Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-10: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff City Code, Title 7 Health and Sanitation, Chapter 4 Municipal Solid Waste Collection Service, Section 07-04-001-0010 Fees, to add a new fee for public use of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations; providing for penalties, repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, providing for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date
 

The City of Flagstaff currently provides free electric vehicle charging to the public at 18 charging stations across four City facilities: City Hall, the Visitor’s Center, the Aquaplex, and the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. As demand has grown and electricity rates have increased, the costs to the City for providing this service have risen to approximately $62,000 annually. Furthermore, vehicles are often “idling” at the City’s charging stations – meaning they remain plugged in after the vehicle’s battery is fully charged, preventing other vehicles from charging. On average, 25% of the time that a vehicle is plugged in at a City-owned station, it is fully charged and blocking the space.

Following direction from the City Council, staff developed the proposed Electric Vehicle Charging Fees to recover costs of providing public electric vehicle charging and encourage vehicles to be moved once fully charged, or in the case of the Airport, once the three-hour time limit has been reached. Notice of the proposed fees has been posted on the City website pursuant to A.R.S. Section 9-499.15.  

Staff is requesting that a two-part fee structure be adopted for public use of City-owned electric vehicle charging stations.

1. While a vehicle is charging, the recommended fee is equal to the cost of energy consumed per kilowatt hour (kWh) plus 10%—this is equal to $0.39 per kWh at today’s energy rates. This fee ensures that the cost of providing electricity is fully recovered, which is the City’s largest expense in providing this service to the public. It also accounts for the 10% fee assessed to the City by the vendor for using the billing software.
2. Staff also recommends implementing an idling fee of $0.07 cents per minute for Downtown locations (e.g., City Hall and Visitor’s Center), $0.07 cents per minute for the Airport (up to $100.00), and $0.04 cents per minute at other City locations (e.g., the Aquaplex). The idling fee is intended to motivate proper charging etiquette and support cost recovery for maintenance, software, and indirect costs.

The proposed fees will recover costs of providing electric vehicle charging to the public at City facilities.

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Yes. At the December 19, 2023, City Council Meeting, the City Council advised staff to develop a proposed fee to recover the costs of providing electric vehicle charging to the public. An update was provided to the City Council at the February 2025 budget retreat, where Council confirmed this direction.
 

•    Adopt the Ordinance as recommended by staff.
•    Amend the Ordinance for a different fee . 
•    Do not adopt the Ordinance and continue to provide electric vehicle charging to the public as a free service.
 

This action aligns with the following PBB Priorities and Objectives:

• High Performing Governance - maintain the organization's fiscal stability through strong financial policies and best practices.
• Sustainable and Innovative Infrastructure: Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well-maintained infrastructure system.

Policy T.3.2. Promote transportation systems that reduce the use of fossil fuels and eventually replace with carbon neutral alternatives.
Policy E&C.2.2. Promote investments that create a more connected and efficient community, decrease emissions from transportation and building energy, and strengthen climate resiliency.

EM-3: Support residents, businesses, and institutions in the transition to electric vehicles.

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