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CONTRACT K-1920-70: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND FRANCIS SOLAR FOR A PARKING LOT LEASE AGREEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION TO BE LOCATED AT THE CITY COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUELING FACILITY LOCATED AT 2351 GODDARD AVENUE.
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BACKGROUND: The State of Oklahoma has been allocated approximately $21 million from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has been designated as the lead agency with oversight from the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment. ODEQ has prepared and implemented the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan (BMP) with the State’s intention for utilizing these funds. On November 29, 2018, DEQ released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for $3.1 million to build out Oklahoma’s light-duty electric vehicle charging network with 80% eligible for reimbursement when the project is completed. These grant funds are further divided into two (2) categories with 75% of funds allocated towards Transportation Corridor projects ($2.325mil) and 25% of funds towards Single Point Location projects ($775k).
On January 15, 2019, City Council approved Resolution R-1819-70 to appropriated funding for services with the City’s original CNG station design and engineering firm, Small Arrow Engineering, LLC, of Joplin, MO (SAE). For this project, SAE has teamed with an Oklahoma based electric vehicles (EV) systems provider to assure that charging stations installed in the City of Norman are consistent with other stations in the State and use compatible Charging Station Networking Software. SAE will also assure that the EV station equipment will meet the 5-year warranty performance period as per the ODEQ Grant requirements.
On February 26, 2019, City Council approved Contract K-1819-109 with Francis Solar of Tulsa, OK to submit a Grant Application to the Department of Environmental Quality for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on the City’s behalf on or before March 1, 2019. Francis Solar submitted the Grant Application package to ODEQ and was awarded funding for installation of two (2) of the four (4) sites applied for in the City of Norman. The funded sites include the Oncue Express #111 at 3601 N. Flood Avenue and the Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ at 2450 Chautauqua Avenue. The two (sites) that were not awarded as part of the ODEQ grant with Francis Solar are Mathis Sleep Center in the University North Park Commercial District near I-35 and Robinson Street and the Longhorn Steakhouse in the out lot of Sooner Mall near I-35 and Main Street.
SAE and City staff reviewed a status letter received from Francis Solar updating the City on the outcome of the “ChargeOK” RFP submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality on March 1, 2019 (see attached letter) as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Francis Solar and ODEQ. As summarized in the letter and MOU, Francis Solar was awarded two (2) of the four (4) sites submitted for grant funds. Francis Solar has concurred in the grant award. Francis Solar determined due to the 75% Oklahoma tax rebate available until December 31, 2019, they were in a position to offer the City the ability to still have the four (4) original EV sites installed, along with a fifth site at the City’s Downtown Municipal Parking Lot at 223 East Gray Street.
On May 28, 2019, City Council approved Amendment No. One to Contract K-1819-109 to allow Francis Solar to proceed with the installation of five (5) EV charging stations in Norman by December 31, 2019. Francis Solar also agreed to amend the original marketing fee to the City from $40,000 to a $9,000 lump sum payment per site for a total City obligation of $45,000; this amount is $5,000 above the original lump sum payment expected for the original four locations. In addition, the City will receive a 10% discount on retail charging rates for all City EV fleet vehicles that utilize these stations for the next 15 years. Please see attached EV Charger Marketing Letter Agreement that outlined the terms and conditions for the amended contract. Francis Solar agreed to add a fifth EV charging station to this program at the City Municipal Parking Lot located at 223 East Gray Street. In the original grant package submittal to ODEQ, the primary focus was the installation of EV stations along ODOT Highway corridors, which include I-35, Hwy 77, and Hwy 9. In further discussions, it was determined that a fifth EV station in the Downtown area would be very beneficial to Norman residents.
On May 28, 2019, City Council approved Contract K-1819-147, the first parking lot agreement for City property located at 223 E. Gray Street. As Francis Solar continued to work to obtain Parking Lot Lease Agreements for the EV station sites at Sooner Mall and at Oncue Express, it was found that they would be unable to secure suitable lease terms at these respective properties. Alternate sites for both of these EV stations have been located that still fall within the same geographical area of Norman. Francis Solar has obtained a Parking Lot Lease Agreement with the Robinson Crossing Shopping Plaza at 1300 North Interstate Drive. This site falls along the west side of I-35, just like Sooner Mall.
On August 27, 2019, City Council approved Amendment No. Two to Contract K-1819-109 to allow the proposed EV station site at Sooner Mall to be relocated to the Robinson Crossing Shopping Plaza and the proposed EV station site at On Cue on Flood Avenue to be relocated to the City’s CNG Fueling Facility on Goddard Avenue. Contract K-1920-70, a Parking Lot Lease Agreement with Francis Solar for the CNG Fueling facility location was inadvertently omitted from Council’s agenda of August 27, 2019, and is now being forwarded for Council approval.
DISCUSSION: After discussion with Small Arrow Engineering and City staff, it was determined that the most benefit for future City of Norman EV fleet would be to relocate the EV station to the City Public Access CNG Fueling Facility located at 2351 Goddard Avenue. The City’s CNG Fueling Facility has ample space to allow for co-location of recharging EV vehicles along with the present CNG fast-fill operations. This site also maintains an EV station along the Flood Avenue (Highway 77) corridor as depicted in the original application to ODEQ. With this EV station site relocation there will be no cost change to the City of Norman marketing fee.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve Contract K-1920-70 for an additional Parking Lot Lease Agreement with Francis Solar for a 15-year Term for a Level 3 vehicle charging area to be located at the City Public Access CNG Station at 2351 Goddard Avenue.