Recommendations on
OSV Phase II Pilots
Presenter:
Melissa K. McDonough,
Assistant to the City Manager
August 24, 2026 Paloalto.gov
OSV Timeline
2 OSV Work to Date
• Adopted Ordinance prohibiting vanlording
• Adopted Ordinance prohibiting detached and inoperable trailers • Increased enforcement of new and existing regulations • Implemented scheduled street cleaning/sweeping with parking prohibitions on 18 impacted streets
• Evaluated RV buyback and RV storage
• Engaged County on safe parking for regional solutions • Outreached to property owners on availability of safe parking sites • Met regularly with neighboring cities and County to work together to address homelessness and its impacts
3 Recommendation
Recommendation for City Council to Approve Two Pilot OSV Parking Programs:
1. OSV Parking Permit Program on Coyote Hill Road and a portion of Embarcadero Road (program includes an amendment to the Municipal Fee Schedule to add an OSV Parking Permit fee; also includes resolutions to establish OSV parking permit districts on these 2 roads)
2. Prohibiting Parking on Alternating Sides of Street on numerous streets (and adding related penalties and budget amendments)
4 1st Pilot: OSV Parking Permit Program
• Goal: to provide structured, service-connected setting while helping people transition into permanent housing
• Program Capacity: ~ 37 OSVs
• Pilot cost: $400,800
• Ongoing annual cost: $213,000
5 Embarcadero Road near Water Quality Control Plant Coyote Hill Road, City-managed side (may switch to county side)
OSV Parking Permit Program Participation Requirements
• Valid vehicle registration
• Active insurance
• Signing (and abiding by) a good neighbor agreement
• Agreement to participate and engage with outreach workers to receive support toward transitioning into permanent housing
• Prioritizing applicants with connections to Palo Alto • Restriction to low-income households
• The ability to pay a $15 per month permit fee
6 2nd Pilot: OSV Parking Prohibited on Alternating Sides of Street • Goal: to help reduce health and safety impacts
and OSV density on Phase I streets
• All existing regulations remain in place (72-hour,
street sweeping, detached trailer, etc.)
• New OSV parking prohibition* on one side of
the street (prohibition alternates sides from JAN-
JUN and JUL-DEC)
• All Phase I streets receive red tips on driveways
and at intersections
• Pilot cost $423,000
• Ongoing annual cost: $135,000
7 *Some Phase I streets are excluded from this pilot due to existing parking regulations (e.g., parking already limited to only one side of the street)
• 4000 Block of Transport Street
• 900 Block of Commercial Street
• 900 Block of Industrial Avenue
• 100 Block of Page Mill Road
• 2800-3200 Block of Park Boulevard
• Portion of 200 Block of Olive Avenue
• 2900 & 3200 Block of Ash Street
• 200-400 Block of Lambert Avenue
• 1000 Block of Elwell Court
• 1000 Block of Corporation Way
• 1000 Block of East Meadow Circle
• 2400 Block of Embarcadero Way
• 2400 Block of Faber Place
• 1000 block of Colorado
• 1800-1900 block of Embarcadero Road
• 3800-4000 block of Fabian Way
• 900 block of San Antonio Road
• 100 block of Sheridan Avenue
Street segments listed in blue are included in the alternating sides parking prohibition. All streets listed receive red tips. This list includes updates/corrections from the staff report. 2nd Pilot Streets
8 Services/Capital Improvements Funding Source Pilot Year Ongoing Annual Cost OSV Parking Permit Pilot
Site Amenities; portable toilets, hand-washing
station, Green Waste bins
Business Tax Reserve $33,300 $36,000
Engineering; road restriping, designs, labor,
materials
Capital Reserves $190,500 $0
Signage Capital Reserves $13,000 $0
Outreach and Case Management Business Tax Reserve $161,000 $177,000 *August 2026-March 2027 allows staff time to configure the permit program. Permit program would operate March 2027-2028; this spans FY2027 and FY2028 **ongoing costs include an approximate 10% annual increase OSV Parking Prohibited on Alternative Sides of Street
Signage for Additional Parking Restrictions Capital Reserves $283,000 $0 Red Curb Painting (20' from intersections, 5' on each side of driveway)
Capital Reserves $35,000 $20,000*
Community Service Officer FY 2027 Budget $105,000 $115,000 *ongoing costs are for curb paint touch ups
OSV Parking Permit Pilot Totals $400,800 $213,000
OSV Parking Prohibited on Alternative Sides of Street Totals $423,000 $135,000 Combined Pilot Totals $823,800 $348,000
Recommended Motion
Recommendation for City Council to Approve Two Pilot OSV Parking Programs:
1. Adopt an Ordinance Establishing an OSV Parking Permit Program; including:
a. An Ordinance Amending the Municipal Fee Schedule to Add an OSV Parking Permit Fee), and
b. Resolutions Establishing OSV Parking Permit Districts on Embarcadero Road and Coyote Hill Road,
2. Adopt a Resolution Prohibiting OSV Parking on Numerous Streets in Palo Alto; including
a. Resolution Adding Related Penalties to the Administrative Penalty Schedule; and Related Amendments to the FY 2027 Operating and Capital Budget 10 Melissa McDonough
Assistant to the City Manager
[email protected]
650.329.2533