Community Development Department
DATE: June 4, 2024
TO: Council Transportation Committee
FROM: Kirstin Hinds, Economic Development Strategist
John Lang, Economic Vitality Manager
VIA: Dawn S. Cameron, Acting Assistant City Manager/
Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Personal Delivery Device Program Update
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on relaunching the Personal Delivery Device Program and provide feedback on program augmentations.
BACKGROUND
A personal delivery device (PDD) is an automated or remotely piloted device that contains storage space for packages, food, and other delivery items. The PDD Pilot Program was created in 2018 in response to the City being approached by PDD companies wishi ng to operate within the City’s jurisdiction and the City not having policies to regulate the use of PDDs in the public right-of-way. A pilot program was approved by the City Council (Attachment 1 —City Council Report, February 27, 2018). The pilot program provided guidelines and the approval process, including operational and insurance requirements for companies interested in operating in Mountain View. One company, Google, participated in the PDD Pilot Program. They partnered with the Mountain Vi ew Public Library to operate a “Book Bot” PDD. The program allowed Library patrons to return Library materials via the PDDs, and the program ran for three months, from March 2019 through June 2019.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic began, and businesses had to change their regular operations. The City Council directed staff to implement programs to support small businesses impacted by COVID- 19. The PDD Pilot Program emerged as a method to support essential businesses and allow the public to stay at home. The City Council approved continuation of the PDD Pilot Program (Attachment 2—City Council Report, May 5, 2020) with Starship Technologies as a participating company. The pilot program officially sunset on December 31, 2022.
Personal Delivery Device Program Update
June 4, 2024
In October 2022, staff began working on program augmentations and conducting additional best practice research. Staff presented new augmentations to the PDD program to the Downtown Committee on December 5, 2023, and the Bicycle /Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on January 31, 2024, and received feedback. BPAC feedback included greater consideration for e-bike delivery, surveying the Mountain View community on interactions with PDDs and impact on enjoyment of the sidewalk, concerns with PDDs in the bike lanes, in particular blocking the bike lanes, and a need for measurable metrics. Today, there are no current operators of PDDs in Mountain View, but the Economic Development Team continues to field inquiries from interested vendors both operating in Mountain View and from outside City limits.
ANALYSIS
The Economic Development team is looking to formalize the PDD program to both support growing innovation and Mountain View’s existing business community. Redefined goals for a PDD program include:
1. Support increased demand and economic growth associated with autonomous vehicles and support changes in shopping and dining patterns, including use of delivery devices for retail, medical, and food purchases.
2. Provide opportunities for local, small businesses to expand their customer reach and engagement.
3. Create opportunities for innovative Mountain View- based companies to partner with the City.
4. Help reduce pollution by reducing greenhouse gas emissio ns through use of personal delivery vehicles.
Based on research from other communities along with recent interactions with companies interested in participating in the pilot program, staff is developing new program considerations related to both economic development and ensur ing pedestrians and other sidewalk users are safe. Program augmentations and changes reflect input and feedback from both the Downtown Committee and BPAC. The suggested PDD Pilot Program augmentations are outlined in Table 1.
Personal Delivery Device Program Update
June 4, 2024
Table 1: Mountain View Current and Proposed PDD Program
Topic Current Program
(Maintaining)
Program Augmentations (*) /
Additions (+)
Company
Requirements
No more than three PDD companies
can participate at once.
Company
Requirements
No more than 10 devices per company
in operation at one time.
+ Maintain a local presence in Mountain View,
beyond the device itself.
+ Priority given to companies based in
Mountain View.
+ Company must provide a 24/7 contact person
for law enforcement.
Device Operations Gross weight of the device is less than 100 pounds, excluding cargo.
* For devices that operate on sidewalks,
maximum gross weight of the devices is less
than 100 pounds, excluding cargo. For
devices permitted to operate within bicycle
lanes, the size of the device may exceed 100
pounds but not more than 500 pounds.
Human handler to be present with
each operating device for the first six
months.
* Fully autonomous PDDs must have a human
handler present with each operating device.
Semiautonomous PDDs (devices with a
remote human handler) may not be required
to have a human handler present.
Contact information required (website,
address, and contact information of
company)
* Contact information is required to be listed on
each device for both the City and vendor
(website, address, and contact information).
Information should also be in Braille.
+ Consider allowing devices to operate within
bicycle lanes and/or travel lane shoulders
where the speed limit is less than 35 miles per
hour.
Data
Requirements
Documentation of incidents involving
an injury to an individual/animal.
+ Add performance measures, including
number of deliveries, miles traveled, time of
day completed by each PDD, incidents
involving interactions with the public, other
incidents or malfunctions within the public
right-of-way, estimate of CO
2 emissions
reduced from delivery trips, and heat map of
routes.
Data
Requirements
+ Provide a report every quarter and quarterly
check-in with City staff.
+ Document all public inquiries and complaints
(spreadsheet summary).
+ Provide feedback and assessment of sidewalk
infrastructure or traffic infrastructure that
may pose safety or operational challenges for
pedestrians and PDDs.
Personal Delivery Device Program Update
June 4, 2024
Topic Current Program
(Maintaining)
Program Augmentations (*) /
Additions (+)
Safety
Requirements
PDDs are not to unreasonably interfere
with pedestrians or traffic.
+ Minimize stopping on a curb ramp, in front of
pedestrian push buttons, and within bicycle
or travel lanes.
+ PDD companies are to provide a plan to stay
updated on road closures and construction,
as well as not interfering with emergency
responders.
Yield to Pedestrians, including people
on skates, skateboards, and bicyclists.
+ PDD speed limits on sidewalks shall be limited
to the pace of pedestrians present on the
sidewalk, not to exceed 10 mile per hour
maximum. PDD speed limits in the bicycle
lane/travel lane shoulder shall be limited to
the pace of cyclists present, not to exceed
20 miles per hour maximum. PDDs shall
exercise due care under circumstances and
conditions.
Additional Items + Add clarifying language related to what types of public rights-of-way PDDs are allowed to
operate (i.e., allowed on certain sidewalks,
certain bicycle, and travel lane shoulders,
where the speed limit is less than 35 miles per
hour; they are NOT allowed on public trails).
PDD companies will be required to use geo-
fencing capabilities to designate permitted
versus unpermitted areas.
Additional Items + Work with City staff to align the program with other existing City policies, such as the Mobile
Vending Permit program (regulates use near
parks and schools, and hours of operation),
Active Transportation Plan, and other
relevant City plans, policies, and existing
guidelines. Work with the Police Department
to align with the California Vehicle Code.
The proposed PDD Program rules and regulations would be incorporated in an agreement between the City and the PDD company. Additionally, the PDD company is required to apply for a Mobile Vending Permit with the City of Mountain View.
The proposed augmentations to the PDD Pilot Program provide more opportunities for the City to collect data on the performance of PDDs operating within the City limits. In addition, PDD companies who are found not to be in compliance with their agreement will have their mobile vending permit revoked.
Personal Delivery Device Program Update
June 4, 2024
NEXT STEPS
After discussing the program augmentations with the Downtown Committee (December 5, 2023), BPAC (January 31, 2024), and the Council Transportation Committee, staff will continue to work with the Public Works Department to ensure the program provides the balance between pedestrian safety and economic development initiatives. Staff will return to the City Council for program adoption in fall 2024.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
KH-JL/LL/4/PWK
816-06-04-24M
Attachments: 1. City Council Report, February 27, 2018
2. City Council Report, May 5, 2020