►
From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on October 12, 2017
Description
Docket #1200 - Ordinance regarding the right to charge
A
Good
morning,
everyone
and
welcome
to
the
Boston
City
Council's
Committee
on
government
operations.
Hearing
the
subject
is
docket
number
one:
two:
zero,
zero
and
ordinance
regarding
the
right
to
charge.
My
name
is
city
councillor,
Michele,
Wu
and
I
am
just
filling
in
for
our
government
Operations
Committee
Chairman
counselor
Flaherty,
who
was
running
a
few
minutes
late.
He
got
something
happened
at
the
last
second,
but
he
was
on
his
way
and
we
are
also
joined
by
my
colleague
city
councilor,
Tim
McCarthy.
A
So
the
goal
I'll
just
quickly
summarize
this
ordinance
is
an
effort
to
make
it
easier
for
the
city
of
Boston
to
fulfill
its
climate
goals
and
its
greenhouse
gas
emissions
reductions
goals
by
facilitating
electric
vehicle
infrastructure.
It
actually
was
sparked
by
a
constituent
request,
someone
reached
out
and
said
that
the
family
wanted
to
purchase
and
switch
to
an
electric
vehicle
from
a
gas
powered
one,
and
you
know
be
better
for
the
environment
and
better
for
fuel
efficiency,
etc.
A
However,
in
a
situation
living
in
a
multi-family
house
that
is
con
node,
the
condo
documents
were
very
specific
that
any
changes
to
the
property
needed
to
have
sign-off
from
everyone
involved
and
in
a
very
small,
two
or
three
unit
condo
situation.
If
one
of
the
owners
is
not
inclined
to
support
that
for
various
reasons,
then
it
makes
it
very
difficult
for
us
to
to
be
promoting
electric
vehicles.
A
A
You
can
actually
put
a
very
small
unit
on
the
wall
and
it
takes
up
even
less
space.
So
we
had
a
technical
edit
just
to
make
that
clear
that
the
installation
on
the
wall
would
also
be
allowed,
but
I
want
to
hand
it
over
to
our
administration
panel.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
joining
us,
I
think
Carl.
You
wanted
to
start
and.
B
Yes,
thank
you
Thank
You
councillor.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today
concerning
docket,
1200
and
ordinance
regarding
the
right
to
charge
I'm
going
to
make
a
I'm
Carl
Specter,
commissioner
Environment
and
I'm
going
to
make
a
few
general
remarks
and
then
my
colleagues
make
up
the
director
of
climbing
for
the
Transportation
Department
will
describe
some
of
the
actions
we
are
already
taking
to
increase
the
use
of
electric
vehicles
in
Boston.
Mayor
Walsh
strongly
supports
the
intent
of
this
proposal
and
the
expansion
of
electric
vehicles
in
Boston
in
2015
transportation
sources.
B
Mostly
automobiles
were
responsible
for
about
25
percent
of
the
Boston
community's
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
This
means
that
we
will
not
be
able
to
meet
our
goal
of
carbon
neutrality
by
2050
unless
there
is
a
significant
change
in
the
energy
sources
for
transportation
over
the
past
10
years.
As
long
as
we
have
been
tracking
greenhouse
gas
emissions
steadily,
improving
vehicle
efficiency
has
contributed
to
our
overall
reduction
in
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
B
The
growing
number
of
electric
vehicles
has
been
a
part
of
this
change
and
we
can
easily
foresee
that
its
importance
is
likely
to
increase,
as
the
proposed
ordinance
correctly
highlights,
ensuring
that
Boston
has
the
in
for
structure
where
people
live
and
where
they
were
to
support.
The
use
of
electric
vehicles
is
a
key
part
of
facilitating
this
transition.
Vineet
will
discuss
our
recent
steps.
B
I
would
point
out
that
the
efficacy
of
electric
vehicles
as
a
GHG
reduction
strategy
presupposes
that
we
have
a
supply
of
electricity
undergoing
decarbonisation
and,
as
you
know,
counselors
we
have
had
some
discussions
in
this
chamber
about
the
most
effective
means
of
accelerating
that
trend.
In
regard
to
the
proposal
under
consideration
today,
we
would
support
a
measure
that
facilitates
the
ability
of
residents
to
use
their
own
resources
through
installed
charging
facilities
on
private
property.
B
However,
the
law
Department
has
analyzed
the
proposed
ordinance
and
concluded
that
it
is
not
allowed
under
state
law,
because
cities
and
towns
may
not
legislate
with
respect
to
or
in
any
way
regulate
civil
relationships,
such
as
the
relationship
between
a
residential
owner
and
an
association.
Unless
the
legislation
is
incident
to
the
city's
broad
police
power,
the
proposal
would
need
to
take
the
form
of
a
home
rule
petition
and
we
would
be
happy
to
work
with
the
council
and
putting
this
measure
into
that
form.
B
C
Thank
You,
commissioner
and
councillors,
and
those
present
in
the
audience
I
want
to
touch
on
four
initiatives
or
four
policy
approaches
that
the
city
is
currently
undertaking
to
support
the
adoption
of
electric
vehicles
by
our
residents.
The
first
has
to
do
with
our
access
plan
agreements
that
we
sign
with
developers.
These
are
the
new
buildings
and
these
are
administered
to
the
Boston
Transportation
Department.
C
Similarly,
the
air
pollution
control
Commission
requires
permits
of
new
developers
if
new
developments,
if
they
are
in
the
parking
freeze
zone,
both
regulations
require
new
developments
to
set
aside
five
percent
of
their
total
parking
spaces
that
are
proposed
that
are
proposed
in
the
in
the
development.
A
set
aside,
five
percent
for
electric
vehicle
charging-
in
other
words
developers,
are
required
to
provide
the
wiring
to
to
allow
for
charging.
C
We
we
have,
incidentally,
done
a
pilot
on
city
sprint,
it's
right
on
Cambridge
Street,
outside
City
Hall
plaza
several
years
ago
we
installed
three
electric
charging
units
that
have
been
utilized
fairly
well.
They
are
vintage
now
based
on
the
kind
of
technologies
we
have,
but
they
have
been
well
received,
our
fleet,
the
Boston
City
fleet
or
city-owned
vehicles.
We
are
trying
to
make
them
make
those
vehicles
carbon-free,
and
this
data
is
slightly
outdated,
but
currently
25
percent
of
vehicles
in
the
city,
fleet
or
or
carbon-free
as
part
of
Gore
Boston
2030.
C
We
have
laid
out
an
aspirational
goal
that
by
2030
all
vehicles
in
the
city's
fleet
would
be
emission
free.
Finally,
we
are
exploring
opportunities
to
install
electric
charging
facilities
in
our
municipal
Eon
parking
lots,
and
so
that's
we
haven't
done
any
yet,
but
it's
we
think
it's
a
good
opportunity
to
to
install
some
and
so
we've
identified
throughout
the
cities.
Some
municipal
owned
municipally-owned
parking
lots
that
might
benefit
from
having
that
facility.
A
D
One
quick
one:
if
you
are
the
the
charging
stations
that
are
on
the
street,
the
electric
are
those
specific
jet
I
know
where
they
are,
but
the
issue
I
have
is
some
people
can't
afford
an
electric
car,
so
we
are
taking
those
spots
away.
So
what
would
be
the
role
of
about
and
what
would
be
the
the
the
punishment?
If
you
will
because
I
you
know
there
are
families
who
have
cars,
but
certainly
right
now
they
they
haven't,
really
made
them
inexpensive.
C
Yeah
excellent
question
and
we,
the
the
the
spaces
that
are
in
Cambridge
Street,
are
still
metered
spaces,
and
you
know
we
haven't
really
started.
You
know
we
don't
kind
of
stand
around
and
and
take
it.
Somebody
necessarily,
but
we
would
like
to
see
electric
vehicles
use
those
spots.
You
know
once
the
electric
vehicle
there
it
takes
some
time
for
them
to
charge,
but
overall,
if
you
were
to
roll
out
parking
spaces
for
electric
vehicle
charging,
it's
that
issue.
That
needs
to
be
thought
about.
C
It's
an
issue
about
not
wanting
to
do
a
significant
capital
investment
on
the
sidewalk
and
then
find
that
that
people,
those
spaces,
are
not
flexible
enough
for
other
uses.
So
it's
not
something
that
we
are
rolling
out
in
any
significant
way
on
city
streets.
So
it's
it's
a
very
good
passion.
Thank
you.
A
Casa
is
offering
some
sit
up
to
the
conversation,
so
I
want
to
thank
you
both
for
your
testimony
and
also
for
the
work
that
you've
been
doing.
I
think
held.
Sir
McCarthy's
point
is
a
great
one
that
in
the
front,
until
now,
the
until
now
the
the
cost
of
electric
vehicles
have
been
quite
prohibitive
for.
A
Very
family
friendly,
but
the
costs
have
been
prohibitive
for
your
average
Boston
resident.
The
costs
are
coming
down
quickly
and
I.
Think
part
of
the
goal
of
this
is
to
recognize
that
within
the
hopefully
the
near-term,
so
she
has
some
of
the
the
Tesla
pricing
and
these
options
are
coming
down
to
more
accessible
prices.
That
will
I.
Think
the
the
switch
from
the
tipping
point
of
pricing
being
a
luxury
item
to
very
accessible
for
your
average
family
will
happen
quickly
and
faster
than
the
city
would
be
able
to
react
with
infrastructure
changes.
A
So
it's
good
to
be
prepared
and
know
that
there's
a
plan
in
place
I
mean
I
think
we
had
a
brief
conversation
about
corporation
councils,
view
from
our
research
and
the
analysis
of
case
law.
That
has
been
done
on
the
council
side
and
we
would
respectfully
disagree
about
the
requirement
that
it
has
to
be
a
homo
petition
again,
not
an
issue
to
take
up
here,
but
I'll
work
offline
with
all
the
lawyers
and
I
guess
the
send
over
a
copy
of
this
memo.
A
But
the
the
underlying
principle
is
that
city
of
Boston
can
enact
ordinances
that
are
related
to
the
city's
ability
to
to
promote
the
general
welfare
of
its
residents
so
long
as
it's
not
preempted
by
state
law,
and
there
is
no
conflict
currently
with
state
law.
So
our
belief
is
that
we
can
do
this
as
an
ordinance
and
again
we'll
follow
up
and
talk
more
about
the
exact
mechanism
to
making
sure
we
codify
the
intent
that
everyone
in
this
room
agrees
on.
A
A
E
E
Homeowners,
businesses,
communities
engage
with
some
of
the
clean
energy
solutions
that
we
all
need
to
consider
as
we
try
to
combat
climate
change.
We
recognize
climate
change
is
a
multi-faceted
issue
and
there's
no
silver
bullet.
There
are
many
things
that
need
to
be
done
to
combat
it,
and
so
electric
vehicles
are
one
of
the
things
that
we
are
very
supportive
of,
and
that's
one
reason
why
we
support
this
proposal.
E
It's
stated
in
the
in
the
materials
that
the
transportation
sector
accounts
for
a
significant
proportion
of
the
greenhouse
gas
emissions
in
the
Commonwealth
and
also
obviously
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
if
we're
going
to
actually
hit
the
ambitious
goals
that
have
been
set,
statewide
and
citywide,
we
have
to
electrify
the
transportation
sector.
An
analysis
has
demonstrated
that
charging
remate
or
lack
thereof
remains
a
significant
barrier
to
access
for
individuals
who
want
to
otherwise
transition
to
an
electric
vehicle.
As
councillor
Wu
noted,
the
cost
of
EVs
are
coming
down.
E
There
are
new
vehicles
available
at
different
price
points.
The
technology
itself
is
becoming
increasingly
accessible,
but
what
is
what
continues
to
be?
A
barrier
is
where
folks
might
be
able
to
charge,
particularly
in
densely
populated
centers
and
in
places
where
there
are
multi-unit
dwellings.
So
that's
what
makes
this
proposal
so
significant.
E
You
know
mention
that
this
is
just
a
complimentary
strata
conference,
all
the
other,
wonderful
things
that
are
being
done
in
this
city
and
just
makes
good
sense
and
would
allow
other
people
who
are
thinking
about
access
or
driving
and
Evi
to
be
able
to
do
it.
So
I'm
happy
to
I
will
submit
formal
comments
and
have
to
answer
their
questions.
I'll
mention
a
restate
just
from
our
own
experience
running
a
discount
electric
vehicle
program.
That's
geared
towards
informing
consumers
about
the
benefits
of
v's.
E
We've
encountered
this
issue
with
with
folks,
even
in
in
Boston
and
in
other
cities
around
the
Commonwealth
who
really
do
want
to
commit
to
an
electric
vehicle
have
found
that
it's
affordable,
but
for
whatever
reason,
are
in
a
multi
dwelling
unit
and
haven't
been
able
to
install
a
charger.
So
thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
F
Everybody,
my
name,
is
Kevin
O'brien
and
I
work
with
the
Sierra
Club
of
Massachusetts,
so
I've
been
on
the
clean
transportation
for
all
campaign
with
them
for
about
two
and
a
half
years
now,
so
that's
a
campaign
that
deals
with
electrifying
transportation,
increased
access
to
public
transit
and,
ultimately,
just
and
you
know
reducing
emissions
across
the
board.
So
in
that
capacity,
I've
spoken
with
a
lot
of
numerous
groups,
agencies
and
citizens.
You
know
across
the
state
about
there's
the
challenges
and
the
opportunities
that
are
presented
by
electric
vehicles.
F
The
reality
is
sometimes
you
have
a
you
put
beef
with
your
neighbor,
or
you
have
an
association
that
doesn't
want
to
deal
with
this
or
something
like
that
or
they
just
don't
understand
it
or
it's
a
new
thing,
but
our
air
quality
is
what
suffers
from
that,
and
that's
that's
kind
of
the
main
issue
here
so
either
a
solution
that
we
need
to
be
removing
barriers
from
not
not
maintaining
them
and
I.
Think
this.
This
ordinance
is
kind
of
a
common-sense
solution
to
solve
that.
F
As
long
as
a
person's
plans
to
install
up
the
charging
station
are
reasonable
and
they're
within
oning
requirements,
I
really
don't
think.
There's
any
reason
that
association
or
a
neighbor
should
be
able
to
prevent
them
from
doing
that,
so
I
mean
this
ordinance
removes
you
know
yet
another
barrier,
and
you
know
every
major
cities,
climate
plan
that
I've
seen
has
a
big
evie
component
to
it.
So
there's
definitely
a
recognition
there
that
these
things
are
important
and
then
they're
a
great
solution.