City of Mendota, CA

Initial Status: General building permit used for all projects

Action Taken: City adopted solar specific PV form in 2013.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations in aesthetically sensitive areas do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. Allow staff members to review and approve applications when possible rather than requiring committee or planning commission review.

Initial Status: Permit application form online

Guidance: City currently at best practice- solar permit forms available online at http://www.ci.mendota.ca.us/forms.htm

Initial Status: No electronic submittal available

Action Taken: Expect to complete by February 2013

Guidance: Allow email submittal of permit application forms for qualifying projects.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Incomplete process information online

Guidance: Post information on the solar permitting and inspection process online in an easily accessible location. This should include the process steps, timelines, fees, point of contact, and any other pertinent information.

Initial Status: 15 business days for residential and commercial

Action Taken: Expect to complete by February 2013

Guidance: Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1). For all projects, issue or deny permit within 3 business days of submittal for residential and within 5 business days for commercial.

Initial Status: Valuation based fees

Action Taken: Expect to complete by February 2013

Guidance: Permit fee for residential systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $500 for systems <15 kW. Larger systems can be $15 for every kilowatt (kW) over 15 kW. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law.

Initial Status: Valuation based fees

Action Taken: Approach for meeting this goal will be taken to the City Council on Feb 12th

Guidance: Permit fee for commercial systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $1,000 for systems <50 kW, plus $7 for every kW between 51 kW and 250 kW, plus $5 for every kW over 250 kW. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law.

Initial Status: 1 business day

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Appointment window is AM or PM, with real time updates provided prior to arrival.

Guidance: City is currently at best practice. Provide an appointment window of 2 hours or less if possible.

Initial Status: More than 1 permit inspection

Action Taken: Approach for meeting this goal will be taken to the City Council on Feb 12th

Guidance: Require only a single permit inspection. If additional inspections are required during installation, conduct in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist currently utilized.

Guidance: Utilize a standard inspection checklist for PV systems. The checklist serves as a guide for inspectors and installers containing points of emphasis and common issues.

Initial Status: Accept solar standards from most recent code cycles

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Statewide solar-ready requirements for new construction (CA Title 24) starting in 2014

Guidance: State currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar development not directly addressed in General Plan.

Guidance: Include solar development goals in long term planning documents.

Initial Status: No current solar-specific zoning ordinances

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations, such as setbacks, height limits and lot use provisions, do not restrict property owners' ability to install solar.

Initial Status: No ordinances creating a barrier to solar

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: City is currently exploring finance program options

Action Taken: Expect to complete by February 2013

Guidance: Encourage local financial institutions to establish loan programs for solar energy systems.

Initial Status: Not aware of solar finance and evaluation tools

Action Taken: Expect to complete by February 2013

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. This can be done via webinars, marketing materials, or by providing links and information online.

Initial Status: No working group

Guidance: Support the creation of a working group of community leaders and funding providers. This group would evaluate options and determine the most viable approach for aggregating residential solar based on best practices to date.

Initial Status: No working group

Guidance: Establish a working group of businesses and commercial property owners to leverage their solar purchasing power by aggregating facilities for solar evaluation and procurement to reduce energy costs while demonstrating community leadership.

Initial Status: No event or online resources

Action Taken: Approach for meeting this goal will be taken to the City Council on Feb 12th

Guidance: Provide online access to training programs and resources for the installer community and potential workforce and organize an outreach and/or training event in order to generate awareness and understanding.

Initial Status: No event or online resources

Action Taken: Approach for meeting this goal will be taken to the City Council on Feb 12th

Guidance: Help promote the availability of online tools and resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.