Palo Alto committee adopts phased plan to address oversized vehicles, urges safe-parking expansion and enforcement

PALO ALTO — The City of Palo Alto’s Policy and Services Committee on Aug. 25 voted to advance a phased, multi-pronged plan to address the growing presence of oversized vehicles and recreational vehicles (RVs) parked on city streets and to pursue options to help people living in vehicles.

The committee approved staff’s recommended framework and added specific direction to explore expanded safe parking on private commercial lots and at congregations, to coordinate Homekey shelter openings with options for RV residents, and to study whether a future, limited program could permit oversized vehicle parking on identified nonresidential streets only after other options have been exhausted. Vice Mayor and committee chair Vicki Venker moved the staff recommendation; Council Member Stone seconded. The final motion passed unanimously after the committee amended the approach and added study elements.

Why it matters: City staff told the committee that the 2023 point‑in‑time count recorded 206 unhoused people in Palo Alto, about 88% of whom were living in vehicles, and staff said field observations suggest the number of vehicle dwellers has increased since then. Residents and business owners described safety, sanitation and access problems, while unhoused residents and advocates urged humane solutions tied to housing and jobs. Committee members said the city must balance public‑space safety with dignity and services for people living in vehicles.

Staff presentation and recommendation

City Manager Ed Shikada opened the discussion and turned the staff report over to Melissa McDonough, assistant to the city manager, who led an interdepartmental team. McDonough summarized ten possible approaches ranging from modest service expansions — more street sweeping, mobile trash pickup and pump‑outs — to regulatory steps such as a new ordinance prohibiting the for‑profit rental of public parking…