Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Electric Vehicle Grant Application

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is spearheading a regional grant application for the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The application would be to the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program. The CFI program was established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and aims to deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and other alternative fueling infrastructure in communities and along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.

The MPO is leading a CFI grant application of urban, suburban and rural communities that are within the MPO's area. The focus on the grant application is primarily for the purpose of EV level 2 charging station deployment. The minimum grant application amount is $500,000 and the maximum possible grant award is $15 million. The grant requires a minimum 20% match, and the application period closes on May 30, 2023. In addition, this year is the first year of CFI program funding and it is anticipated that an additional four years of grant applications would be possible if the City does not decide to participate in the MPO’s regional grant application.

At this time the MPO is working with member cities to determine if those cities are interested in participating in this year's CFI program application. If the Council determines the City should be part of the MPO's CFI grant application, staff would work with the MPO and existing stakeholders to determine the most advantageous location(s) for level 2 EV chargers to include in the application.

City staff have conducted a preliminary field analysis to identify locations and up to four sites were identified as potential locations for this grant:

·         The Ankeny Market Pavilion (AMP);

·         Kirkendall Public Library;

·         Prairie Ridge Sports Complex east parking lot; and

·         Public Service Building or City Hall.

When identifying site locations, City staff considered factors such as ideal locations to be cost-effective, ease of access for the public (city owned parking lots), distance from other nearby charging locations, and surrounding amenities that could result in EV users staying occupied while their vehicle was charging (shopping, recreation activities, events, or activities, etc.).

If the City decides to submit site locations for the MPO’s regional application, the grant requires a minimum 20% match, and the application period closes on May 30, 2023. In addition, this year is the first year of CFI program funding and it is anticipated that an additional four years of grant applications would be possible. The MPO would handle the administration of the grant on behalf of the City which includes reporting requirements, submitting application materials, etc. Funding for the City’s 20% match would come from the Road Use Tax Fund.

Because of the brief turnaround time, required 3^rd party stakeholder collaboration, and current workload and priority project commitments, staff have not been able to fully gather all of the required information to provide a thorough financial analysis of the City providing EV charging stations on City property. Essential cost Information for items such as conduit installation, billing plan costs (I.E. credit/debit card use), data charges, fiber/cellular signal/WiFi requirements for the station chargers, etc. along with reliable revenue estimates could not be acquired at the time of writing.

Based on the information that staff have been able to obtain, a high-level cost estimate of approximately $55,000 per site location (two level 2 chargers per site) is being used to calculate the overall expenses for this grant submittal. If four sites were to be submitted and included in the MPO’s regional application, the estimated total expense would be approximately $220,000.

Estimated Budget Per Site

·         Charger Cost $7,500 (2)                 $15,000

·         Electrical infrastructure                   $20,000

·         Concrete slab for transformer         $10,000

·         Concrete slab for charger (2)            $2,000

·         Contingency (~17%)                         $8,000

                                                                  $55,000

           City 20% match per site                 $11,000

The 80/20 grant funding opportunity for this work, along with the MPO’s offer to provide grant administration is an enticing opportunity, however the City Manager does not recommend approval of this item as presented.  This particular project has numerous opportunity costs associated with it, including:

·         Balancing existing project workload for core projects that fit within the City Council’s adopted strategic plan and priorities (i.e. roads, sanitary sewer, storm water, water, parks, and fire station), along with commitments for other labor-intensive projects (I.E. RAGBRAI). 

·         Pursuing projects that are not supported by previously completed and adopted strategic or master plans.  The City does not have a specific action or master plan for such energy efficiency, or “green infrastructure” deployment efforts.

·         Understanding ongoing financial and maintenance commitments and costs.  Staff have raised concerns about the deployment of this technology and the cost recovery model that is yet to be created and would ultimately be presented to the City Council as a policy decision. The City could benefit from more time to research these issues.

·         Implementing EV chargers as a City project introduces the City to a new service and market that is expected to be addressed and expanded upon in the near future by the private sector. Various charging stations are currently available within different location in Ankeny and many owners of electric vehicles often install chargers in their own homes.

·         The City would benefit from having a definitive answer on the use of federal funds on hand to match the grant before committing dollars.

It should be noted that this is year one of four where municipalities can apply for CFI program funding so if the City decides to not submit site proposals to the MPO as part of the regional application, the City would have the ability to participate in future funding opportunities.

Action: <span style="line-height: 107%; font-size: 14.6667px;"></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;">Consider motion to approve or deny the</span> <strong><span>RESOLUTION</span></strong><span>&nbsp;authorizing&nbsp;</span>the City of Ankeny, Iowa to submit sites to a regional joint application for funding from the Federal Highway Administration&rsquo;s Charging &amp; Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI) for up to four sites to the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization&rsquo;s (MPO)&nbsp;for inclusion and further approving the application which obligates the City of Ankeny to matching funds not to exceed $44,000 for construction. </p>