HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-021 - Two-Year Continuance of a Program to Encourage Solar InstallationsROH - 04/04/11
RESOLUTION NO. 2011-Q21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA AUTHORIZING A TWO-YEAR
CONTINUANCE OF A PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE
SOLAR INSTALLATIONS BY TEMPORARILY WAIVING
PERMITTING FEES
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines
and declares as follows:
A. On May 5, 2008, the City Council adopted atwo-year solar permit fee
waiver program to encourage solar insfafJfa~tions for both residential and
commercial properties Citywide. The program's initial adoption resulted
from discussions with the City Council Development Committee and a
desire to broaden the City's environmental agenda. By all accounts the
program has been successful over the past two years in incentivizing solar
installations and should be renewed in order to continue supporting the
City's goals with respect to the environment and sustainability.
B. The two primary uses of solar energy include using the sun to heat water
and/or to generate electricity. Both rely on widely tested and proven
technologies. However, their application has in the past been limited by
the high acquisition/construction costs compared to potential cost savings.
This dynamic continues to shift, however, given the ever increasing cost of
energy as well as various programs offered by both the State and local
utility companies incentivizing solar installations.
C. Prior to the adoption of the solar,permit~fiee~waiver, the city processed
relatively few solar energy projects (less than five projects per year). This
number has increased substantially, and in 2010, the City processed over
40 solar permit applications, a 227 percent increase from 2009. This
increase is consistent with growth in solar projects statewide as California
leads the nation in solar installations with' nearly 77,000 installations
generating 779 megawatts.
D. The City's review of solar energy projects involves both plan check and
inspection services. The amount of time required for these reviews
depends primarily on the size and complexity of the solar installation. A
thorough review and analysis of the type of solar installation requests
received over the past two years indicates that the vast majority of solar
installations in Santa Ana are for single-family residences. Based on this
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analysis the Building Division has begun implementing several
streamlining procedures in order to reduce the amount of staff time
required to review and issue permits for residential solar projects. As a
result, at an average rate of $55/hour the respective permit fees would
range from approximately $55 to $550 per project with the majority being
in the $275 to $385 range.
E. A two-year permit incentive program for solar energy projects would waive
permit/inspection fees as an incentive to encourage solar installations.
Homeowners, business owners, contractors and others would still submit
plans and obtain permits and inspections, but the fees for such projects
would be waived during the program period. While the number of solar
energy projects is expected to continue to grow, the environmental and
community benefits of the use of solar energy outweighs the impacts to
workloads and/or reductions in revenue.
Section 2. The City Council hereby waives, for a two year period commencing
upon the date of adoption of this Resolution, both plan check and inspection service fees
for solar energy projects that generate heat or electricity and for which permits are
granted. This wavier shall apply to permits granted no later than two years from the date
of adoption of this Resolution.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
Resolution.
ADOPTED this 4th day of April 2011.
-----~ --
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Joseph Straka, City Attorney
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By:
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Ass
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€2esolutiotl No. 20:11-023
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YES: Councilmembers: Alvarez, Benavides, Bustamante, Martinez, Pulido,
Tinaiero, Sarmiento (7)
NOES: Councilmembers: None (0)
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: None (0)
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers: None (0)
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify that the
attached Resolution No. 2011-020 to be the original resolution adopted by the City
Council of the City of Santa Ana on April 4, 2011.
Date: `~~/~~~ii Qiv~Q ~.
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution Na. ~Q11-U~ ~~
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