The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Cambria Veterans’ Memorial Building, funded through a grant under the SLO County Clean Air Incentive Program, which is managed by the SLO County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). The EV charging station was constructed on the southwest side of the building in place of two existing accessible parking spaces. The former General Manager and staff stated that the location was the best choice because of its proximity to the electrical circuit box and the requirement for all public EV charging stations to be accessible parking spaces. Two new accessible parking spaces were established in the east side parking lot. The American Legion, which leases the ground floor of the Vets’ Hall, previously utilized the accessible parking spaces and requested that the CCSD move the newly constructed EV charging station to a different location.

On November 10, 2022, the Utilities Department Manager/District Engineer was directed to pursue establishing the EV charging station at the front of the Veterans’ Hall in the recommended area and coordinate with the Legion members in re-establishing the identity of the two accessible parking places that were removed.

General Manager McElhenie has coordinated with the American Legion members in re-establishing the identity of the two accessible parking places that were removed and requested quotes for the relocation of the EV charging station at the Veterans’ Hall. Thoma Electric was chosen to disconnect the existing dual-port EV charging station, trench, and backfill for site electrical work in the parking lot, re-stripe parking lot spaces, install new traffic-rated underground pull boxes in the existing parking lot, intercept and extend the EV charger from the current location to the new location, form and pour new concrete base at the new EV charger location and re-install the EV charger. The proposal is based on all work performed during regular business hours between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Relocation work will be coordinated with American Legion members.

On September 14, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a Public Works Agreement with Thoma Electric to relocate the electric vehicle charging station at the Veterans' Hall and adopted Resolution 51-2023 for a budget adjustment. On October 16, 2023, CCSD staff held a kickoff meeting with Thoma Electric, and Thoma Electric informed the District of the necessary explicit specifications and requirements for an ADA-compliant parking space. An accessible parking space is required for this project as per grant compliance conditions. Two critical conditions of the specifications for ADA-compliant parking space are that the slope of the accessible parking space cannot have a slope greater than 2.08%, and the ADA space should be on the right-hand side. With these critical constraints accounted for, only one area of the Veterans Hall parking lot satisfied all specifications. On November 9, 2023, the Board of Directors approved the new electric vehicle charging station location. Work commenced on installation of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station on March 7, 2024.