Sunny Isles Beach discusses expanding EV charging; city currently absorbs electricity costs under FPL agreement

Sunny Isles Beach — Commissioners and city staff discussed electric-vehicle (EV) charging availability and management during a workshop item prompted by resident concerns.

A commissioner said resident Eric Luca reported problems including vehicles parking in charging spaces without charging and drivers leaving cars after charging is complete. The commissioner asked whether the city could use resident decals to reserve charging parking for local users and whether more charging stations could be added.

City staff (identified in the discussion as Susan Stan) said the city has been in contact with Florida Power & Light about adding additional stations. Under the current agreement with FPL, staff said, FPL pays for chargers, installation and permitting; the city has not had to buy and install equipment. "Our vehicle charging is free," staff said, noting that parking fees still apply in lots that already charge. Staff added that the city discussed programming idle fees so a user who does not move a vehicle after charging could be charged an idle fee and receive an app notification when charging finishes.

Commissioners and staff discussed charger types and costs: trickle chargers (10–12 hours), level‑2 chargers (about 4–6 hours depending on battery state), and higher-cost "superchargers" that can charge a vehicle in 30–60 minutes but cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install. Staff said the city currently does not have a dedicated FPL meter for charging stations and the electricity usage appears within the city's overall electric bill; to date staff said they had not noticed a spike attributable to the chargers.

Staff said they will follow up with FPL on site approvals and potential new programs and return with more detailed options for locations, pricing or permit requirements. The commission did not take formal action but asked staff to report back.