CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
3/24/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Funding for the Temporary Safe Parking Program in Partnership with the Pacifica Resource Center
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive an update about the City of Pacifica and Pacifica Resource Center’s Temporary Safe Parking Program and consider extending Temporary Safe Parking Program and approving use of $204,000 from the City’s Housing Action Fund toward expansion and continuation of the program by renting and utilizing spaces in the San Francisco RV (SFRV) Resort in Pacifica.
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
In 2022 the City of Pacifica City Council approved implementation of an innovative program designed to assist community members living in their motorhomes on city streets to return to permanent housing. Called the Temporary Safe Parking Program (TSPP), this program was implemented in compliance with a settlement agreement between the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the City after the ACLU, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and Disability Rights Advocates filed a class action lawsuit against the City over the City’s Oversized Vehicle (OSV) Ordinance. The TSPP began in 2022 under a memorandum of understanding with the Pacifica Resource Center for implementation of the program.
Per the settlement agreement, the TSPP was developed as a three-year program. It began June 28, 2022, and is set to expire June 28, 2025. It has been operated in accordance with an operations agreement between the PRC and the City, and also includes other supporting documents developed by the PRC to be used between PRC and the participants in the Program, such as a Participant Bill of Rights and Onsite Code of Conduct, as well as a Release of Liability. More information about the background to the program and how the program was designed and to be implemented and funded can be found in the February 28, 2022 City Council agenda report, Item #10, when the City Council approved the program:
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1448>.
As described further in this report, the program has been successful in moving unhoused community members to housing. The purpose of this agenda item is for the City Council to consider approval of $204,000 from the City’s Housing Action Fund toward expansion and continuation of the program by renting and utilizing spaces in the San Francisco RV (SFRV) Resort in Pacifica. While there remain operational and funding details to work out with the Pacifica Resource Center and other potential collaborators such as San Mateo County and/or other potential grant funding sources, the City Council’s early commitment of a significant share of the funding is important to securing the SFRV rental space arrangements and establishing the City’s commitment to the continuation of the program.
Pacifica City Council 2
March 24, 2025
Temporary Safe Parking Program Summary
The TSPP has been very successful in its goal of supporting community members living in motor homes to return to permanent housing. As described in more detail in Attachment A, the September 2024 Mid-point Evaluation Report (which will be summarized during the City Council meeting by Pacifica Resource Center Executive Director Anita Rees), the program has enabled nine participants from six households (which represents 27% of the program participants) to return to permanent housing. In addition, 85% of the participants have developed plans to return to permanent housing. These are remarkable results for a safe parking program when compared to other safe parking programs in the region.
The program per the settlement agreement included 13 parking spaces on city streets in six locations as detailed in the February 28, 2022, City Council report. However, four of the spaces in the coastal zone (two locations) required Coastal Development Permits and the City issued Coastal Development Permits were appealed to the Coastal Commission. Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the implementation of those spaces was stayed during the pendency of the appeals. One location, representing one parking space was also delayed due to appeal to the Coastal Commission but the appeal was withdrawn. The space then had to be relocated during the program due to construction activity adjacent to the space. That space was relocated to the SFRV Resort, and its successful operation there has led to the opportunity to expand more spaces into the SFRV Resort, as described in the next section of this report.
Per the operational agreement with the PRC (Attachment B), the City’s obligations included preparation of the parking spaces, regular police patrol, co-hosting a program for safe disposal of waste at a cost of up to $30,000 per year, provision of dumpsters or drop-off service for garbage disposal, and operating payments to the PRC of $120,000 per year for 3 years. The PRC’s obligations included screening of applicants, issuance of Regular, Provisional and Short Term permits, assignment of parking spaces, requiring adherence to codes of conduct, written documentation provided to Permit Holders, assistance in maintenance of parking spaces, cohosting of the program for safe disposal of waste, and periodic reporting to the City on the status of the program.
In addition to the City’s funding toward the program, the County of San Mateo has also provided funding amounting to $400,000 over three years, and the PRC secured $150,000 in additional grant funding for the three-year program.
Program Expansion Summary
The TSPP now has the opportunity to expand into additional spaces off-street at the SFRV Resort. The Resort has offered up to 9 additional spaces (10 total counting the one currently being used) for rent towards the program. The annual cost for 10 spaces is $204,000 ($1,700/space/month). Utilization of 10 spaces in the SFRV Resort, combined with the 8 spaces currently utilized on City streets, would expand the program to 18 spaces, doubling the number of clients served. However, the PRC has indicated interest in flexibility with some of the on-street spaces based on safety concerns expressed by participants, and therefore recommends maintaining 5 on-street spaces in addition to the 10 SFRV Resort spaces, which would expand the program to 15 participants. The City Manager is requesting the Council’s consideration of $204,000 toward the program to fund the 10 SFRV Resort spaces for one year, with additional program costs or additional years of program operation contingent on financial commitments from Pacifica Resource Center and other potential collaborators such as San Mateo County and/or other potential grant funding sources.
Pacifica City Council 3
March 24, 2025
Through discussions with PRC Executive Director Anita Rees, the City Manager has preliminarily confirmed that the PRC can continue to operate the program, but their operational funding needs are as follows:
• The annual funding the City provides to the PRC ($100,000 for FY 2025-26) cannot be used for the program as those funds are already allocated to the PRC’s other core work in Pacifica;
• The PRC can utilize other homeless outreach funding to continue outreach for the program, but those funds only have the capacity to provide case management services to up to 5 program families;
• Without additional programmatic funding, particularly for case management, the PRC would not expect to have the same outcomes as the first 3 years of the program which saw a 27% return to permanent housing;
• Continuing the operation with the level of case management currently provided would cost $104,000 for 6 months, $208,000 for one year.
• At a minimum, to continue the program with minimal coordination and management of the permits, an additional $20,000 would be needed for 6 months, $40,000 for one year.
Next Steps
Following Council’s direction about extending and expanding the TSPP, and depending on the level of funding approved, the City Manager will work in cooperation with the PRC and the SFRV Resort to secure the rental spaces, will work in cooperation with the PRC to seek continuing County participation in this successful program, and will extend the Operating Agreement with the PRC and return to Council for any necessary approvals of agreements and/or funding allocations.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The City Council could choose to pursue several alternatives:
1. Decline to continue the program, letting it end by June 28, 2025;
2. Consider committing less funding to the continuation and expansion of the program, specifying the amount and directing the City Manager to pursue financial contributions from other sources;
3. Consider committing more funding to the continuation and expansion of the program in order to cover PRC operating costs for a period of time, specifying the amount.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
The TSPP generally relates to the City’s Mission, Vision, and Values and specifically relates to its housing related strategies as a program that provides assistance to the unhoused moving towards permanent housing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Recommended Action would have a fiscal impact of $204,000, to be paid out of the unrestricted Housing Action Fund (Fund 21), which has a current balance of $2,924,870.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
Pacifica City Council 4
March 24, 2025
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Pacifica Safe Parking Program September 2024 Mid-point Evaluation Report (PDF)