HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-28 City Council Agendas (15)
City of Palo Alto (ID # 11627)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 9/28/2020
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Council Priority: Transportation and Traffic
Summary Title: Resumption of RPP Enforcement
Title: Resumption of Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Enforcement
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Transportation Department
Recommendation
This is an informational report and no City Council action is required.
Background and Discussion
To preserve neighborhood parking availability for residents as more businesses continue to
adapt to COVID-19 impacts and reopen, Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) enforcement will
resume in all six residential districts the week of October 12, 2020. To preserve purchased
permit value for resident and employee parkers, permits purchased in the last six months will
remain valid through March 2021.
Residents and permit holders will be notified about resuming enforcement via US mail.
Additional announcements will be made via the City’s communication channels, and
enforcement will resume “softly” for a limited period of time (warnings only).
Visitors and employees in commercial areas will still be able to park without time or permit
restrictions both on- and off-street (though Uplift Local visitors, businesses, and employees will
continue to be encouraged to use garages and lots over curb parking, and to walk or bicycle, as
well), while visitors to RPP districts will still have two hours of free parking available, until
demand for parking increases.
Staff will monitor key indicator blocks and corridors over the course of the remaining calendar
year to track parking availability trends. Parking availability monitoring of streets near to
University Ave. and California Ave. during Summer Streets revealed that most blocks remained
below 65% parking occupancy in June and July. The block that registered the highest occupancy
over the course of the six weeks monitored saw a significant decrease in occupancy in the
weeks afterward, correlating with City outreach efforts to encourage Summer Streets visitors to
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utilize time restriction free garage and lot space. As more of these blocks and others register
parking occupancy rates over 70% this remaining calendar year, staff will announce and resume
time restrictions on commercial parking.
After suspending Residential Preferential Parking enforcement services in March 2020, staff
have advanced a variety of planned parking program strategies to reduce costs and improve
customer service. Residents in districts up for renewal have been, and will continue to be,
contacted with instructions for how to sign up via the new online RPP Permit portal. The portal
is already active for the College Terrace and Crescent Park districts, which opened for sales in
August and September.
Additional information on the City’s parking programs is available at:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/trn/parking/default.asp/