The East Palo Alto City Council has signed off on a new residential parking permit program that puts neighborhoods in the driver’s seat over who can park on their streets. In a 4-1 vote on Tuesday, the council approved an ordinance that lets residents petition to restrict on-street parking to local vehicles, a notable shift away from earlier ideas for automatic, citywide rules. Councilman Carlos Romero cast the lone no vote.
How the council changed the plan
The council rewrote key parts of the proposal after residents pushed back against the idea of paying to park near their own homes, according to the Palo Alto Daily Post. Instead of blanket restrictions, the final version requires that neighborhoods first petition the city before any permit parking area is created. The Palo Alto Daily Post reports that change came after months of public meetings, including a July gathering where roughly 200 residents turned out to oppose paying for curb space.
What the ordinance says
The ordinance establishes the basic rules for how parking permit districts are formed, who can get a permit and how long those permits are valid, according to the City of East Palo Alto. Staff documents say:
- Permits will be issued only to passenger cars. RVs, taxis, trailers and boats are not eligible.
- Permits must be renewed every year.
- A proposed permit area has to start with a petition signed by residents representing 67% of the homes in that zone before any restrictions kick in.
- Each household will receive up to 20 short-term guest permits per year, with a process in place to request additional visitor passes if needed.
Enforcement and next steps
The council left the touchiest parts of the program, such as how much permits will cost and how tickets will be written, for another day. Staff were directed to come back with recommendations on permit fees, citation levels and a full enforcement plan. The Palo Alto Daily Post reports that City Manager Melvin Gaines told council members the city’s contract with LAZ Parking, a third-party vendor discussed at the meeting, was expected to be finalized by the end of the month.
Councilmembers Ruben Abrica and Mark Dinan also asked staff to prepare a report on abandoned or illegally parked vehicles before any enforcement rollout begins. The council has already set a March 17 meeting to review a citywide parking study.
Resident reaction
Residents who opposed the original, more top-down version of the program welcomed the new requirement that zones be initiated by neighborhoods instead of imposed from City Hall. Still, worries linger about how much permits will cost and whether larger households will be able to get enough parking without being squeezed.
Local coverage of earlier hearings showed intense skepticism about the program. Residents packed a July meeting to protest potential fees and argued that a permit system could hit low-income families hardest, according to Palo Alto Online. At this week’s meeting, council members emphasized that the ordinance is meant to be a framework, not a full rollout, and that specific rules will return to the dais for more debate.
What to expect
For now, the ordinance mainly opens the door to permit parking rather than throwing it wide open. Big decisions are still on hold, including how much permits will cost, during which hours they will be enforced and the maximum number of permits each household can receive…