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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-4 Staff Report - CalAPP AcceptanceCONSENT ITEM E-4 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: JOSE D. JIMENEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DATE: JUNE 19, 2023 SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMATED PERMIT PROCESSING (CALAPP) PROGRAM TO ISSUE ONLINE, AUTOMATED SOLAR PERMITS BACKGROUND: Adopted in 2022, Senate Bill 379 (“SB 379”) requires most California cities and counties to implement an online, automated permitting system that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time for a residential solar energy system. In anticipation of SB379, a separate Senate Bill 129 (“SB 129”) allocated California General Fund dollars to help local governments in California recover the cost of establishing an eligible automated, online solar permitting platform. The City of Azusa applied for and was award to receive up to $40,000 in grant funding. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: 1)Accept the Grant award from the State of California Energy Commission; and 2)Authorize the City Manager to execute the Grant Agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City, subject to non-substantive changes made by the City Manager and City Attorney. Approved City Council June 19, 2023 California Automated Permit Processing Program – CalAPP Grant Acceptance June 19, 2023 Page 2 ANALYSIS: Senate Bill 379 (Wiener, 2022) requires most California cities and counties to implement an online, automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time, or allows a city to issue permits in real time for a residential solar energy system. Along with most cities and counties in the State, Azusa is required to implement this system by September 30, 2023. In anticipation of SB 379, and independently, Senate Bill 129 (Skinner, Budget Act of 2021) was approved to allow for up to $20 million from the State’s General Fund to be devoted to help fund and support, among other things, California cities, counties, cities, and counties to establish an online solar permitting program. The grant funding is intended to help local governments in California recover the cost of establishing an eligible automated, online solar permitting platform. In most cases, most of the funding will be used to reimburse staff or consultant time associated with implementing the software. The ECD Department, on behalf of the City of Azusa applied for and successfully qualified to receive a one-time distribution of up to $40,000. As of the moment of this report, the California Energy Commission is working to process all final applications to determine final award amounts. That information will become available once their submittal deadline of June 30, 2023 has passed. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions. Upon Council acceptance of the Grant, ECD staff will work with the appropriate Finance staff to make any necessary budget amendments to accept monies associated with this Grant award. Prepared by: Jose D. Jimenez Director of Economic & Community Development Fiscal Review by: Reviewed and Approved by: Talika M. Johnson Sergio Gonzalez Director of Administrative Services City Manager Attachments: 1) CEC Contact Information Attachment 1 CONTACT LIST July 2022 Page 1 of 1 APP-22-XXX RECIPIENT NAME California Energy Commission Recipient Commission Agreement Manager: Adam Van Winkle California Energy Commission 715 P Street, MS-45 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 891-9060 e-mail: adam.vanwinkle@energy.ca.gov Project Manager: Jose Daniel Jimenez RECIPIENT 213 East Foothill Blvd Azusa, CA. 91702-1395 Phone: (626) 812-5236 e-mail: jose.jimenez@azusaca.gov Confidential Deliverables/Products California Energy Commission Contracts, Grants, and Loans Officer 715 P Street MS-18 Sacramento, CA 95814 Administrator: Jose Daniel Jimenez RECIPIENT 213 East Foothill Blvd Azusa, CA. 91702-1395 Phone: (626) 812-5236 e-mail: jose.jimenez@azusaca.gov Invoices, Progress Reports and Non- Confidential Deliverables to: California Energy Commission Accounting Officer 715 P Street MS-2 Sacramento, CA 95814 Email PDF of Payment Request invoice packet to: invoices@energy.ca.gov Accounting Officer: Richard Lam RECIPIENT 213 East Foothill Blvd Azusa, CA. 91702-1395 Phone: (626) 812-4481 e-mail: rlam@azusaca.gov Legal Notices: Tatyana Yakshina Grants Manager 715 P Street MS-18 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 827-9294 e-mail: tatyana.yakshina@energy.ca.gov Recipient Legal Notices: Best Best & Krieger LLP City Attorney 213 East Foothill Blvd Azusa, CA. 91702-1395 Phone: (626) 812-5239 e-mail: