East Palo Alto council pauses Woodland Avenue parking removal after strong resident opposition

The East Palo Alto City Council on Tuesday withdrew a consent-calendar ordinance proposing to remove parking along Woodland Avenue and directed staff to return with alternatives that preserve usable parking and explain the safety rationale.

Councilmember Carlos Romero and a string of residents argued the proposal would eliminate roughly 50–60 parking spaces that low-income families depend on, worsen affordability and would not solve reported dumping along the creek. "There are probably about 55 cars, 60 cars that park along that area," Romero told the council, urging a more surgical approach that would remove only obstructive spots and explore fencing to prevent dumping.

Community members who live on Woodland Avenue and nearby said the draft ordinance had not received meaningful outreach. Moises, a resident who said he lives at 1830 West Bayshore, asked, "How are people supposed to work, take care of their families, do groceries, and still be able to transport themselves?" Several commenters asked the council to wait until a new parking-enforcement contractor begins operations and to use enforcement and targeted re-striping rather than wholesale removal.

City staff confirmed the city is entering a contract with a private parking-enforcement vendor to enforce vehicle-code parking violations and responded to immigration concerns raised by the public. "We don't share information with immigration and customs enforcement, we don't have any role in immigration enforcement, so no is the answer to that question," a staff member said.

After debate, a councilmember moved — and another seconded — that the Woodland Avenue item be removed from the consent calendar and returned to council as a non-consent item that includes alternatives aimed at preserving as many parking spaces as possible. The motion passed; the council did not adopt the ordinance that night. The council asked public works staff to present data, clear alternatives and community outreach plans when the item returns.

The council also asked staff to consider options such as targeted signage for narrow sections, repainting or marking parking stalls where feasible, increased enforcement against abandoned vehicles, and community-based cleanup supports. No council vote on an ordinance occurred; the next procedural step is a staff presentation and an amended recommendation to the council.