HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2509-5162CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, October 20, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
B.Semiannual Update on 2000 Geng Road Recreational Vehicle Safe Parking Expansion
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: October 20, 2025
Report #:2509-5162
TITLE
Semiannual Update on 2000 Geng Road Recreational Vehicle Safe Parking Expansion
RECOMMENDATION
This report is provided for informational purposes only and does not require Council action.
BACKGROUND
Safe parking programs provide places where persons sheltering in their vehicles can safely and
legally park and connect with services and support. The goal of the program is to connect
participants with resources enabling them to find safe, stable, and affordable housing. The
design and guidelines of the program can vary between operators and municipalities.
In many communities, including Palo Alto, different parking lots host different types of
programs. In Palo Alto, two types of parking lots may host safe parking programs (1) publicly
owned parking lots and (2) religious institutions. Both congregation-based and public parking
lot programs provide interim assistance to households sheltering in their vehicles a safe place
to park, access to restroom facilities, connection to social services, and resources to support
transition households into permanent, stable housing. There is a 24-hour safe parking lot on
City-owned land at 2000 Geng Road, which allows vehicles to remain parked in the same space
without needing to relocate. It accepts both passenger vehicles and recreational vehicles (RVs).
Under the original Lease Agreement, 2000 Geng Road was leased to the County of Santa Clara
for three years beginning in September 20201. The County contracted with Move Mountain
View to operate the safe parking program at the site. The lease was amended on September
1 City Council, September 14, 2020, Item #9, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-
minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/year-archive/2020-2/id-11513.pdf?t=58031.91 Lease was
included as a supplemental memo, found here: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-
minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/year-archive/2020-2/09142020-item-9-at-places-memo.pdf
18, 2023,3 to extend the term, prioritize Palo Alto-affiliated4 residents, and clarify the City’s
landscaping responsibilities. In response to Council’s June 18, 20245 directive to mitigate vehicle
dweller displacement relating to a Caltrans project along El Camino Real, a further amendment
to the lease agreement was approved in August 20246 to add to the leased space to
accommodate an expansion from up to 12 vehicles to 22 vehicles. Over the following months,
Move Mountain View and community partners fundraised initial seed money to bridge the gap
from the first few months of expansion until the City could step in with funding. On March 10,
2025, Council approved a revenue agreement with Santa Clara County through September 2026
for expanded operations at Geng Road.7 While the County continues to fund the original 12
spaces, the additional spaces require City funding of approximately $266,162 annually.
ANALYSIS
8. At Geng Road Safe Parking, participants have access to
showers, a kitchen, laundry facilities, a children’s lending library, and a play area.
9 assessments,
which help ensure clients are correctly placed in the community queue for housing
opportunities. Securing affordable housing in Santa Clara County is an ongoing challenge,
especially for participants with disabilities or living on a fixed income. The VI-SPDAT
assessments process ensures that participants are accurately positioned within the community
3 September 18, 2023 Council Staff Report,
4 The Office of Supportive Housing considers a participant affiliated to the City if they answer ‘Palo Alto” to any of
the questions:
If employed, what city do you work in?
If you go to school, in which city is your school?
In which city do you spend most of your time?
Which city did you live in prior to becoming homeless?
5 Council Action Minutes, June 18, 2024, Item AA4,
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=14318&compileOutputType
6 Council Staff Report, August 19, 2024, Item #10,
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14361
7 Council Report, March 10, 2025 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14361
8 Coordinated entry is the process for guiding individuals from initial contact with service providers to receiving
services and housing. Santa Clara County’s Coordinated Entry webpage provides more information here:
9 Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) is a pre-screening tool used to
assess the health and social needs of unhoused individuals.
queue, allowing participants to be connected with the housing interventions they are eligible
for (e.g., rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing).
o Vehicle insurance
o Vehicle registration
o A valid driver’s license or state ID
o Applicants who live or work in Mountain View or Palo Alto
o Seniors or people with disabilities
17 Move Mountain View will help otherwise qualified people to get their
vehicle registered (e.g., helping with funding, paperwork, etc). Move Mountain View partners
with individuals who are interested in enrolling and participating in the program. As mentioned
above, program enrollees may receive limited financial assistance to support with the cost of
registration and or insurance.
17 See Cal. Vehicle Code section 4000(a)(1). Registration is required to park in a public parking facility, as well as to
drive, move, or park on a street.
Limited resources, rising rents, and longer waitlists mean the search for permanent stable
housing often takes much longer and can be a driver for longer stays. Even when units are
available, strict housing eligibility requirements (e.g., immigration status and documentation)
add more delays, making the path to stable housing slow and challenging. While the length of
stay may appear long, participants make meaningful progress and are ready to transition into
housing as soon as opportunities become available.
67 percent men, 33 percent women
67 percent Hispanic/Latina/e/o
69 percent aged 45 or older, including 27 percent 65 or above
67 percent single adult households
21 percent households with children
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
information relation to Palo Altans living in their vehicles) and other cities to review progress
and discuss updates related to homelessness in general, as well as safe parking.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
APPROVED BY: