To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Matt Gohl, Special Projects Manager
Title
Ordinance Approving a Ground Lease Agreement between the Town and CORE Electric Cooperative for an Electric Vehicle Charger at Philip S. Miller Park (Second Reading - Approved on First Reading on February 21, 2023, by a vote 7-0)
Body
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Staff requests Town Council consideration of an ordinance approving a ground lease agreement with CORE Electric Cooperative (CORE) for the installation of a dual-port electric vehicle charger (EV Charger) to be located at Philip S. Miller Park. CORE was awarded grant funding from the Charge Ahead Colorado program to install eight electric vehicle chargers located throughout their service area including installations in Grant, Deer Trail, Bennett, Elizabeth, Woodland Park, Kiowa, Larkspur and Castle Rock.
Staff has been working closely with CORE to determine the location for the Castle Rock EV Charger and the terms associated with the ground lease. As identified in the ground lease agreement (Exhibit 1), the Castle Rock EV Charger will be located at Philip S. Miller Park, adjacent to the Miller Activity Complex. The Town will not assess any rent to CORE for the duration of the ground lease period. The initial term is for a five-year period with an option to renew for up to two additional five-year terms upon mutual approval.
The grant funding provided to CORE will cover 80 percent of the installation and CORE will pay the remaining project costs. As such, the Town will not expend any funds to provide this EV Charger for public use. The cost to install EV charging stations can vary widely depending on location and type of charger installed. For reference, a similar charging station is planned to be installed at the Police Department for fleet use with an estimated project cost of roughly $16,000. Approval of this ground lease will waive associated permit fees as permitted with Town Council approval pursuant to Section 15.01.030 of Castle Rock Municipal Code.
Use of the charger will be open to the public and will be free of charge for at least 180 days after installation. CORE will monitor use of the EV Charger and may implement a service charge if deemed necessary in the future. CORE will be responsible for the operating and maintenance costs of the EV Charger throughout the lease term, including actual electric consumption charges. At termination of the lease agreement, the CORE will transfer ownership and control of the EV Charger and associated improvements.
The process to install the EV Charger and other necessary improvements would commence following Town Council approval of this lease agreement and is expected to be complete by summer 2023.
Budget Impact
Approval of this ground lease agreement does not require expenditure of any Town funds. This agreement includes a provision waiving permit fees for installation of the EV Charger and associated improvements. This waiver is allowed with Town Council approval according to Section 15.01.030 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code. Estimated permit fees are unknown at this time but are expected to be minimal given the scale of the project.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance approving a ground lease agreement with CORE Electric Cooperative for the installation of an EV Charger at Philip S. Miller Park.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the ordinance as introduced by title.”
Alternate Motions
“I move to approve the ordinance approving a ground lease agreement with CORE Electric Cooperative, with the following conditions: (list conditions).”
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on ___date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Exhibit 1: Ground Lease for Electric Vehicle Charger at Philip S. Miller Park