REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRYON HORN, Chief Information Officer Information Services Department BY: ED SMITH, Information Services Manager Information Services Department SUBJECT ..Title ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing a Grant Application for $100,000 to California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program for establishing an eligible automated, solar permitting platform and authorizing the Planning and Development Department Director or designee to accept grant funds and execute all related documents. (Subject to Mayor's Veto) (Citywide) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council authorize a grant application for $100,000 to California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program for establishing an eligible automated, solar permitting platform and authorizing the Planning and Development Department Director or designee to accept grant funds and execute all related documents. (Subject to Mayor's Veto) (Citywide). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY California Senate Bill 100 requires that by 2030 at least 60% of electricity generated for California be from "eligible renewable energy resources." Achieving 100% clean electricity in California requires an acceleration of the development of rooftop solar projects. CalAPP funding is intended to encourage cities and counties to further enhance permitting processes and accelerate processing and turnaround time, particularly regarding plan review. Grant funding of $100,000 could be used to help cover the licensing costs of Accela and the training costs for City staff associated with integration with SolarAPP+ automated solar permitting platform. BACKGROUND Senate Bill 100, "The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018," sets a 2045 goal of powering all retail electricity sold in California and state agency electricity needs with renewable and zero-carbon resources and at least 60% by 2030. To assist in this goal, California passed Senate Bill 129 adding $20 million to the 2021 budget in for the California Energy Commission (CEC) to support funding a program pursuant to this purpose. Overall, funding is intended to promote the development of residential solar and solar-plus-storage systems, greatly decreasing approval times, cutting permitting costs for local governments and homeowners, and helping California meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals through an easier installation process. The grant funding is intended to help local governments in California recover the cost of establishing an eligible automated, online solar permitting platform. Most of the funding will be used for staff training or consultant time associated with implementing the software. There are other secondary costs permitted for reimbursement which include licensing costs for the Accela Software and training costs associated with training City staff on using SolarAPP+. Following the adoption and launch of a qualifying permitting platform, the Energy Commission may request annual data relating to this program. Requested data would include the number of permits issued in a given period of time, as well as relevant characteristics of the permitted systems such as system capacity. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract. FISCAL IMPACT This resolution will have no immediate impact on the General Fund. If awarded, grant funding allocated to the Program will be identified in future year budget appropriations. Attachments: Resolution CalAPP Application Form CalAPP Program Flier California Energy Commission Letter