HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2505-4723CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, August 11, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
7.Adopt a Resolution to Modify Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking
Program Employee Permit Allotment and Zone Revisions and Create New Two-Hour
Parking Areas Adjacent to El Camino Real; CEQA Status: Exempt pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15301. Public Comment
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: August 11, 2025
Report #:2505-4723
TITLE
Adopt a Resolution to Modify Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking Program
Employee Permit Allotment and Zone Revisions and Create New Two-Hour Parking Areas
Adjacent to El Camino Real; CEQA Status: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections
15061(b)(3) and 15301.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council: Adopt a resolution to increase the allotment of
employee permits from 50 to 65 and redraw Zones A-D to better distribute employee permit
parking. The resolution also expands 2-hour parking zones on four streets perpendicular to El
Camino Real. Approving these changes to the Evergreen Park-Mayfield (EPM) Residential
Preferential Parking (RPP) district will better accommodate changed employee needs while
continuing to appropriately distribute impacts of employee parking in line with RPP goals.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2021, Council approved changes to the EPM RPP in order to encourage use of expanded
parking supply in the California Avenue business district.
In 2024, Council made further modifications to the EPM RPP program to account for the
repurposing of parking lanes along El Camino Real, which eliminated on-street parking in Zone
G. Employee parking permits from Zone G were therefore allocated to Zones A through D in the
EPM neighborhood.
Based on observations of on-street parking demand and parking permit sales for the EPM
neighborhood, staff recommends further adjustments to Zones A-D in order to create more
even on-street availability throughout the neighborhood. In order to better account for parking
displacement, staff also recommends increasing the total number of employee permits across
the EPM zones from 50 to 65 and expanding 2-hour parking to certain streets perpendicular to
El Camino Real.
BACKGROUND
On December 15, 2014, Council established a Citywide Residential Preferential Parking (RPP)
Ordinance, to reduce parking impacts in residential neighborhoods while also accommodating
some non-residential parking demands.1 Based on this ordinance, an RPP was established for
the Evergreen Park / Mayfield (EPM) neighborhood including accommodation of a number of
employee permits within various zones shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Evergreen Park - Mayfield Existing Parking Zones
Over the past decade, various adjustments have been made to the RPP program as discussed
below and summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: RPP Program Adjustments
Date Action
December 15, 2014 Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Ordinance adopted
February 23, 2016 RPP eligibility criteria adjusted
1Ordinance #5294 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/46201
June 17, 2017 RPP parameters adjusted
April 6, 2020 RPP suspended during COVID state of emergency
November 2020 Sherman garage completed
November 9, 2020 EPM RPP employee parking transitioned to California Ave district
November 1, 2021 Pricing adjustment to encourage employee parking in Sherman garage
June 2024 Caltrans commences construction on El Camino Real
June 18, 2024
August 12, 2024
Transition of Zone G (El Camino Real) employee permits to Zones A - D
In November 2020, the City completed construction of a new parking garage at 350 Sherman
Avenue which expanded parking supply in the California Avenue parking district through
construction of 627 motor vehicle parking spaces (317 net new vehicle spaces) as well as 50
bicycle parking spaces.2 In response to this expanded parking supply, Council approved
adjustments to the Evergreen Park-Mayfield RPP program, which transitioned employee
permits from the EPM area (Zones A - F) to the California Avenue Business District on
November 9, 2020.3 Employee permits were also accommodated in Zone G, along El Camino
Real (ECR) also known as State Route 82. On November 1, 2021, Council approved permit
pricing changes to set garage and lot permit prices at 75% of employee permit prices for the
EPM on-street parking and to focus employee permit availability to Zone G only. Zone G
availability was set to 40 permits, with up to 10 more available with the approval of the
Direction of the Office of Transportation. This change effectively encouraged district employees
to utilize parking spaces in the new garage and increased the availability of on-street spaces for
visitors and residents, while still accommodating ECR businesses’ demand for employee parking
opportunities.
In 2024, the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) commenced
construction to rehabilitate and enhance safety along El Camino Real, including roadway
repaving, ADA compliant pedestrian push buttons, high visibility crossings and repurposing
parking lanes to create protected bikeways in Palo Alto, Los Altos and Mountain View. This
work displaced approximately 130 on-street parking spaces on both sides of El Camino
including all spaces previously designated as Zone G. To account for this change, on June 18,
2024, and August 12, 2024, Council authorized adjustment of the RPP program to reallocate
Zone G employee permit holders to Zones A-D of the EPM neighborhood. Staff recommended
2 SR#11161 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-
reports-cmrs/year-archive/2020-2/id-11716.pdf?t=49950.84
3 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/trn/parking/residents/evergreen_park_mayfield.asp
allocation of 50 employee permits to Zones A-D based on the following rough estimates of
demand: 4 10 to Zone A; 10 to Zone B; 15 to Zone C; and 15 to Zone D.
ANALYSIS
Reassignment of areas further from El Camino Real to an expanded Zone D;
Reassignment of a portion of Park Blvd from Zone B to Zone A;
Reduction in the number of employee permits in Zone A;
Reassignment of select block segments immediately adjacent to ECR to provide 2 hour
commercial parking
Increase in the number of employee permits in A-D to 65 total.
4 SR#2407-3203
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/api/compilemeetingattachmenthistory/historyattachment/?historyId=f831f6
4c-80c0-41f8-bedf-9b0d74aced0e
Figure 2: Recommended Evergreen Park - Mayfield Parking Zones (Note the expansion of Zones
D and A, and the removal of short block segments adjacent to El Camino Real added as 2-Hour
Commercial Zones.)
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
*NOT YET APPROVED*
1
139_20250731_ts24
Resolution No. ____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending and Restating
Resolution 10185, Continuing the Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential
Preferential Parking District (RPP) Program to Increase the Number of Employee
Permits, Amending the Zones, and Creating 2-Hour Parking Adjacent to El
Camino Real
R E C I T A L S
A. California Vehicle Code Section 22507 authorizes the establishment, by city
council action, of permit parking programs in residential neighborhoods for residents and other
categories of parkers.
B. On December 15, 2014, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 5294, adding Chapter
10.50 to Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, which established the
city-wide procedures for (RPP) Districts in the city.
C. On May 9, 2016, the City Council directed City staff to implement a Residential
Preferential Parking program in the Evergreen Park-Mayfield area.
D. In July 2016, a stakeholders’ group comprised of Evergreen Park residents and
business interests met two times and made its recommendations to the City on the particular
rules to be applied to the Evergreen Park-Mayfield RPP District.
E. On December 14, 2016, the Planning and Transportation Commission held a public
hearing to consider the proposed Evergreen Park-Mayfield residential preferential parking
program.
F. On January 23, 2017, the Council adopted Resolution No. 9663, which established
the Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking Program pilot and rescinded
existing parking restrictions that conflicted with the restrictions established by this RPP district.
G. In October and November 2017, the City conducted a parking occupancy study in
the Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking Program District and met with
residents and stakeholders to receive program feedback. The study found occupancies below
60% in Employee Parking Zones A and B, with areas of higher occupancy closer to businesses. In
addition, some businesses were unable to receive Employee Parking Permits under the current
limits.
H. It is the goal of the City to reduce the impacts of non-resident overflow parking
from the commercial areas on the surrounding neighborhoods.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
2
139_20250731_ts24
I. On February 5, 2018, the Council adopted Resolution 9739, which continued the
Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking Program as an ongoing program with
modifications to address issues identified in the pilot.
J. On November 1, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution 9997 to eliminate
employee parking permits in certain zones, allow the use of virtual permits, and update outdated
procedures.
K. On August 12, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 10185 to remove El
Camino Real from this RPP district due to Caltrans’ elimination of parking spaces on El Camino
Real upon the installation of bike lanes.
L. The City Council now desires to continue amend and restate Resolution 10185 to
increase the number of employee permits available, to amend the zone map, and add 2-hour
commercial parking to certain streets perpendicular to El Camino Real.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES, as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The criteria set forth in Section 10.50.030 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code for designating a Residential Preferential Permit Zone have been met as follows:
A. That non-resident vehicles do, or may, substantially interfere with the use of on-street or
alley parking spaces by neighborhood residents in that based on observation there are
few available parking spaces available midday, while the streets are relatively unoccupied
at midnight thus demonstrating the parking intrusion is largely by nonresidents.
B. That the interference by the non-resident vehicles occurs at regular and frequent
intervals, either daily or weekly, in that the parking intrusion is most severe during
daytime hours during the regular workweek.
C. That the non-resident vehicles parked in the area of the District create traffic congestion,
noise, or other disruption (including shortage of parking spaces for residents and their
visitors) that disrupts neighborhood life in that based on information from residents and
other city departments the vehicle congestion is interfering with regular activities.
D. Other alternative parking strategies are not feasible or practical in that the City has
implemented a series of alternative parking strategies in the past and concurrently and
there is still a shortage of parking available.
SECTION 2. Definitions.
A. “Dwelling Unit” shall have the same meaning as it is defined in Palo Alto Municipal Code
Section 10.50.020.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
3
139_20250731_ts24
B. “Evergreen Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking Program District” or “District”
shall be that area as shown in Exhibit A to this Resolution.
C. “Parking Zones” shall be those areas within the District as shown in Exhibit A to this
Resolution.
SECTION 3. Parking Restrictions within the District.
A. Two-hour Parking Limit and No Re-parking. In the areas within the District listed in Table
1, no person shall park a vehicle adjacent to any curb for more than two hours. Re-
parking a vehicle more than two hours after initially parking on the same day in the same
Parking Zone is prohibited. These restrictions shall be in effect Monday through Friday
from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except holidays as defined in Palo Alto Municipal Code Section
2.08.100. Vehicles properly displaying a valid Parking Permit as described in Section 4
of this Resolution are exempt from these restrictions.
TABLE 1
STREET BLOCKS
extending from El Camino Real to the
B. Exempt vehicles. Vehicles exempt from parking restrictions as described in Palo Alto
Municipal Code Section 10.50.070(d) are exempt from the restrictions in this section.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
4
139_20250731_ts24
SECTION 4. Parking Permits.
A. Employee Parking Permits. The City may issue Employee Parking Permits for use by
employees working in the District. Employee Parking Permits shall be subject to the
following regulations:
a. Duration. Employee Parking Permits shall be available in the form of monthly
and/or six-month permits (as determined by the Chief Transportation Official).
b. Form of Permit. The City may issue Employee Parking Permits in any form it deems
practicable.
c. Commuting Only. Employee Parking Permits are valid only when used by
employees who are working within the District on the day the permit is used.
d. Zones. Employee Parking Permits shall be specific to one of the Parking Zones as
specified in Exhibit A and shall entitle the permit holder to park only in the Parking
Zone designated on the Employee Parking Permit.
e. Maximum Number of Permits Issued. A maximum of 50 Employee Parking Permits
shall be granted at any given time to employees who work within the Evergreen
Park-Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking District. An additional 15 Employee
Parking Permits shall be held in reserve, and may be released for sale, in whole or
in part, upon approval of the Chief Transportation Official, in accordance with this
subsection e.
f. Daily Employee Parking Permits. Daily Employee Parking Permits shall not be
issued beginning January 1, 2022.
B. Resident Parking Permits. The City may issue Resident Parking Permits to residents of
dwelling units within the District. Resident Parking Permits shall be subject to the
following regulations:
a. Duration. Resident Parking Permits shall be available in the form of annual
permits and one-day permits.
b. Form of Permit. The City may issue Resident Parking Permits in any form it deems
practicable, including stickers, hangtags, and/or virtual permits.
c. Zones. Resident Parking Permits shall not be restricted to a specific Parking Zone.
Resident Parking Permits shall be valid only in the areas listed in Table 1.
d. Maximum Number of Permits per Dwelling Unit. Each dwelling unit within the
District shall be limited to five Annual Resident Parking Permits at any given time.
These permits may be used by residents or guests within the District.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
5
139_20250731_ts24
e. Daily Resident Parking Permits. Each dwelling unit shall be limited to 50 Daily
Resident Parking Permits annually. These permits may be in the form of scratcher
hangtags, an online issuance system, or such other form as the City determines.
Physical permits will state the date through which it is valid.
SECTION 5. Parking Permit Fees. The fee for Parking Permits in the District shall be set by the
City’s Municipal Fee Schedule.
SECTION 6. Other Parking Restrictions.
A. Section 2 of Resolution 4051 is repealed and replaced with the restrictions in this
Resolution.
B. 2 Hour Parking (Existing). The 2 Hour Commercial Area parking restrictions as identified
in Exhibit A shall remain in effect.
C. 2 Hour Parking (New). This Resolution establishes new 2 Hour Commercial Area parking
restrictions along portions of streets that are perpendicular to El Camino Real as described
in Table 2 below. In these areas, no person shall park a vehicle adjacent to any curb for
more than two hours. Re-parking a vehicle more than two hours after initially parking on
the same day is prohibited. These restrictions shall be in effect Monday through Friday
from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except holidays as defined in Palo Alto Municipal Code Section
2.08.100. RPP permits are not valid in these areas.
Table 2
Street Portion of Street Subject to 2-Hour
Parking
Real to the second driveway on each
D. Conflicting Restrictions. In the event the City should, at a later time, discover conflicting
parking restrictions within the District that conflict with the restrictions of this resolution,
but are not expressly rescinded, the RPP restrictions of this resolution shall control.
However, existing parking restrictions indicated by painted curbs and implemented
pursuant to Vehicle Code section 21458 are not superseded by this Resolution and remain
in effect.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
6
139_20250731_ts24
SECTION 7. Supersede. To the extent any of the provisions of this Resolution are inconsistent
with the regulations set forth in Resolution 10185, this Resolution shall control.
SECTION 8. CEQA. This Resolution is exempt from the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California
Code of Regulations since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the adoption
and implementation of this resolution may have a significant effect on the environment and
Section 15301 in that this proposed resolution will have a minor impact on existing facilities.
SECTION 9. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect upon adoption.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ __________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
_______________________ ___________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
___________________________
Chief Transportation Official
*NOT YET APPROVED*
7
139_20250731_ts24
Exhibit A
From:Carol Scott
To:Council, City; Baird, Nathan; Shikada, Ed; Planning Commission
Cc:Mike Eager; Paul Machado; Neilson Buchanan
Subject:Removal of Item #7 From Consent Calendar for August 11, 2025 Council Meeting
Date:Friday, August 8, 2025 12:34:07 PM
Attachments:Letter to City Council - August 2025.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Council Members, Mr. Shikada and Mr. Baird,
I write to ask you to remove item #7 from the Consent Calendar for your upcoming City Council meeting on August
11, 2025. This item proposes to increase the number of employee permits in the Evergreen Park Residential Permit
Parking program ('EVP RPP') and to make certain changes to the parking zone boundaries within the RPP.
The reasons for my request, which I explain in more detail in the attached memorandum, are:
1.City staff have cited no need for an increase in permits at this time. Although Zones A, B, and C have sold
out of their allotted permits, Zone D has not, i.e., permits are available for purchase in Zone D. This is an
important concern for residents of EVP that deserves open discussion before a vote is taken.
2.The proposed zone boundaries do not improve the problem (noted at the Council meeting on August 12,
2024) of overloading residential blocks closest to El Camino Real in Zones B, C, and especially D, but instead
will institutionalize them. They need further discussion work.
3.We have no data on which to base these decisions about the number of permits or appropriate zone
boundaries at this time. Such a study was promised as part of an evaluation of the Changes in the EVP RPP made
in August 2024. The Staff mentions "observations", but provides no details as to the methodology used to collect
these observations.
Please see the attached memorandum for further explanation of the issues.
I very much appreciate your consideration of this request.
Carol Scott
--
Carol Scott
This message could be suspicious
The sender's email address couldn't be verified.
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
From:Paul Machado
To:Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Lu, George; Lauing, Ed; Reckdahl, Keith; Veenker, Vicki; Stone, Greer;
Julie@julieforpaloalto.com
Subject:Evergreen Park RPP
Date:Wednesday, August 6, 2025 12:47:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Next Monday you will discuss changes to the Evergreen Park residential
parking program. This program was initiated by residents as
commercial intrusion into the neighborhood was severely affecting the
quality of life of residents.
Now there is a request from staff to change this program. I only ask
you to note that this program is a residential program to prevent the
neighborhood from merely being viewed as a commercial parking lot.
Also if commercial permits are allowed in the neighborhood, any plan
proposed should be designed so the commercial permits are evenly
distributed throughout the neighborhood and not designed so all the
commercial parking is closest to El Camino, like metal filings to a
magnet. Packing cars solid in an area makes the area useless to
residents and visitors.
Paul Machado
Evergreen Park
From:Tony Lee
To:Council, City
Subject:Re: El Camino Real Parking Changes: Impact on Stanford Coin Wash and other small businesses
Date:Tuesday, August 5, 2025 9:04:07 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Palo Alto City Council Member,
I am writing to follow up on my previous correspondence regarding the parking changes on El
Camino Real and their impact on Stanford Coin Wash. Specifically, I have not yet received
any updates concerning the "delivery vehicles excepted" signage I observed next to the Tesla
and McLaren dealerships.
I continue to drive past these dealerships on El Camino Real daily and still see these special
permit signs prominently displayed. This observation reinforces my earlier point about the
precedent for accommodating specific operational requirements for businesses.
Given this, I would like to formally request a similar parking permit for the area directly in
front of my laundromat. My aim is to provide my customers with the same privilege as those
delivery vehicles when they are dropping off or picking up their laundry. As I previously
highlighted, many of my customers, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, face
significant difficulties walking several blocks while carrying heavy bags of laundry. A
designated loading/unloading zone or a short-term parking permit would greatly alleviate this
burden and ensure continued access to my services for these vulnerable customers.
I remain eager to work with the City of Palo Alto to find a practical and equitable solution that
supports local businesses like mine while also respecting the objectives of the El Camino Real
Improvement Project.
Thank you for your continued attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Tony Lee
650-224-2230 cell
On Tue, May 27, 2025 at 10:33 PM Tony Lee <leetony@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Palo Alto City Council member,
I am writing to you regarding the recent changes to parking regulations on El Camino Real,
specifically the implementation of "No Parking" in front of my laundromat, Stanford Coin
Wash, located at 2045 El Camino Real. I understand that these changes are related to the
Caltrans El Camino Real Pavement Rehabilitation and ADA Improvements project.
While I understand the importance of these infrastructure improvements, I am deeply
and my ability to serve my customers, as well as other small businesses.
Unlike many retail establishments, a laundromat's business model relies heavily on
customers' ability to load and unload bulky and heavy items – in this case, laundry.
Customers often arrive with multiple large bags or baskets of laundry, and the "No Parking"
restriction makes it extremely difficult, and in some cases impossible, for them to access my
business.
The lack of convenient parking directly translates to:
Loss of Customers: Many of my regular customers, particularly those who are
elderly, disabled, or do not have assistance, are finding it too challenging to use my
services without the ability to park briefly. I am already seeing a decline in
customer traffic.
Reduced Revenue: The decrease in customer volume is directly impacting my
revenue and threatens the viability of my business. As a small business owner, this
is a very serious concern.
Operational Inefficiency: Even for customers who are able to manage, the "No
Parking" rule forces them to park at a distance and carry heavy loads, creating
inconvenience and delays, and potentially causing safety issues.
______________________________________________________________________
Observations on "Delivery Vehicles Excepted" Signage
In addition to the immediate impact on my business, I've observed a related issue that I
believe highlights the need for more nuanced parking solutions. I've noticed specific signs
displayed prominently in front of several car dealerships along El Camino Real, including
Tesla, Volvo, and McLaren, that state "delivery vehicles excepted" under the "No
Parking Any Time" sign.
This observation raises a few important questions relevant to our parking discussions:
Ordinance or Justification: What is the specific ordinance or justification behind
these "delivery vehicles excepted" signs? Are these standard for all commercial
properties or unique to certain business types? Understanding the legal framework for
these exceptions could offer valuable insight into how we might approach the unique
loading/unloading needs of other businesses like mine.
Balancing Needs: If certain businesses are granted exceptions for their logistical
needs, it suggests there's a precedent for accommodating specific operational
requirements. I believe laundromats, with their reliance on customers loading and
unloading heavy items, warrant similar consideration to ensure equitable access and
business viability.
______________________________________________________________________
I urge the City of Palo Alto to consider the unique needs of businesses like mine that require
customers to load and unload items. I respectfully request that you consider the following
Designated Loading/Unloading Zone: A designated loading/unloading zone, even
if limited to a short duration (e.g., 15-30 minutes), would provide a practical
solution for my customers to access my business.
Short-Term Parking Permits: Explore the possibility of issuing short-term
parking permits for customers of businesses like mine, specifically for the purpose
of loading and unloading.
I am eager to work with the City of Palo Alto to find a solution that addresses the needs of
the El Camino Real Improvement Project while also ensuring the survival of local
businesses like my laundromat. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter
further with you at your earliest convenience. You can reach me at 650-224-2230
or leetony@gmail.com.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Tony Lee
Stanford Coin Wash
650-224-2230 cell