Council OKs RV plan

"Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved the first phase of a four-part plan to get RVs off of city streets last night (Oct 20). The first phase includes directing City Manager Ed Shikada to bring back a pair of bans to the council in the next four months, one making it illegal to rent out a public parking space for an RV, a practice known as 'vanlording,' and another banning detached trailers and inoperable RVs from city streets."

""We have a sheer volume problem that we have to address," Mayor Ed Lauing said. Council will also look to implement additional street cleaning to force RV owners to move their vehicles more frequently or risk being towed. The proposal also aims to help people find safer and less disruptive places to park their RVs. "Towing is one thing but towing is not a permanent thing... They come back," Councilwoman Vicki Veenker said."

""My greatest fear is that the proposal is the equivalent to putting up billboards up and down Highway 101, inviting people to move to Palo Alto where they will receive 'enhanced services,' street cleaning, sanitation, hygiene police and fire protection and all of the rest, best of all, at no cost. And by the way park wherever you want because we're not going to be able to enforce it," Barry K., speaking on behalf of a group of Ventura District residents, said."

Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved the first phase of a four-part plan to remove RVs from city streets. The first phase directs the City Manager to return within four months with two bans: banning rental of public parking spaces for RVs ('vanlording') and banning detached trailers and inoperable RVs from streets. The city will increase street cleaning to compel vehicle movement and pursue towing where necessary. The plan includes outreach to businesses and religious organizations for safe parking sites and establishes a committee to evaluate parking law enforcement. Residents voiced concerns about attracting RV-dwellers, slow enforcement, and the plan's cost. The four phases would cost over $7 million.

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