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Wheaton council not likely to support electric car charging station

An electric car charging station likely won't be coming to a city-run parking garage in Wheaton anytime soon.

The city council discussed the possibility of adding two electric car charging stations in a downtown parking garage located near the intersection of Wesley Street, Wheaton Avenue and Front Street during a planning session Monday.

The city's Environmental Improvement Commission suggested the charging stations, which would provide a spot for residents and visitors to charge their electric cars, as part of its 2015-16 Green Action Plan.

City staff members said they supported three other recommendations the commission had for the next fiscal year, including the continued implementation of a bike plan, Prairie Path enhancements and at least four recycling cans in the downtown area.

In the request, commission members said they felt the charging station would draw in younger consumers to local businesses and demonstrate that Wheaton is "a progressive city."

However, City Manager Don Rose said even though the initial cost of $11,000 wouldn't be a big expense, he was concerned about ongoing and future costs. That might include, he said, upgrading the electrical panel in the garage and staff time for responding to inquiries about the charging station and equipment maintenance.

"At this time, I'm not sure the city should be taking on any new programs, whether they're relatively inexpensive or not compared to our overall expenditures," he said. "Too often, I think we find in government you start programs and they just start expanding and expanding and costing more and more."

Councilman John Prendiville commended the commission for bringing the idea to the city council. He said he is favor of the city encouraging the use of alternative fuels, but he views this as a "free service" that ultimately will cost the city money.

"I wish I could support it, but I just can't because of the economic situation and the budget situation that we have," he said.

Other council members agreed that they liked the idea, but didn't know if there was enough demand to justify the cost for now.

"Certainly we have not gotten outcry from residents to do this. We've gotten some emails, but not a large demand for it," said Councilman Todd Scalzo. "We're just not there yet. Maybe in a few years we will be, but not today."

  Ted Witte, chair of Wheaton's environmental improvement commission, addresses the Wheaton City Council about a proposal from the commission to install an electric car charging station in a city-run parking garage. Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
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