On April 1st 2017, electric vehicle charging stations owned by the City of Sebastopol will begin charging modest user fees. Charging has been free at the three city-owned stations, located in the parking lot on Laguna Way northeast of the Rialto Cinema, since their installation in 2013. Costs have been covered through the General Fund Streets Utilities account. On June 7, 2016, the Sebastopol City Council approved, by Resolution No. 6086, new fees for users of City-owned electric vehicle charging stations: a $2.00 onnection charge, and a usage charge of $1.00 per hour. The monies collected will be separately accounted for, and will be used to pay for costs associated with system administration, maintenance, and electric vehicle charging program network expansion at City owned and leased facilities.
In addition to the three Laguna Way stations, the City is currently working on adding charging stations in the South High Street parking lot across from the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.
Privately owned charging stations at varying stages of completion are located at the CVS parking lot on Petaluma Avenue and in the Redwood Market Place near the Lucky supermarket.
The City of Sebastopol is widely recognized as a leader in sustainability efforts. The electric vehicle charging station program is part of the Sebastopol City Council’s continuing commitment to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.