspen City Council approved a supplemental budget from the Asset Management Project (AMP) Fund to install three public EV charging stations in Aspen. This project came in $12,040 under an original budget of $86,710. After the project was complete, the City of Aspen was reimbursed a further $16,000 in grant funding from the State of Colorado. That is a total of $28,040 returned to the City of Aspen. BACKGROUND: According to the 2014 Aspen Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 19% of Aspen’s greenhouse gases (GHGs) come from the transportation sector, a majority of which is P5 II. Page 2 of 4 attributable to passenger vehicles. The City of Aspen supports the use of low-carbon transit methods whenever possible and runs numerous programs to encourage walking, biking, taking the bus, and carpooling. When a necessity, Aspen is particularly well suited to encourage electric transportation because the municipal utility is powered by 100% renewable electricity. To this end, City of Aspen staff, representing the Climate Action, Parking, and Utility Departments, created the Aspen Community Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan. The installation of two charging stations in the Rio Grande Garage aligns with one of the primary objectives of this plan: to increase the amount of public charging infrastructure in Aspen. Key Definitions: Electric vehicles (EVs) are fueled exclusively by electricity and use energy approximately 40% more efficiently than gas-powered cars. EVs are the only type of personal vehicle with zero tailpipe emissions that is widely available in today’s market. When powered by 100% renewable electricity, EVs result in zero emissions from electrical production as well. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, are available in three levels: • Level 1: Up to 24 hours to supply a full charge from empty (120-volt, 20-amp). • Level 2: 4-6 hours to supply a full charge from empty (240-volt, 40-amp). • Level 3 or DC Fast Chargers: 30-60 minutes to supply a full charge from empty (208/480-volt, 400-amp). DISCUSSION: Electric Vehicle Charging Station Use in Aspen is Rising Rapidly: • In 2017 the quantity of charging sessions increased by roughly 110% as compared with 2016. This followed an estimated 310% increase in charging sessions in 2016 (versus 2015). City of Aspen staff anticipate continued growth in 2018 use, particularly during the summer high season. Installing two additional level 2 units in the spring of 2018 will provide needed capacity to meet that growing demand. • In 2017, EV drivers registered in the Roaring Fork Valley were responsible for 94% of charging sessions on the City of Aspen’s on-street stations.1 Charging station demand will continue to grow as more locals purchase EVs. Perhaps more significantly, Aspen has not yet experienced high charging station use by visitors, likely due to the limited battery range of EV models available prior to 2018. In 2018 and moving forward, EVs with ranges of 230-300 miles are increasingly prevalent and affordable. Staff anticipates that as EV ranges expand, more visitors will drive to Aspen in EVs and public charging demand will continue to rapidly increase. Rationale for Siting in the Rio Grande Garage: • The Rio Grande Garage is served by the 100% renewable electricity of Aspen Electric. EVs will fuel at the Rio Grande Garage without producing GHGs. 1 Driver zip code data is only available for Aspen’s on-street stations, not the existing stations in the Rio Grande Garage. Of note, the stations proposed in this project do have the capacity to collect a wide variety of data, including driver zip code, that is currently not trackable in the Rio Grande Garage. P6 II. Page 3 of 4 • The Garage currently houses one dual-cord level 2 station, and one DC Fast Charger and has the potential to be Aspen’s hub for off-street charging. Staff hopes that these charging stations will draw EV drivers to park consistently in the garage, limiting unnecessary circling and congestion in town while looking for a parking spot. In the garage, Parking Department staff can ensure high quality customer service by efficiently monitoring multiple stations for proper use and functionality. • The two proposed stations would be situated side-by-side with the potential to accommodate a bank of additional charging stations (should they be desired in the future) without substantive additional electrical work. Furthermore, there are significant savings in construction costs if two stations are installed at the same time, as opposed to in separate projects. Charging Station Features: The stations installed would be “smart stations,” equipped with networking services: cloud-connected data collection, automated station monitoring, and troubleshooting software. • From a customer service perspective, a networked station is essential. It enables drivers to locate the station, join a queue,2 remotely monitor a charge, and know when to return to the vehicle. • Data on station usage is a critical tool for staff to manage stations, track use, and understand growing EV uptake in Aspen. • The field of EVs and charging stations is rapidly evolving and networked stations provide the only means of staying current; stations capable of software upgrades are essential to keeping hardware functional. The existing level 2 unit in the Rio Grande Garage does not offer customers these benefits because it is an early model, purchased before networked charging stations were available. • Though the intention would be to offer charging for free (normal parking rates apply), the stations would have the capacity to securely charge for fueling in the future. Why Install Level 2 charging, as opposed to Level 3 DC Fast Charging? • Level 2 charging aligns with typical dwell times in the Rio Grande Garage (3-4 hours). Most drivers who park in the Rio Grande Garage are going to work, to recreate in or near Aspen, shop, eat, or attend concerts, museums, and shows. This length of stay is well suited to Level 2 charging. • Given the high installation and operation costs of DCFC, level 2 charging is also more economically sustainable and fiscally responsible to Aspen’s taxpayers. • Aspen’s existing level 2 stations see more use than Aspen’s DCFC stations and also have longer dwell times, meaning that they can be used by fewer drivers each day. From 12/2017 through 2/2018, Aspen’s on street level 2 station was used more frequently than the on-street Level 3 station (see figure 1). This may be because the dwell time at a level 2 charging station (usually a few hours, as opposed to < 1 hour for fast charging) matches the amount of time that drivers are spending on their trip downtown. 2 The parking queue feature lets drivers view whether a station is in use currently, and if so, sign up to be next in line to use it. P7 II. Page 4 of 4 Additionally, some older models of EVs and plug-in hybrids are not compatible with fast charging. Spring St Level 2 station Galena St Level 3 station 12/2017 84 sessions/station 42 sessions/plug 29 charging sessions 1/2018 95 sessions/station 47.5 sessions/plug 25 charging sessions 2/2018 94 sessions/station 47 sessions/plug 45 charging sessions Figure 1. Charging sessions at Aspen's On-Street EV Charging Stations Data notes: The Spring Street Level 2 stations has two plugs that can be used at once, whereas the Galena St Level 3 station has only one plug that can be used at once. December 2018 was the first full month of operation for the Level 2 charging station on Spring St. This is the only City of Aspen Level 2 station with robust data collection capabilities. FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS: Staff is requesting $36,094 from the Capital AMP fund to purchase and install two electric vehicle charging stations in the Rio Grande Parking Garage. The project cost is comprised of: • $12,000 for two electric vehicle charging stations (dual-cord level 2 CT4000 ChargePoint units) • $11,827 in electrical work • $8,986 for 5 years of warranty and networking costs, paid in advance • $3,281 as a 10% project contingency The City of Aspen has received a $12,520 Charge Ahead Colorado grant from the Colorado Energy Office to reimburse the costs of this project. Grant funds will be sent when the project is complete and stations are operable. SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS: An increased presence of EVs in Aspen, assuming they would replace gas or diesel-powered trips, would positively impact Air and Energy measures in the City’s Sustainability Report. Community-wide greenhouse gas emissions: EVs do not create tailpipe emissions. Additionally, when fueled by the 100% renewable electricity of Aspen Electric, they produce no emissions during electricity production. Transportation accounts for 19% of Aspen’s GHGs. Electric transportation represents the strongest single opportunity to reduce those emissions. Reducing ozone levels: tailpipe emissions from gasoline and diesel- powered vehicles create some of the chemical components that lead to ground level ozone. Electric vehicles do not create tailpipe emissions. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approval to authorize $36,094 from the AMP fund to purchase install two charging stations, $12,520 of which will be reimbursed when the project is complete. ALTERNATIVES: City Council can choose not to approve this project, and the City of Aspen will not install new charging equipment in 2018. This would make Aspen ineligible for the $12,520 in awarded grant funding. P8 II.