Atherton council gives preliminary direction to add enforceable EV charging signage at park (3'to'2)

The Atherton Town Council provided preliminary direction at its Nov. 5 study session to install enforceable signage at the town park's electric vehicle charging spaces, with one council member counting the result as a 3'to'2 split in favor of signage.

City Manager (name not specified) told the council the town previously approved installation of two dual'port chargers in the park's front lot and that ground stenciling is the minimum required treatment. Additional signage conforming to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) would allow police to enforce that a vehicle must be actively charging to occupy the space; staff said the town currently enforces EV spaces on a complaint basis.

"At a minimum, we're required to stencil on the ground EV charging spots," the City Manager said. "The additional signage is subject to council's discretion."

Staff recommended the same rates already used at city hall: $0.32 per kilowatt hour for energy and a $2 parking charge after two hours. Council members debated whether to wait and monitor usage data (staff can access charger usage statistics and ChargePoint map availability) or to install enforcement signage immediately. Concerns included the park location relative to high'demand areas, potential conflicts during events and whether signage and enforcement resources should be deployed preemptively.

One council member stated, "I count 3 to 2 with the sign up," expressing the prevailing direction to place signage now. Council members also noted the option to add signage later if monitoring showed misuse.

No formal ordinance or resolution was adopted; the council provided direction to staff to install MUTCD'compliant enforcement signage for the park chargers while keeping required ground stenciling and the recommended fee schedule.