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PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING FEES
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Title 7- Fees, Chapter 2 - Electric Vehicle Charging Fees of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Code of Ordinances is hereby enacted as Follows:
TITLE 7 - FEES; CHAPTER 2 - ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING FEES
7-2-1: PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY.
The District may establish fees and other reasonable conditions governing the use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations owned or operated by the District and made available for public use. Electric Vehicle Charging Fees established pursuant to this Chapter are intended to recover the reasonable costs associated with providing electric vehicle charging services and to promote the efficient operation and availability of the District's Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
This Chapter shall apply to Electric Vehicle Charging Stations owned or operated by the District and made available for public use, except to the extent that different or additional requirements are imposed by an applicable grant, intergovernmental agreement, contract, or other binding legal obligation.
7-2-2: DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Chapter:
“Electric Vehicle” has the meaning set forth in Section 11-1308 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-1308.
“Electric Vehicle Charging Station” has the meaning set forth in Section 11-1308 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-1308.
“Electric Vehicle Charging Station Space” means a parking space designated by posted signage for use by an Electric Vehicle in connection with an Electric Vehicle Charging Station.
“Electric Vehicle Charging Fee” means the fee charged for the use of an Electric Vehicle Charging Station.
“Idle Fee” means an overstay or similar fee imposed through the applicable charging or payment platform for the continued connection of an Electric Vehicle to an Electric Vehicle Charging Station following completion of a charging session and expiration of any applicable grace period.
7-2-3: ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING FEES.
A. The District may impose an Electric Vehicle Charging Fee for use of an Electric Vehicle Charging Station made available for public use.
B. The Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall be based upon the reasonable costs associated with providing the District's public electric vehicle charging service. In establishing or adjusting the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee, the following costs and factors may be considered, as applicable:
1. Electricity costs, including energy, supply, delivery, demand charges, riders, and other applicable utility charges;
2. Transaction and payment processing fees;
3. Networking, software, and platform costs;
4. Maintenance, inspection, and repair costs;
5. Administrative costs reasonably attributable to the electric vehicle charging program;
6. Equipment lifecycle, replacement, and upgrade costs;
7. Actual and projected utilization of the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations; and
8. Other costs reasonably attributable to the ownership, operation, administration, maintenance, and long-term sustainability of the District's public electric vehicle charging program.
C. The Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall not be established or administered primarily for the purpose of generating unrestricted general revenue unrelated to the District's public electric vehicle charging program.
7-2-4: ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING RATE; ADJUSTMENTS.
A. The initial Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall be $0.30 per kilowatt-hour.
B. The Electric Vehicle Charging Fee may be adjusted from time to time by the General Superintendent, based upon the costs and factors set forth in Section 7-2-3; provided, however, that the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall not exceed $1.00 per kilowatt-hour without approval of the Board of Commissioners.
C. Any adjustment to the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall be supported by documentation demonstrating that the adjusted rate bears a reasonable relationship to the actual or reasonably anticipated costs associated with providing the District's public electric vehicle charging service.
D. Any increase above the not-to-exceed rate established in subsection B, or any material change to the cost-recovery methodology set forth in Section 7-2-3, shall require approval of the Board of Commissioners.
E. The then-current Electric Vehicle Charging Fee shall be posted on the District's website and displayed or otherwise made available to users through the applicable charging or payment platform prior to commencement of a charging session.
7-2-5: CHARGING TIME LIMITS AND IDLE FEES.
A. The General Superintendent may establish reasonable charging time limits, grace periods, and other operational conditions governing the use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Electric Vehicle Charging Station Spaces in order to promote turnover, public accessibility, and efficient operation of the District's electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
B. The District may impose an Idle Fee for the continued connection of an Electric Vehicle to an Electric Vehicle Charging Station following completion of a charging session and expiration of any applicable grace period.
C. The initial Idle Fee shall be $2.00 per hour after a 20-minute grace period, provided, however, the total Idle Fee per session shall not exceed $25. Subject to such not-to-exceed amount, the General Superintendent may periodically adjust the per hour Idle Fee as reasonably necessary to promote turnover and availability of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Electric Vehicle Charging Station Spaces.
D. Applicable charging time limits, grace periods, Idle Fees, and the circumstances under which an Idle Fee begins to accrue shall be posted at the applicable Electric Vehicle Charging Station and displayed or otherwise made available through the applicable charging or payment platform.
E. An Idle Fee is separate from, and shall not be construed as, a fine or penalty for violation of an applicable parking restriction under Title 4 of this Code.
7-2-6: ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE.
A. The General Superintendent is authorized to administer the District's public electric vehicle charging program consistent with this Chapter, including implementation of Electric Vehicle Charging Fees, Idle Fees, charging time limits, operational conditions, signage, charging and payment platforms, and other administrative requirements necessary for operation of the program.
B. The District may maintain policies and procedures governing the operation and use of its Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, provided that such policies and procedures are consistent with this Chapter and other applicable provisions of this Code.
C. Applicable Electric Vehicle Charging Fees, Idle Fees, charging time limits, parking restrictions, and other material conditions governing public use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations shall be reasonably communicated to users through signage, the District's website, the applicable charging or payment platform, or a combination thereof.
7-2-7: REVIEW AND SUNSET.
This Ordinance shall sunset on December 31, 2030. Prior to that sunset date, the District shall review its fee increase process for items covered by this Title 7, Chapter 2 to determine if modifications are advised.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect November 1, 2026.
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