HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13663
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13663)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 11/1/2021
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: SECOND READING: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal
Code Title 10 (Parking) to Allow Virtual Parking Permits and Update
Definitions and Procedures; and Direct Staff to Implement Virtual Parking
Permits in a Phased Approach (FIRST READING: October 4, 2021 PASSED: 7-0)
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Clerk
This was heard by the City Council on October 4, 2021 for a first reading and was approved 7-0.
The ordinance attached has been corrected since the first reading to delete outdated
references to Revenue Collections as discussed by the City Council; it is now before you for a
second reading.
Attachments:
• Attachment5.a: Attachment A: Ordinance Amending Title 10 (Parking) to Allow
Virtual Parking Permits and Update Definitions and Procedures to Conform with Current
Practices
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Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Various Chapters of
Title 10 (Parking) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Allow Virtual Parking
Permits, Update Definitions and Processes, and Limit “Loading and Unloading” to
“Active Loading and Unloading”
The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. The City Council desires to allow virtual permits for the City’s various permit parking
programs.
B. The City Council desires to update various sections of Title 10 to update job titles,
definitions, and processes to reflect current practices.
C. The City Council desires to clarify that “loading or unloading” be limited to “active
loading or unloading” when permitted by various sections of Title 10.
D. The City Council hereby amends Title 10 to implement these changes as specifically
described in this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. The following sections of Chapter 10.04 (Definitions) of Title 10 (Vehicles
and Traffic) are hereby amended as follows (new text is underlined, deletions are in
strikethrough):
10.04.060 Loading zone.
"Loading zone" means that space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles
during the active loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
10.04.080 Park.
"Park" means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily
for a period of less than thirty seconds for the purpose of and while actually engaged in active
loading or unloading passengers or materials.
10.04.100 Passenger loading zone.
"Passenger loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of
vehicles during the active loading or unloading of passengers.
SECTION 3. Chapter 10.04 (Definitions) is hereby amended to add new section
10.04.185 as follows:
10.04.185 Transportation Network Company.
"Transportation Network Company” means an organization, including, but not limited to, a
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietor, or any other entity,
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operating in California that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation
using an online-enabled application or platform to connect passengers with drivers using a
personal vehicle.
SECTION 4. Section 10.36.050 (Parallel Parking) of Chapter 10.36 (Stopping, Standing
and Parking - Generally) is hereby amended as follows:
10.36.050 Parallel parking.
(a) Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked
within eighteen inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon
any one-way street unless the city manager has caused signs to be erected prohibiting such
stopping or standing.
(b) In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted
to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-
hand side of such one-way roadway unless the city manager has caused signs to be erected
permitting such standing or parking.
(c) The city manager is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited
upon the left-hand side of any one-way street or alley or when standing or parking may be
permitted upon the left-hand side of any one-way roadway of a highway having two or more
separate roadways and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.
(d) The requirement of parallel parking in this section shall not apply in the event any
commercial vehicle is actually engaged in the process of actively loading or unloading freight or
goods, in which case that vehicle may be backed up to the curb, provided that such vehicle does
not extend beyond the center line of the street and does not block traffic thereby; however,
pursuant to Section 10.40.040 commercial vehicles may not stop, park, or stand in business
districts between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. unless they are legally parallel parked or are
legally parked in any angle parking space.
SECTION 5. The following sections of Chapter 10.40 (Stopping, Standing and Parking -
Loading And Unloading) are hereby amended as follows:
10.40.020 Signs or curb markings to indicate no stopping and parking regulations.
(a) The city manager is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to
place signs or the following curb markings on any street, alley, or public parking facility to
indicate parking or standing regulations, and curb markings shall have the meaning as herein
set forth:
(1) Red shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time whether the vehicle is
attended or unattended except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus
zone.
(2) Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at during any the period of time
between six a. m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays designated by posted
signage for any purpose other than the active loading or unloading of passengers or materials;
provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three
minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes by commercial
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vehicles during which the operator must be in attendance, under any circumstances during
times when parking is restricted at a yellow zone.
(3) White shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time, unless limited to specific
hours and/or days by posted signs, for any purpose other than the active loading or unloading
of passengers which shall not exceed three minutes.
(4) Green shall mean no standing or parking for a period of time longer than thirty minutes at
any time between eight a.m. and five p.m. of any day except Saturdays, Sundays and
holidaysthe specified time limit and on the days indicated by the posted signs.
(5) Blue shall mean no stopping, standing or parking except for vehicles that lawfully display
a disabled placard or disabled license plate while transporting a disabled person. Such
restrictions shall apply at all times.
(b) When the city manager, as authorized under this chapter, has caused signs or curb
markings to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible
sign or curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this title except as specifically
authorized by law.
10.40.030 Effect of permission to load or unload.
(a) Permission herein granted to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of active loading or
unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial vehicles and shall not extend beyond the
time necessary therefor and in no event for more than twenty minutes.
(b) The loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries including
the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.
(c) Permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of active loading or unloading
passengers shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage but shall not extend
beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event for more than three minutes.
(d) The provisions of this section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and
reasonable loading or unloading but without permitting abuse of the privileges hereby granted.
(Ord. 4558 § 4 (part), 1999)
10.40.045 Special parking permit for construction or maintenance work.
(a) The chief transportation official may issue a permit for the temporary use of any parking
space in a public street or in a public parking facility upon a showing that the applicant will be
moving property or conducting construction and/or maintenance work in the immediate area
and that no alternative off-street site for the parking of vehicles or for the temporary storage of
equipment and/or materials is available reasonably near the work site. Such permit shall entitle
the holder temporarily to use a designated parking space or spaces in a public street or a public
parking facility as specified in the permit without regard to time limits otherwise imposed, but
shall not permit illegal parking or use and parking or use of unauthorized places.
(b) A permit, when issued for the use of a vehicle, shall contain the name of the permittee,
the make and type of vehicle, the license number, and the location where and time when the
permit shall be in effect. A permit, when issued for the temporary storage of equipment and/or
materials, shall contain the name of permittee, the specific type of equipment and/or materials
to be stored and the location where and the time when the permit shall be in effect. When a
single permit is issued for both parking and storage, the information required for both parking
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and storage permits, as set forth in this chapter, shall be contained therein.
(c) When issued for parking or for storage, the permit shall be placed on the windshield of
the vehicle and, when issued for storage, the permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place on
the equipment or materialsdisplayed as directed by the City.
(d) No permit shall be issued for any initial period greater than thirty working days, but the
chief transportation official may renew the permit for additional periods not to exceed thirty
working days each. The fee for such permit shall be established in the municipal fee schedule.
No permit shall be issued until said fee has been paid to the supervisor of revenue
collectionsCity.
(e) In addition to the permits described in this section, the chief transportation official may
issue permits authorizing the temporary use by commercial vehicles of any parking space in a
public street or in a public parking facility upon a showing that the applicant provides
emergency repair work. Such permit shall entitle the holder to use a parking space in a public
street or a public parking facility without regard to the limits otherwise imposed, but shall not
permit illegal parking or parking in unauthorized places; the permit shall authorize parking for
the duration of the emergency only. Each use of the permit shall be recorded with the date,
time, place, and nature of the emergency, as well as with other information required by the
forms provided for reporting purposes. The completed form shall be submitted to the chief
transportation official on a monthly basis for verification.
A permit shall be effective for one year and shall contain the name of the permittee, the make
and type of vehicles, the license numbers and the effective dates of the permit. The original
permit shall be placed on the vehicle windshield so as to be visible from outside the vehicle and
shall include an indication as to the specific location of the emergencydisplayed as directed by
the City. No person shall reproduce a permit. The annual fee for such permit shall be
established in the municipal fee schedule. No permit shall be issued until said fee has been paid
to the supervisor of revenue collectionsCity.
It is unlawful and an infraction for any person:
(1) To use an emergency repair parking permit for other than parking for emergency repair
work;
(2) To use an emergency repair parking permit for other than commercial vehicles;
(3) To use an expired or revoked emergency repair parking permit; or
(4) To reproduce an emergency repair parking permit. Two violations in any calendar year
shall automatically revoke privileges for the next succeeding twelve months.
For purposes of this subsection, "emergency repair work" means repair work done to a
structure or to mechanical, electrical, or plumbing devices where there exists a threat to life or
property.
10.40.050 Standing for loading or unloading only.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any yellow loading zone for any purpose other
than active loading or unloading passengers or materials for such time as is permitted in Section
10.40.030.
10.40.060 Standing in passenger loading zone.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any passenger loading zone for any purpose
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other than the active loading or unloading of passengers for such time as is specified in Section
10.40.030.
10.40.070 Standing in any alley.
When official signs prohibiting such parking are in place, no person shall stop, stand or park a
vehicle for any purpose other than the active loading or unloading of materials in any alley.
Such parking shall not exceed twenty minutes. In no event shall the driver of such vehicle leave
less than one traffic lane for unobstructed passage. When an alley is designated as a one-way
alley, such parking by vehicles shall be permitted on the right side only.
SECTION 6. Chapter 10.40 (Stopping, Standing and Parking - Loading and Unloading) is
hereby amended to add new section 10.40.110 as follows:
10.40.110 Transportation Network Company (TNC) Vehicles.
No owner or driver of a TNC vehicle shall park or stand the same upon any public highway or
street for any period of time longer than is necessary to discharge or receive passengers.
SECTION 7. The following sections of Chapter 10.46 (College Terrace Residential Parking
Permit Program (RPPP)) are hereby amended as follows:
10.46.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(a) “Address” means and includes any residential address. Each dwelling unit within an
apartment building that is distinguished by an apartment number shall be considered an
address.
(b) “Block” means any street segment intersected by two other streets. Blocks include the
following:
North-South Blocks
1) Yale Street from Stanford Avenue to Oxford Avenue
2) Yale Street from Oxford Avenue to College Avenue
3) Yale Street from College Avenue to Cambridge Avenue
4) Yale Street from Cambridge Avenue to California Avenue
5) Williams Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
6) Williams Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
7) Wellesley Street from Stanford Avenue to Oxford Avenue
8) Wellesley Street from Oxford Avenue to College Avenue
9) Wellesley Street from College Avenue to Library
10) Wellesley Street from Library to California Avenue
11) Cornell Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
12) Cornell Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
13) Princeton Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
14) Princeton Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
15) Oberlin Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
16) Oberlin Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
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17) Harvard Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
18) Harvard Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
19) Hanover Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
20) Hanover Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
21) Dartmouth Street from Stanford Avenue to Werry Park
22) Dartmouth Street from Werry Park to College Avenue
23) Dartmouth Street from College Avenue to Weisshaar Park
24) Dartmouth Street from Weisshaar Park to California Avenue
25) Columbia Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
26) Columbia Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
27) Bowdoin Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
28) Bowdoin Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
29) Amherst Street from Stanford Avenue to College Avenue
30) Amherst Street from College Avenue to California Avenue
31) Staunton Court from Oxford Avenue to College Avenue
East-West Blocks
1) Stanford Avenue from El Camino Real to Yale Street
2) Stanford Avenue from Yale Street to Williams Street
3) Stanford Avenue from Williams Street to Wellesley Street
4) Stanford Avenue from Wellesley Street to Cornell Street
5) Stanford Avenue from Cornell Street to Princeton Street
6) Stanford Avenue from Princeton Street to Oberlin Street
7) Stanford Avenue from Oberlin Street to Harvard Street
8) Stanford Avenue from Harvard Street to Escondido Street
9) Stanford Avenue from Escondido Street to Hanover Street
10) Stanford Avenue from Hanover Street to Dartmouth Street
11) Stanford Avenue from Dartmouth Street to Columbia Street
12) Stanford Avenue from Columbia Street to Bowdoin Street
13) Stanford Avenue from Bowdoin Street to Amherst Street
14) College Avenue from Yale Street to Williams Street
15) College Avenue from Williams Street to Wellesley Street
16) College Avenue from Wellesley Street to Cornell Street
17) College Avenue from Cornell Street to Princeton Street
18) College Avenue from Princeton Street to Oberlin Street
19) College Avenue from Oberlin Street to Harvard Street
20) College Avenue from Harvard Street to Hanover Street
21) College Avenue from Hanover Street to Dartmouth Street
22) College Avenue from Dartmouth Street to Columbia Street
23) College Avenue from Columbia Street to Bowdoin Street
24) College Avenue from Bowdoin Street to Amherst Street
25) California Avenue from Yale Street to Williams Street
26) California Avenue from Williams Street to Wellesley Street
27) California Avenue from Wellesley Street to Cornell Street
28) California Avenue from Cornell Street to Princeton Street
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29) California Avenue from Princeton Street to Oberlin Street
30) California Avenue from Oberlin Street to Harvard Street
31) California Avenue from Harvard Street to Hanover Street
32) California Avenue from Hanover Street to Dartmouth Street
33) California Avenue from Dartmouth Street to Columbia Street
34) California Avenue from Columbia Street to Bowdoin Street
35) California Avenue from Bowdoin Street to Amherst Street
36) Oxford Avenue from Stanton Court to Yale Street
37) Cambridge Avenue from El Camino Real to Yale Street
(c) “College Terrace” means the area bounded by El Camino Real on the east, Amherst Street
on the west, California Avenue on the south, and Stanford Avenue on the north. The residential
portion of the CN zone on the east side of Yale Street, the north side of Cambridge Avenue, the
west side of Stanton Court and Oxford Avenue from Staunton Court to Yale, is also included in
the boundary of College Terrace. Areas, including block faces on the north side of Stanford
Avenue and on the south side of California Avenue are excluded.
(d) “Day care center” means and includes any state-licensed day care center with five or
more employees.
(e) “Designated residential parking area,” sometimes referred to as “residential permit
parking area,” means any block upon which the Council imposes parking limitations pursuant to
the authority granted by this chapter.
(f) “Guest parking permit” means a parking permit issued pursuant to this chapter or an
ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to authority granted herein, which when displayed
upon a motor vehicleas directed by the City, as described herein, shall exempt the motor
vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this chapter.
(g) “Guest” means an individual who calls upon a resident in the designated residential
permit parking area with specific intent to spend time in or about that resident’s residence for
the purpose of social intercourse or to provide a service.
(h) “Motor vehicle” means and includes automobile, truck, motorcycle or other motor driven
form of transportation.
(i) “Neighborhood-serving establishment” means all libraries, schools, day care centers, and
nonprofit public service organizations.
(j) “Nonresident vehicle” means a motor vehicle not eligible to be issued a residential parking
permit, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this chapter, for the specific area in which it is
parked.
(k) “One-day guest parking permit” means a parking permit issued pursuant to this chapter
which when displayed upon a motor vehicle, as described hereinas directed by the City, shall
exempt the motor vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this chapter or
an ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to authority granted herein, for the date indicated
upon the face of said permit or as authorized by a virtual permit.
(l) “Residential parking permit” means a permit issued under this chapter which, when
displayed upon a motor vehicle, as described hereinas directed by the City, shall exempt said
motor vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this chapter.
(m) “Residence” means a legal residential address and shall exclude business addresses.
(n) “Resident” means any person sixteen (16) years of age or older whose legal residential
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address isin the designated residential permit parking area.
(o) “RPPP” means residential parking permit program.
(p) “RPPP year” means and includes the days between September 1 and August 31 of the
following year.
(q) “School” means and includes any state-licensed preschool, elementary, middle, junior
high, or high school with five or more employees.
(r) “Virtual permit” allows the holder to park according to the type of permit purchased
without displaying a physical permit affixed to or displayed in a vehicle. A virtual permit relies
on cross-referencing a vehicle’s license plate or other vehicle-specific identifier with the City’s
parking permit database to identify any valid parking permits for that vehicle.
10.46.060 Issuance of residential parking permits.
(a) Residential parking permits shall be issued by the Administrative Services Department’s
Revenue Collections DivisionCity in accordance with requirements set forth in this
chapter. Each such permit shall be designed to state or reflect thereon the identification of the
particular residential permit parking area (i.e. College Terrace) as well as the license number of
the motor vehicle for which it is issued. The City may also issue virtual permits in combination
with or instead of physical permits. No more than one residential parking permit shall be
issued to each motor vehicle owned or leased for which application is made.
(b) Revenue CollectionsThe City shall issue residential parking permits with a term of one
year from September 1 to August 31 regardless of when during the year a resident purchases
the parking permit, to motor vehicles which comply with the requirements set forth in this
chapter. Purchase of permits will be available starting thirty days prior to the beginning of the
next RPPP year. A grace period will be recognized from September 1 to September 30 for
residents with a permit from the previous year. Vehicles displaying a permit from the previous
year will not be cited during the grace period.
(c) Residents applying for a permit will be required to provide proof of vehicle ownership and
residency. A vehicle registration form as well as one of the following shall be required at the
time of registration showing College Terrace residency:
• Driver’s license – indicating College Terrace Address
• Rental agreement – with name of resident
• Current (i.e., not more than sixty days old) utility bill with street address noted
(d) One residential parking permit may be issued for each vehicle owned, leased or any
person who can demonstrate that they are currently a resident of the area for which the permit
is to be issued.
(e) A residential parking permit may be issued for any vehicle owned, leased or any person
who is employed by or a representative of a neighborhood-serving establishment located
within the particular residential permit parking area. Each employee or representative of a
neighborhood-serving establishment will be allowed to obtain one permit for each vehicle they
own or lease subject to the following criteria which shall be used to establish the eligibility of a
neighborhood-serving establishment and the maximum number of permits to be issued:
(1) An establishment for which there is no off-street parking and no financially feasible way
of creating adequate off-street parking on the site of the establishment;
(2) In areas where it appears that the number of permits sold per block would exceed the
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number of legal on-street parking spaces per block the initial sale would be limited to two or
possibly one permit per neighborhood-serving establishment;
(3) Distribution of permits shall be through a designated representative of the establishment
who will be responsible for allocation of the permits to employees.
(f) Renewal of residential parking permits shall be subject to the same conditions imposed on
new permits.
(g) The residential parking permit shall consist of a bumper sticker that is to be affixed to the
left side of the rear bumper or on the outside of the rear window on the lower left hand
corner.be displayed as directed by the City. The City may issue a residential parking permit in
any form, including as a virtual permit.
(h) Revenue CollectionsThe Director of the Office of Transportation is authorized to issue
such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, governing the issuance and
display of residential parking permits.
(i) Any person to whom a residential parking permit has been issued pursuant to this section
shall be deemed a parking permit holder.
10.46.070 Guest permits.
(a) Revenue CollectionsThe City shall issue guest parking permits in accordance with this
section. A guest parking permit shall be of limited duration, but shall otherwise grant to the
holder thereof all the rights and privileges of a regular residential parking permit. Guest parking
permit shall be of two types:
(1) One-day guest parking permits; and
(2) Annual guest parking permits.
(b) A one-day guest parking permit shall clearly display the date upon which it becomes
effective, and shall designate the particular residential permit parking area for which it applies
(i.e., College Terrace). A one-day guest parking permit shall, during the date indicated upon the
face of said permit, exempt the applicable vehicle from parking time restrictions established
pursuant to this chapter. The City may also issue virtual permits in combination with or instead
of physical permits.
(c) An annual guest parking permit shall, for the period between September 1 and August 31
of the following year exempt the applicable vehicle from parking time restrictions established
pursuant to this chapter.
(d) Guest passes parking permits shall hang from the rear view mirror and must be clearly
displayed in this fashion.be displayed as directed by the City. The City may issue guest parking
permits in any form, including as a virtual permit.
(e) Revenue Collections The Director of the Office of Transportation is authorized to establish
rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, concerning the issuance and display of
guest parking permits to permit holders.
(f) An eligible applicant for a guest parking permit shall be any person having obtained a
residential parking permit pursuant to criteria set forth in this chapter, but no more than two
annual guest parking permits per address shall be issued during a single RPPP year.
(g) The total number of one-day guest permits issued will be limited to twenty permits in a
three-month calendar quarter.
(h) The use of guest permits is restricted to visitors to the permit parking area. Holders of
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residential parking permits are prohibited from displaying guest permits in the permit parking
area.
10.46.080 Parking permit fees.
(a) The initial purchase of a residential parking permit for a vehicle owned or leased of a
resident and registered at a qualifying residence in addition to vehicles owned, leased of an
owner or employee of a qualifying neighborhood serving center shall be assessed the
corresponding fees set forth in the city Municipal Fee Schedule.
(b) Renewal of residential parking permits shall be subject to the fees set forth in the city
Municipal Fee Schedule.
(c) Replacement of stolen, lost, or damaged residential parking permits shall be subject to
the fees set forth in the city Municipal Fee Schedule.
(d) Lost or stolen guest permits will be subjected to a higher replacement fee as set forth in
the City Municipal Fee Schedule.
(e) The fee for each guest parking permit (one-day and annual) will be as set forth in the city
Municipal Fee Schedule.
(f) Residential parking permit fees will be pro-rated for half year increments. Thus permits
applied for between September 1 and the last day of February pay full price. Permits applied
for between March 1 and August 31 pay half price.
(g) One-day guest permits pay full price.
(h) No partial or full refund will be administered for any resident or guest permit.
(i) Residents will be required to complete their initial application for the resident permit and
guest passes in person at the Revenue Collections office at the City of Palo Alto City Hall located
at 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Subsequent renewal of the resident permit and
guest passes will also required to be completed in person at the Revenue Collections office.
SECTION 8. The following sections of Chapter 10.50 (Residential Preferential Parking
Districts) are hereby amended as follows:
10.50.020 Definitions.
The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Director" shall mean the director of planning and community environmentthe office of
transportation.
(b) "Dwelling unit" shall mean a self-contained house, apartment, stock cooperative unit, or
condominium unit occupied by a single household exclusively for residential purposes. These
residential purposes may include lawful home occupations.
(c) "Employee permit" shall mean a permit issued to an employee working at a business
located within an RPP District or as defined in an RPP district specific resolution.
(d) "Guest permit" shall mean a permit issued to a resident on an for use by a person visiting
a residence in an RPP District or for workers providing services such as caregiving, gardening,
repair maintenance and construction, to the resident. The number of guest permits issued to
residents shall be specified in administrative regulations adopted by the director. Guest permits
shall be valid for no more than one year based on the permit renewal cycle.
(e) "Non-resident vehicle" shall mean a vehicle operated by a person whose destination is
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not to a residence within the Residential Preferential Parking District.
(f) "Resident" shall mean a natural person living in a dwelling unit in an RPP District.
(g) "Residential Preferential Parking District" or "RPP District" shall mean a geographical area
in which the city council has established a preferential parking permit system pursuant to
California Vehicle Code section 22507.
(h) "Visitor permit" shall mean a temporary 24-hour permit issued to a resident for use by a
person visiting a residence in an RPP District.
10.50.050 Initiation by neighborhood petition.
Residents may request the formation of an RPP District in their neighborhood. The request
shall be made, and considered, in the following manner:
(a) Form of Application.
(1) The director shall establish a standard form for the application for the formation of a new
RPP District, as well as a list of submittal requirements for use by interested residents. These
requirements shall include a narrative describing the nature and perceived source of non-
residential parking impact, as well as suggested district boundaries. The director shall also
approve a standard form for use in demonstrating resident support for the application.
(2) Residents shall initiate a request for establishment of an RPP District by neighborhood
petition by completing the official application form.
(3) Residents are encouraged to consult with the employers and employees thought to be
the source of the parking impact as they develop their proposals.
(b) Timing and Review of Applications. Each calendar year, the director of planning and
community environment shall review all applications received prior to March 31st of that year
to determine whether the RPP District criteria established in this Chapter and the
administrative guidelines are met.
(c) Prioritization of Applications. Applications determined by the director to meet the
criteria in paragraph (b) above shall be presented to the planning and transportation
commission. The commission shall review the requests and recommend to the director which
proposal or proposals should be given priority for review and possible implementation in the
current calendar year. In making its recommendations, the commission shall consider the
severity of non-residential parking impact, the demonstrated level of neighborhood support,
and the staff resources needed to process requests.
(d) Staff Review of Applications and Community Outreach. Once an application has been
selected for council consideration during the current calendar year, staff shall promptly review
the application, gather additional information and conduct a community outreach program. At
a minimum the review process shall include the following:
(1) The city shall complete parking occupancy studies to quantify the nature of the problem
identified in the petition. Data shall be collected when schools in the Palo Alto Unified School
District and Stanford University are in session, unless these institutions are irrelevant to the
problem to be addressed.
(2) Upon completion of the consultation and outreach process, the city attorney shall
prepare a draft resolution containing the proposed boundaries and hours of enforcement. Staff
shall undertake a survey of resident support within the RPP District. The results of this survey
shall be included in and reported to the planning and transportation commission and the city
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council.
(e) Planning and Transportation Commission Review. Staff shall bring the proposed RPP
District to the planning and transportation commission no later than September of the calendar
year in which consideration began. The commission shall review the draft resolution at a
noticed public hearing and make a recommendation to the city council regarding the RPP
District. This recommendation may include proposed modifications of the boundaries. The
commission's recommendation shall be forwarded to the city council no later than September
30th.
10.50.070 Administration of districts.
(a) Issuance and Fees.
(1) No permit will be issued to any applicant until that applicant has paid all of his or her
outstanding parking citations, including all civil penalties and related fees.
(2) A residential parking permit may be issued for a motor vehicle if the following
requirements are met:
(A) The applicant demonstrates that he or she is currently a resident of the area for which
the permit is to be issued.
(B) The applicant demonstrates that he or she has ownership or continuing custody of the
motor vehicle for which the permit is to be issued.
(C) Any motor vehicle to be issued a permit must have a vehicle registration indicating
registration within the area for which the permit is to be issued.
(3) Visitor or guest parking permits may be issued for those vehicles or to those individuals or
households that qualify for those permits under the resolution establishing the RPP District.
(4) Employee parking permits may be issued to those individuals and for those vehicles that
qualify for such permits under the resolution establishing the RPP District.
(b) All permits shall be displayed as directed by the City.
(bc) No Guarantee of Availability of Parking. A parking permit shall not guarantee or reserve
to the permit holder an on-street parking space within the designated residential preferential
parking zone.
(cd) Restrictions and Conditions. Each permit issued pursuant to this Section shall be subject
to each and every condition and restriction set forth in this Chapter and as provided for in the
resolution establishing the specific RPP District, as may be amended from time to time. The
issuance of such permit shall not be construed to waive compliance with any other applicable
parking law, regulation or ordinance.
(de) Exemptions. The following vehicles are exempt from RPP District parking restrictions in
this Chapter:
(1) A vehicle owned or operated by a public or private utility, when used in the course of
business.
(2) A vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency, when used in the course of
official government business.
(3) A vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the
Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, when used in the course of business.
(4) A vehicle parked or standing while actively delivering materials or freight.
(5) A vehicle displaying an authorized exemption permit issued by the City of Palo Alto.
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(6) A vehicle displaying a State of California or military-issued disabled person placard or
license plates.
(7) A vehicle parked for the purpose of attending or participating in an event taking place at
a school within the Palo Alto Unified School District or another event venue within the RPP
District, provided that the vehicle is parked within two blocks of the venue, the venue has
requested and received approval from the city at least fourteen days before the event date,
and the venue distributes notices to all addresses within a two-block radius of the venue. The
RPP District resolution shall specify the covered venues and number of permitted events per
year.
(8) All vehicles are exempt from parking restrictions pursuant to this Chapter on the
following holidays: January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25.
(ef) Authority of Staff.
(a1) The director is authorized to adopt administrative regulations that are consistent with
the purposes of this Chapter. Prior to adoption the director shall conduct a noticed public
meeting soliciting input on such guidelines.
(b2) The police department or private parking enforcement contractor as approved by the
chief of policeCity shall have the authority to enforce the this Chapter and the administrative
regulations established pursuant to this Chapter.
10.50.090 Modification or termination of districts.
(a) Opting out. After final adoption of an RPP District, Residents may file an application with
the director to opt out of the RPP District. The minimum number of blocks and percentage of
units supporting the opt-out shall be specified by the director in the administrative
guidelines. Applications for opting out shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the
director and shall be acted up on by the director.
(b) Timing and Review of Opt Out Applications. Each calendar year, the director of planning
and community environment shall review all opt out applications received prior to March 31st
of the year to determine whether the opt out criteria established in the administrative
guidelines are met.
(c) Dissolution. The city council following a noticed public hearing may adopt a resolution
dissolving the RPP District:
(1) Upon receipt and verification of a petition signed by 50% or more of all the households
within an approved RPP District boundary; or
(2) Upon findings by the city council that the criteria for designating the RPP District are no
longer satisfied.
10.50.100 Violations and Penalties.
(a) No person shall park a vehicle adjacent to any curb in a residential preferential parking
zone in violation of any posted or noticed prohibition or restriction, unless the person has a
valid and current residential preferential parking permit, visitor permit, guest permit or
employee permit for that vehicle, or is otherwise exempt. Use of any permit issued under this
Chapter shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter and the administrative regulations.
Violations of this subsection shall be punishable by a civil penalty under Chapter 10.60.010.
(b) In RPP Districts with a time limit for non-permitted vehicles, vehicles not displaying a valid
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permit may park up to the posted time limit during the period designated by posted signage.
After the maximum time limit period, vehicles will be prohibited from re-parking within the
same district.
(bc) No person shall sell, rent, or lease, or cause to be sold, rented, or leased for any value or
consideration any RPP District parking permit, visitor permit or guest permit. Upon violation of
this subsection, all permits issued to for the benefit of the dwelling unit or business
establishment for which the sold, rented, or leased permit was authorized shall be void.
Violation of this subsection (b) shall be punishable as an infraction.
(cd) No person shall buy or otherwise acquire for value or use any RPP District parking
permit, guest permit or visitor permit except as provided for in this chapter. Violation of this
subsection (c) shall be punishable as an infraction.
SECTION 9. Chapter 10.50 (Residential Preferential Parking Districts) is hereby amended
to add new section 10.50.110 as follows:
10.50.110 Revocation of permit.
In addition to all other remedies, the City may temporarily revoke (for a period of time not to
exceed ten working days) a parking permit issued under this Chatper of any person found to be
in violation of this chapter by providing written notice of the temporary revocation to the
permittee. Such written notice shall include a statement outlining the grounds for revoking the
permit as well as the date, time, and place set for a hearing before the Hearing Officer or their
representative to determine if the revocation shall be in effect until the expiration of the
permit. Written notice of the date, time and place of such hearing shall be served upon the
permittee five days prior to the date set for such hearing.
At the hearing before the Hearing Officer or their representative, the permittee shall have the
right to present evidence and a written or oral argument, or both.
No decision shall be invalidated because of the admission into the record and the use of any
proof of any fact in dispute of any evidence not admissible under the common law or statutory
rules of evidence.
Within five working days after close of hearing, the Hearing Officer or their representative
shall enter their decision based upon the record presented and notify the permittee in writing
of such decision. The decision of the Hearing Officer shall be final. Failure, when so requested,
to surrender a parking permit so revoked shall constitute a violation of this section. There will
be no refunds for revoked permits.
SECTION 10. The following sections of Chapter 10.51 (Crescent Park No Overnight
Parking Program) of Title 10 (Parking) are hereby amended as follows:
10.51.020 Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings.
(a) "Crescent Park" means the area bound by Edgewood Drive on the northeast, Channing
Avenue on the south, Lincoln Avenue on the west, University Avenue on the northwest and
including the entirety of Crescent Drive.
(b) "Director" shall mean the chief transportation official.
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(c) "Dwelling unit" shall mean any self-contained house, apartment, stock cooperative, or
condominium occupied solely for residential purposes.
(d) "Restricted parking area" shall mean a residential area upon which the council imposes
overnight parking limitations pursuant to the authority granted by this chapter.
(e) "Resident" shall mean any person who lives in a dwelling unit located in a residential
restricted parking area.
(f) "Overnight residential parking permit" shall mean a permit issued under this chapter
which, when displayed upon a motor vehicle, as described hereinas directed by the City, shall
exempt said motor vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this chapter.
(g) "Guest" shall mean a person visiting residents living in a residential preferential parking
zone.
(h) "Guest parking permit" shall mean a parking permit issued pursuant to this chapter or an
ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to authority granted herein, which when displayed
upon a motor vehicle, as described hereinas directed by the City, shall exempt the motor
vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this chapter.
10.51.040 Inclusion of approved parking areas.
(a) Eligibility for inclusion. Residents of any street or street segment tentatively approved for
inclusion may petition the director for inclusion into the Crescent Park no overnight parking
area. If the petition meets the criteria established in Section 10.51.040(b) and the
administrative regulations adopted by the director, parking restrictions will be implemented on
that block.
(b) City staff shall consider for designation any proposed street or street segment in Crescent
Park which satisfies the following enumerated requirements:
(1) Residents submit a petition, prepared for residents by city staff and signed by at least one
member of fifty percent of the parcels on the street.
(2) Upon receipt of a completed petition, city staff shall issue a postal survey to verify
participation and interest of all residents in the proposed restricted parking area.
(3) At least seventy percent of responses to the survey received by city staff shall be in
support of participation in the restricted overnight parking program.
(c) Following validation of majority support, city staff shall implement signs within the newly
designated restricted parking area and notify residents of eligibility to purchase parking permits
at city hall.
10.51.060 Administration of restricted parking area.
(a) Issuance and fees.
(1) No permit will be issued to any applicant until that applicant has paid all of his or her
outstanding parking citations, including all civil penalties and related fees.
(2) An overnight residential parking permit may be issued for a dwelling if the following
requirements are met:
(A) The applicant demonstrates that he or she is currently a resident of the restricted parking
area for which the permit is to be issued.
(B) The applicant demonstrates that he or she has ownership or continuing custody of the
motor vehicle for which the permit is to be issued.
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(C) Any dwelling to be issued a permit must have a vehicle registration indicating registration
within the area for which the permit is to be issued.
(3) Visitor or guest parking permits may be issued for those individuals or dwellings that
qualify for those permits under the resolution establishing the restricted parking area.
(b) No guarantee of availability of parking. An overnight residential parking permit shall not
guarantee or reserve to the permit holder an on-street parking space within the designated
residential preferential parking zone.
(c) Restrictions and conditions. Each permit issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to
each and every condition and restriction set forth in this chapter and as provided for in the
resolution establishing the specific restricted parking area, as may be amended from time to
time. The issuance of such permit shall not be construed to waive compliance with any other
applicable parking law, regulation or ordinance.
(d) Exemptions. The following vehicles are exempt from the Crescent Park overnight parking
restrictions in this chapter:
(1) A vehicle owned or operated by a public or private utility, when used in the course of
business.
(2) A vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency, when used in the course of
official government business.
(3) A vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by the
commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, when used in the course of business.
(4) A vehicle parked or standing while actively delivering materials or freight.
(5) A vehicle displaying an authorized exemption permit issued by the City of Palo Alto.
(6) A vehicle displaying a State of California or military-issued disabled person placard or
license plates.
(7) A vehicle parked for the purpose of attending or participating in an event taking place at
a school within the Palo Alto unified school district or another event venue within the restricted
parking area, provided that the vehicle is parked within two blocks of the venue, the venue has
requested and received approval from the city at least fourteen days before the event date,
and the venue distributes notices to all addresses within a two-block radius of the venue. The
restricted parking area resolution shall specify the covered venues and number of permitted
events per year.
(8) All vehicles are exempt from parking restrictions pursuant to this chapter on the
following holidays: January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25.
(e) Authority of staff.
(1) The director is authorized to adopt administrative regulations that are consistent with the
purposes of this chapter.
(2) The director has the discretion to grant the issuance of any additional permits to a
dwelling for which the maximum residential parking permits has previously been issued. Any
permit approved by the director that is in addition to the two overnight residential parking
permits issued pursuant to this chapter may be subject to additional fees and limitations as
designated by the director.
(3) The police department or private parking enforcement contractor as approved by the
chief of policeCity shall have the authority to enforce this Chapter and the administrative
regulations established pursuant to this chapter.
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SECTION 11. Section 10.60.070 (Permit parking in city lots) of Chapter 10.60 (Parking
violations) is hereby amended as follows:
10.60.070 Permit parking in city lots.
(a) The city manager or designee is authorized to set aside any portion or all of any city-
owned parking lot for permit parking and to issue permits therefor as provided in this section.
(b) The city manager or designee may issue parking permits upon application therefor and
upon the payment of a fee in an amount to be determined by the city manager or municipal fee
schedule. Such permit shall designate the parking lot for which it is issued and shall be affixed
at or near the left side of the rear window or left side of the rear bumper in such a manner that
it can be readily identified from the rear of the vehicle for which it is issueddisplayed as
directed by the City. Such permit may contain such instructions as to its use as may be deemed
appropriate by the city manager. The city manager or designee may issue virtual parking
permits instead of, or in combination with, physical parking permits.
(c) The city manager or designee shall install signs in the permit parking areas indicating that
they are reserved for permit parking only, and the holder of such a permit properly displayed
may park in any such space on the lot, but only in such space.
(d) A vehicle with a permit shall not park for more than seventy-two consecutive hours in the
same city-owned public parking facility. This subsection shall not apply to official city vehicles.
(e) No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of a vehicle shall park that
vehicle or allow it to be parked in any permit parking space in a permit area where sign
indicating that such space is reserved for permit parking only without displaying a valid permit
therefor. This prohibition shall not only apply to the use of such spaces during the period from
five p.m. to eight a.m. or on Saturdays, Sundays and holidaysas indicated on the posted signage.
SECTION 12. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is
for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each
and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or
unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the Ordinance would be
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 13. The Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing
Facilities).
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SECTION 14. This Ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first date after the date of
its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
NOT PARTICIPATING:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
Deputy City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Chief Transportation Official
____________________________
Director of Administrative Services
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