HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20-2012 b1 safe parking prado day center public parkingcounci l
acEn0a uEpout
C I T Y O F S A N L U I S O B I S P O
FROM :
Derek Johnson, Community Development Directo r
Steve Gesell, Police Chie f
Jay Walter, Public Works Directo r
Prepared By :Tyler Corey, Housing Programs Manage r
SUBJECT :SAFE PARKING PILOT PROGRAM AT PRADO DAY CENTER &
DIRECTION REGARDING PUBLIC STREET PARKING RESTRICTION S
RECOMMENDATION
1)Adopt a resolution to temporarily suspend the enforcement of Municipal Cod e
Chapter 17 .16 .015 (Recreational vehicle as dwelling unit) for six months for a portio n
of 43 Prado Road and authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement wit h
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc . (CAPSLO) t o
implement a safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Center with condition s
outlined in Attachment 10 ; and
2)Direct staff to return to the Council in six months to report on the pilot program an d
consider changes to Title 17 of the Municipal Code to establish a permanent saf e
parking program ; an d
3)Direct staff to develop amendments to the Municipal Code to improve parkin g
enforcement to address persons sleeping in vehicles that are not participating in an
authorized safe parking program.
REPORT-IN-BRIE F
This agenda report provides information in support of a recommendation to establish a saf e
parking pilot program for members of the City's homeless population that have a vehicle and ar e
participating in Community Action Partnership (CAPSLO) case management services . It i s
recommended that this pilot program be limited to the Prado Day Center site with no more tha n
five vehicles . This is necessitated by the desire to have a successful pilot program that i s
modeled on similar programs in other jurisdictions, the size and vehicle capacity of the parkin g
lot and the requirement to provide supportive services to the participants in the safe parking pilo t
program . This request is consistent with the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to En d
Homelessness and will further the City's "Other Important Objective" to continued efforts t o
support and implement the 10-Year Plan and strategies to coordinate homeless services and
address housing and service needs .
Meeting Date
3-20-1 2
Item Numbe r
Bl
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 2
In addition to providing background on the City's commitment to the priorities and guiding
principles outline in the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness,thi s
report outlines the safe parking pilot program, provides data about this issue, summarizes th e
activities that have led to enforcement of existing laws and provides information regarding tw o
other cities that have implemented similar programs (Santa Barbara and Ventura). The report
also evaluates the consistency of this proposal with the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Yea r
Plan to End Homelessness (it is consistent), outlines the need to further evaluate changes t o
municipal code to assist in addressing the challenges of our existing Municipal Code as a tool t o
address illegal activities and articulates the impacts of adding the safe pilot parking program an d
the Municipal Code evaluation to our work plans as these were not anticipated when th e
Financial Plan was adopted . Lastly the next step and fiscal impacts are outlined .
In sum, the City Council is being asked to consider the information included in this report an d
approve a safe parking pilot program to be located at the Prado Day Center. Staff will return t o
the City Council in six months with a report on the program . In addition, independent o f
Council's direction on the safe parking pilot program, staff is seeking direction to develo p
amendments to the Municipal Code to improve parking enforcement to address persons sleepin g
in vehicles .
BACKGROUN D
Dating back many years the City has been a supporter of providing service to those who ar e
experiencing homelessness . In addition to the City's robust affordable housing program as wel l
as financial and facilities support to non-profits, the City has endorsed the priorities and guidin g
principles of the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness (10-Year Plan )
(Council meeting of January 20, 2009). At that same meeting the City Council voted "to utiliz e
the 10-Year Plan and the Guiding Principles as a point of departure in our future efforts, both
within cities and among the regional partners, to address and prevent homelessness in the Count y
of San Luis Obispo . At that time the City Council appointed Council Member Ashbaugh as City
Council Liaison to serve on what is now called the Homeless Services Oversight Committe e
(HSOC). That appointment has since transitioned to Councilmember Smith .
The 10-Year Plan is divided into four sections, each of which contains recommendation s
addressing one of the priority areas of action to end homelessness :
Priority 1 . Facilitating Access to Affordable Housing to Put an End to Homelessness .
Priority 2 . Stopping Homelessness Before it Starts through Prevention and Effectiv e
Intervention.
Priority 3 . Ending and Preventing Homelessness through Integrated Comprehensive ,
Responsive Supportive Services .
Priority 4 . Coordinating a Solid Administrative & Financial Structure To Support Effectiv e
Plan Implementation .
The Guiding Principles were critical in the development of the 10-Year Plan and are relevant t o
this discussion of the Safe Parking Pilot Program . The Guiding Principles are as follows :
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 3
Sharing Responsibility through Education and Outreach To All —Achieving result s
that matter will require involvement of all sectors of the community, including the busines s
community, faith-based organizations and citizen volunteers . As such, education to buil d
understanding of homelessness is essential in order to encourage broad involvement an d
cultivate support for solutions .
Continuous Community Building —Development of this system of care will be carrie d
out through significant investment in affordable and supportive housing, treatment an d
services for the benefit of all county residents .
Fostering of Innovation &Excellence —Through continuing investment in training ,
annual integration of lessons learned and emerging best practices, and openness to ne w
ways of doing things, we will create a model system of care that is equal to the challeng e
of preventing and ending homelessness .
Flexible and Individualized Attention —Ending homelessness will happen on person at a
time ; as such, housing and service provision will be tailored to the specific needs of eac h
individual or family .
Focus On Housing —All service provision will include ensuring the client' s housin g
stability, whether by helping people to obtain housing quickly, linking g them with th e
services they need to sustain it, or identifying risk and intervening early to prevent housin g
loss .
Comprehensive Solutions With A Systemwide Perspective -No matter where the client
enters the system, comprehensive solutions will be provided through access to the ful l
range of care available within the system .
Strategic Thinking &Efficiently Targeted Interventions —Data collection to allo w
evaluation of emerging needs and program outcomes will enable us to target t intervention s
for maximum impact and continuously monitor results and adjust for improvement .
The conclusion of the 10-Year Plan encourages the County, cities and community partners to us e
the priorities and guiding principles as guideposts for decisions in the future . Specifically it says ,
The planning process that produced Path to a Home,the San Luis Obispo countywide
Ten-year Plan to End Homelessness, involved a diverse group of stakeholders and built a
strong base of collaboration that can help to carry the Plan forward through th e
implementation process .Path to a Home provides a strong and compelling framework fo r
joint action that can guide County, City and Community partner efforts to effectivel y
address homelessness and utilize precious housing and service resources in the mos t
efficient and productive manner possible .
In recent years, RV's and even automobiles have increasingly emerged as a form of shelter fo r
persons who have not been able to obtain transitional or permanent housing and are seeking t o
escape the elements . Some people have found themselves in this position because of the
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 4
economy, the scarcity of transitional and affordable housing, and limited shelter beds . Straine d
social service resources makes it increasingly difficult to assist people who find themselve s
without homes and unable to find transitional housing .
Another group of people living in vehicles has ended up in this position because of past and/o r
ongoing choices . These people are living in vehicles in locations that have largely gon e
unnoticed, until recently . In these areas, some people have engaged in illegal behaviors that hav e
been the source of complaints regarding fundamental health and safety matters . In recen t
months, these groups have grown and drawn attention, resulting in increasingly frequent calls fo r
service and general complaints to the Police Department about illegal behavior and health an d
safety issues .
There is a mix of these two groups of people throughout the City, but there is an especially heav y
concentration of people living in their RVs or automobiles along Prado Road and the immediat e
vicinity . The escalating illegal behaviors of some of the overnight vehicle residents along Prad o
Road and along other streets in the City are compromising the health and safety of th e
community . An absence of health and safety facilities and programs focused on transitionin g
vehicle-dwelling individuals towards permanent housing complicates these conditions . As thes e
issues have converged, interest has grown in a safe parking pilot program that could hel p
mitigate the impacts of people living in vehicles on City streets by providing access to cas e
management and a safe place for these individuals to park and sleep with the goal of eventua l
transition to permanent housing .
City's Role in Addressing Homelessness and Regional Effort s
In addition to the endorsement of the 10-Year Plan, the City's General Plan Housing Elemen t
contains policies and programs that support housing and service agencies whose mission it is t o
develop programs for the City's homeless population . The City's role is one of funding suppor t
to local and regional organizations to meet the needs of the homeless as well as finding ways t o
leverage grant and local funds to achieve construction of affordable housing . The City provide s
funding assistance from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and General Fun d
monies to CAPSLO for the operation of the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter and Prado Da y
Center programs . Additionally, the City provides a site for the Prado Day Center facility wit h
"in kind" support, including free rent, water, sewer and trash services .
In addition, the City has awarded CDBG grant funds to CAPSLO to help fund pre-developmen t
costs for the design and construction of a new homeless services facility to be located adjacent t o
the Department of Social Services on 3451 South Higuera Street . The new facility woul d
combine services currently provided at the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter and the Prado Day
Center, consistent with the concepts of the 10-Year Plan .
Providing a strategy to work towards programs that transition people out of homelessness ha s
been a regional effort . The City has partnered with the County, Cities, and nonprofit entities t o
provide programs that advance goals outlined in the 10-Year Plan . While the City has a role t o
serve, the City is not a social services agency and the City's greatest opportunity for supporting
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 5
the success of the 10-Year Plan is to support and strategically supplement efforts lead by th e
County, which has both the resources and expertise in social services .
As an example of the regional efforts, on March 6 th the Planning Commission of the City o f
Arroyo Grande approved a temporary use permit to allow a safe parking pilot program at the St .
Barnabas Episcopal Church located at 301 Trinity Avenue . The property is approximately 8 .5 -
acres in size and is developed with the church facility and a 95-space parking lot . The pilo t
program was approved for a six month time period for use by three vehicles with an option t o
increase the vehicle number to five with approval by the Community Development Director .
DISCUSSION
Safe Parking Pilot Program Request Submitte d
On February 6, 2012, CAPSLO submitted a proposal (Attachment 2) to the City to establish a
safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Center to address this growing community issue and
advance a key goal to provide a form of transitional housing consistent with the 10-Year Plan .
The program will provide qualifying homeless persons with vehicles a safe place to temporaril y
park vehicles overnight with the goal of eventually transitioning them out of their vehicles an d
into permanent housing .
On February 15 th , City staff met internally with the Police Department, Fire, Public Works ,
Utilities, Administration, and the City Attorney . The purpose for the meeting was to review an d
discuss CAPSLO's proposal and outline the City process and program requirements for forma l
review and consideration . In the intervening weeks, staff discussed some initial concerns wit h
CAPSLO . On February 24 th staff met with CAPSLO to outline and discuss the proposal .
Discussions focused on performance standards for a successful pilot program and the social ,
fiscal, and legal dynamics surrounding the proposed program . On February 29 th staff provide d
CAPSLO with a letter outlining the performance standards that staff would recommend a s
conditions of approval associated with launching a pilot program (Attachment 3).
Problem Statement and Informal Survey Result s
Over the past several years, an increasing number of individuals and families are residing in thei r
vehicles overnight throughout the City . This has resulted in a wide range of health and safet y
issues for themselves and the community . Within the past 18 months the Fire Department ha s
responded to over 405 medical emergencies, trash and brush fires, and hazardous waste issue s
associated with homeless encampments . The Police Department notes that calls for servic e
involving reported misconduct by homeless persons or transients have nearly doubled in the las t
five years (Attachment 5). The Parks and Recreation Department staff removed approximatel y
40 tons of refuse from abandoned homeless camps last year from the City's creek and open spac e
areas . It is clear that the citizens of San Luis Obispo are aware and concerned about the issue o f
homelessness . The City's recent citizen satisfaction survey indicates that 70% of respondent s
consider homelessness and transient a somewhat serious or very serious issue in our community .
On February 27, 2012, City staff met with Prado Day Center staff to survey City streets in a n
effort to estimate the number of individuals that may be interested in participating in a saf e
parking program . The survey was focused along Prado Road as well as other streets within th e
Higuera Commerce Park Specific Plan area with known concentrations of RV campers and
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 6
persons who sleep in their automobiles (Attachment 6). The estimates provided in the tabl e
below are based on the experience of Prado Day Center staff working with clients that regularl y
use the facility for services and a general assessment of potential interest in participating in th e
program .
Estimated Vehicle Campers and Safe Parking Program Interes t
Higuera Commerc e
Park Streets '
Prado Road West of Higuera Potential Interest 3
Clients 2 Clients Clients
Trailer 3 4 3
RVs 17 8 1 2
Car/truck/vans 25 12 9
TOTAL 45 24 244
'Includes Prado Road East of Higuera Street, Long Street, Empresa Drive, Empleo Street, Bonetti Drive an d
Granada Drive
2 Refers to those that regularly use the Prado Day Center facility for service s
3 Estimate based on Prado Day Center staff client knowledge and experienc e
4 The 2011 San Luis Obispo County Homeless Enumeration Report indicates that 58 of 274 (21%) respondents t o
the question "Where did you sleep last night?" said they had slept in a vehicle the previous evening (Attachment 7)
Based on this survey and discussions with Prado staff, there are approximately 24 Prado Da y
Center clients that may be interested in participating in a safe parking program in the City at thi s
time . This estimate reflects those individuals who would be willing to comply with envisione d
program requirements that are described in more detail later in the report but include suc h
expectations as a drugs or alcohol free program and a willingness to participate in cas e
management .
Enforcement to address Illegal Activitie s
The number of vehicles and individuals camping on Prado Road and the immediate area ha s
significantly increased over the last several years . According to the February 27 th coun t
mentioned above, there were more than 60 vehicles either utilized for camping or long-ter m
storage on City streets . Several recent assaults, safety concerns from Prado Day Center staff ,
City of San Luis Obispo Corporation Yard staff, citizen complaints, and written correspondenc e
from three businesses on Prado Road listing adverse community impacts and health and safet y
concerns . These include assaults, thefts, public urination, defecation, and trespassing, all o f
which have prompted focused efforts by the Police Department to address the behaviors that ar e
in violation of existing Municipal and State Penal Codes .
Efforts to address the safety concerns have primarily centered on both education an d
enforcement of the City's ordinances prohibiting overnight camping and storage of vehicles o n
public streets .
• Overnight Camping - Municipal Code 17 .16 .015 addresses the issue of campin g
within the City and states :"Recreational vehicle as dwelling unit . No recreational
vehicle, camper shell, automobile or similar device shall be used for living or
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 7
sleeping quarters except in a lawfully operated mobile home park, travel trailer park ,
or campground, except as provided in Section 17.08 .010(C)(4) et seq ."Enforcement
of this Municipal Code for overnight camping has been conducted when occupant s
inside the vehicle are contacted . In the event the occupant cannot be contacted the
vehicle is tagged with a notice requiring the vehicle to be moved a minimum of 50 0
feet within 72 hours . This offense is an infraction and violators are subject to citatio n
and not physical arrest .
• Vehicle Storage - Municipal Code section 10 .12 .090 ("Removal of vehicles fro m
street by police officers permitted when .") has been used to address the parking issu e
and states : "Any regularly employed and salaried officer or designated employee o f
the police department of this city may remove or cause to be removed :
A . Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway fo r
seventy-two or more consecutive hours ;"
Vehicles remaining following the 72-hour period are towed and impounded at the owner's
expense .
The current Municipal Codes have proven to be relatively difficult to enforce . If those camping
in their vehicles do not answer the door for officers, the vehicle is tagged prompting the owner t o
move at least 500 feet in order to comply with the ordinance . In many instances, violators simply
move to a nearby location until they are contacted and noticed by police again, repeating th e
cycle .
The Police Department believes that in addition to the current issues being addressed on Prad o
Road, the issue of camping within the City continues to grow . Many of these issues will b e
pushed onto other city streets, or into the creek areas that are already impacted with transien t
camps . The City's Park Rangers and the City Biologist managed the City program to remove u p
to 40 tons of rubbish last year from local creeks after transient camps are posted for removal .
Currently the Police Department utilizes Penal Code section 647(e) to address the issue o f
camping in the city limits . The section states " every person who commits any of the followin g
acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor : Who lodges in any building, structure ,
vehicle, or place, whether public or private, without the permission of the owner or perso n
entitled to the possession or in control of it ." Many cities and counties have adopted loca l
ordinances to address camping and sleeping on public property, but it should be noted that thi s
type of regulation must be carefully tailored and is the subject of frequent legal challenge .
Moreover, if a local ordinance is adopted and used to cite violators, prosecution falls to the Cit y
Attorney rather than the District Attorney .
Case Studie s
In an effort to review best practices and lessons learned regarding safe parking programs, staff
researched programs currently operating in the City/County of Santa Barbara and City o f
Ventura. Staff contacted both the non-profits and jurisdictions to solicit specific input on what t o
consider in a local program, what to avoid, and how to craft a program with the best chances of
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 8
success . The City/County of Santa Barbara's program was initiated in 2002 with a non-profi t
social service agency called New Beginnings . The City of Ventura's program was initiated i n
2009 with the Salvation Army . The table below provides details of these operating programs a s
of May 2010 and a comparison of key program elements with CAPSLO's proposal .
Program Details City/County o f
Santa Barbara
City of Ventura CAPSLO Proposa l
Program Age (years)8 1 N/A
Operator New Beginnings Salvation Army CAPSL O
Type of Organization Private non-profit Private non-profit Private non-profi t
Program Size/# Vehicles 105 15 5
#of Parking Lots 22 3 1
Vehicles per Lot 3-10 3-5 5
Parking Lot Ownership Churches, business ,
government
Churches Governmen t
City Residenc y
Requirement
No Yes . Must sho w
proof
N o
Program Budget $100,000 $15,000 No budget informatio n
provide d
Vehicle Requirements –
Registration, Insurance ,
License
Yes Yes Not determined (Yes)
Maximum Stay Unlimited 90 Days Unlimite d
Case Managemen t
Required
Yes Yes Ye s
Vehicle Program Permi t
Required
Yes . 30 day permit ,
renewable
Yes . Two wee k
permit, renewable
Not determined (Yes)'
aucs Indicate start recommended condition wnere the Issue was not addressed ny the proposal .
2 Includes evidence from driver's license records, utility bills, medical bills, hotel bills, social service databases ,
mailing address, etc .
Consistency with San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessnes s
CAPSLO's proposed safe parking pilot program is consistent with and implements Strategy 1 .2
of the 10-Year Plan . This strategy seeks to increase the supply of short-term "interim" an d
transitional housing as a supplement, and not an alternative, to permanent supportive housing .
Permanent housing should be provided "first" when possible and appropriate to the individual's
needs, and interim and transitional housing should be used only for targeted populations or as a
stopgap measure for a system in housing crisis . Interim housing should be linked with th e
community services centers and structured so that is connects clients with support services and a
case management plan to help them move toward greater stability .
Implementation of the 10-Year Plan will close gaps in the continuum of care for homeles s
individuals and families and will link and improve the use of limited funding resources t o
achieve the plan goal of ending chronic homelessness . The Homeless Services Oversight Counci l
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 9
(HSOC) supports the establishment of safe parking programs for homeless in the Count y
(Attachment 8 )
Proposal Overview and Evaluatio n
CAPSLO has proposed to establish a safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Cente r
(Attachment 2). The program will provide homeless persons with vehicles a safe place t o
temporarily park vehicles overnight with the goal of eventually transitioning them int o
permanent housing . Staff has thoroughly reviewed, analyzed and researched CAPSLO's saf e
parking pilot proposal . The result of this effort is agreement between City staff and CAPSLO o n
the components of a safe and successful pilot program, and potential long-term citywid e
program . Highlights of the program are as follows :
Target Client s
1.Those who are in need of a safe place to park their vehicles overnight and have demonstrate d
a commitment to return to permanent or other transitional housing .
2.Those who are willing to actively participate in the case management program will receive a
guaranteed parking space until they are housed .
Proposal Highlight s
1.Six month pilot progra m
2.5 vehicles in parking lot overnigh t
3.Restroom facility provided (Port-a-Potty)
4.Drug-free zone (zero tolerance towards drugs and alcohol )
5.Shelter staff to monitor program by driving through parking lot once in the evening an d
morning (CAPSLO does not currently have funding to support a dedicated staff person onsit e
at all times )
6.Clients will register with CAPSLO and be entered into the HMIS databas e
7.Case management will be require d
8.Preference will be given to those that show evidence of residency in the City for at least 6
months (new area arrivals will be given a lower priority )
During review of the program, there were two issues that City staff and CAPSLO worked closel y
on to achieve agreement . These include the number of overnight spaces to be permitted at th e
Prado Day Center for the pilot program, and the requirement that participants be enrolled an d
actively pursuing case management services . An evaluation of these issues follows :
1 .Number of vehicles allowed in pilot program at Prado Day Center site .CAPSLO originall y
proposed up to 25 vehicles in the parking lot . Since the submittal, both staff and CAPSL O
have further researched and analyzed other successful safe parking programs and have agree d
that limiting the number of vehicles to 5 is appropriate for the following reasons :
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 0
a)The parking lot is constrained by its overall size, access, drive aisle width and parkin g
stall dimensions . The Public Works Department conducted a vehicle access and turnin g
movement analysis for the parking lot using a maximum RV length of 25 fee t
(Attachment 9). The results of the analysis indicate that the parking lot can safel y
accommodate up to three RV's and three standard vehicles (sedan, small truck, SUV ,
etc .) for a total of six .
b)The City has a lease agreement with the Small Bore Rifle Range adjacent to the Prad o
Day Center . This lease agreement allows the tenant to use the facility for nighttim e
shooting activities . Overnight parking at this location would conflict with the tenant's
lease agreement and use of the facility . Members of the Small Bore Rifle Range indicat e
that they use the parking lot during evenings and a parking program would conflict wit h
their activities .
c)Successful programs in Santa Barbara and Ventura limit the number of vehicles per lot t o
between 3 and 10, with the larger number being in parking lots with over 300 space s
(1200% larger than Prado's).
d)A recently approved safe parking pilot program in the City of Arroyo Grande at a churc h
facility included three vehicles in a 95-space parking lot .
e)As CAPSLO's proposal states, the goal of the program is to "provide homeless person s
with vehicles a safe place to temporarily park their cars". Those interested in the progra m
are seeking a "safe" place to sleep overnight . People in interim or transitional housin g
have the same basic needs as those in permanent housing . Factors that contribute to a
safe sleeping environment include having a sense of privacy, having defensible space ,
being in an environment that is secure, properly maintained, managed and monitored, an d
having an appropriate density given the site's size and amenities .
f)If successful, CAPSLO's pilot program could be a model for a potential long-ter m
citywide program . In order for the pilot program to have the best chance for success ,
minimizing complicating factors provide the best chance of success .
2 .Pilot program participants must be enrolled in programs and paired with a cas e
manager .CAPSLO originally proposed to "offer" case management to those participating i n
the program . After discussing this issue in more depth, City staff and CAPSLO agree tha t
case management should be a requirement of program participation for the followin g
reasons :
a)CAPSLO has a 100% success rate transitioning people who remain in case managemen t
into permanent housing . This is instrumental to the success of the program and i s
required for consistency with the 10-Year Plan .
b)Successful safe parking programs in Santa Barbara and Ventura require participants to b e
paired with a case manager .
c)Those actively involved in case management are less likely to be engaged in activitie s
and behaviors that have a detrimental effect on local public health, safety and welfare .
With incorporation of these and additional conditions included in the Draft Council Resolutio n
(Attachment 10), staff believes the proposed pilot program can be successful and a model for a
potential long-term Citywide program .
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 1
On March 7, 2012, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) received a staff presentatio n
regarding the issues surrounding overnight parking along Prado Road and an overview of th e
safe parking pilot program proposal by CAPSLO . Commissioners agreed by consensus that th e
HRC supports the collaborative efforts among the City, County, and service providers aimed at
addressing the safety, social, environmental, and related issues resulting from the overnigh t
parking along Prado Road and in the vicinity (Attachment 4). The Commission further expresse d
its willingness to participate in education and outreach to support these efforts .
Sanitation (RV Dump Stations )
Concern with discharge of RV wastes to the environment raised the question as to whether or no t
the City operated an RV dump station at its Water Reclamation Facility . While the Municipa l
Code allows for such a site at the utility director's discretion [Section 13 .08 .140(C)(1l)], th e
capital investment, liability, and administrative requirements (such as monitoring the location ,
taking payment, ensuring no hazardous waste or illicit drug-production related materials ente r
the sewer system, among other items) associated with such a facility have not made an RV dum p
station an enterprise into which the City desires to enter .
Currently, the Elks Lodge on Elks Lane has the only RV dump station in the City of San Lui s
Obispo . This service is free to members ; the public is charged $10 . RV dumpsites can be found
at this website .http ://www .sanidumps .com/maps/index .php?id=1 8
Future Municipal Code Change s
Zoning Regulation s
If the pilot program is successful, a potential citywide long-term program would requir e
changes to Title 17 of the Municipal Code (Zoning Regulations). Specific changes woul d
include the following :
1)Chapter 17 .16 .015 (Recreational vehicle as dwelling unit). Language would need to b e
modified to include an exception for safe overnight parking in conjunction with a loca l
social service provider .
2)New Zoning Regulations chapter would need to be created for safe overnight parking tha t
would include specific performance standards and requirements .
3)Chapter 17 .22 (Table 9 — Uses Allowed by Zone). New land use category would need to
be added to Table 9 that specifies the Zoning Districts the use would be allowed and an y
required entitlements (i .e . Use Permit).
4)Chapter 17 .100 (Definitions). New land use definition would need to be created .
Parking Enforcemen t
Changes to the Municipal Code to provide appropriate parking enforcement measures coul d
include the following :
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 2
1)Establish a City ordinance that prohibits parking of Recreational Vehicles on city streets .
Exceptions could be addressed through a permitting process by allowing parking for a
limited number of days per year .
2)Establish a two-hour parking limit on Prado Road and the surrounding area to preven t
long term parking or camping on Prado Road .
3)Establish a parking zone that prevents parking within a certain distance to the businesse s
except for customers to those businesses .
Notwithstanding the changes discussed above, the City can regulate parking on city streets b y
adopting an ordinance or resolution . Changes can be made to the Municipal Code prohibitin g
the parking of certain "types" of vehicles that park in certain defined areas, and for specific time s
of the day . For example Santa Barbara prohibits overnight parking of trailers, semi-trailers ,
buses, mobile homes, and any vehicle with a 3/4 ton cargo capacity on any city street between th e
hours of 2 :00 a .m . and 6 :00 a.m . of any day .
Santa Barbara additionally prohibits overnight parking of recreational vehicles in a defined are a
near their beaches between the hours of 12 :00 midnight and 6 :00 a .m . Lastly Santa Barbara ha s
another municipal code section that that prohibits the parking of recreational vehicles within 50 0
feet of schools, churches, homeless shelters, and parks . These codes articulate exceptions fo r
commercial vehicles delivering goods or providing services . Many of these municipal codes us e
parking citations as the method of enforcing these regulations with fines of $112 to $125 .
The California Vehicle Code § 22507 provides cities with the authority to regulate the stopping ,
parking or standing of vehicles on streets provided signs are posted giving adequate notice of th e
regulations to the public . While Santa Barbara posts signs to regulate parking in specific areas o r
streets, other cities like Ventura post signs at all of the entrances to their city that oversize d
vehicles and unattached trailers are prohibited on all city streets .
In discussions with other cities regarding their experience with similar parking regulations ,
common issues were identified . First the parking problem that the regulation was meant t o
address often moves to another location . Once a parking regulation is posted in a certai n
location, the vehicles are moved to another street that is not regulated . This results in having t o
expand the regulations to more areas or streets . This has caused many cities to establish a
parking permit system to allow some on-street parking by property owners and their tenants fo r
oversize vehicles . Second, most cities enforce these regulations "by complaint only" due t o
limited resources or because of the push back from residents or local business interests wh o
believe the parking restriction was unnecessary . Third, some cities have had legal challenge s
concerning their regulations from groups protecting the rights of the homeless . Fourth, parkin g
regulations require the installation of signs to warn motorists of the parking regulations that ar e
costly and require on-going maintenance . The current cost to purchase and install a signpost an d
sign by an outside contractor can be as high as $400 per sign according to City staff .
The City can either change existing Municipal Code sections or establish new codes to addres s
the stopping, parking, and standing of certain type of vehicles in our city . It would requir e
additional resources and funding to provide for public notice (signs), enforcement, and additiona l
permit programs should City Council decide to direct staff to address street parking regulations .
Safe Parking Pilot Program &Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 3
If the City decides to establish a permit system that allows for limited parking of oversize d
vehicles, trailers, or recreational vehicles a process would need to be developed . The City woul d
need to determine criteria for the permit process like the length of time it is valid, where it i s
valid, and how many times a year a permit can be issued . Then staffing must be provided t o
process requests, evaluate whether it meets the City's criteria, and then to distribute the permit t o
the public . This effort would be beyond staffs current capacity due to other workload an d
priorities . Further analysis would be required to determine the precise amount of funding o r
staffing augmentation that is needed to implement an oversized vehicle permit program .
Work Program Impact s
The 2011-2013 Financial Plan included Affordable Housing/Homeless services as an "othe r
important" Council objective . This objective includes continued efforts to support an d
implement the 10-Year Plan, which was endorsed by Council and outlines strategies t o
coordinate homeless services and address housing and service needs . While the Communit y
Development Department's work program included this objective, the amount of effort both i n
terms of reviewing and advancing a pilot and a long term safe parking program is much more
resource-intensive than anticipated . As a result, this has impacted the Department's ability to :
1.Manage the City's CDBG program, Affordable Housing Fund grant award program ,
Inclusionary Housing Program, an d
2.Facilitate the development of new affordable housing, an d
3.Complete revisions to the South Broad Street Corridor Plan, an d
4.Seek grant opportunities and implement Housing Element policies and programs t o
advance key Housing Program goals, an d
5.Shifted focus of Department leadership away from the Major City Goal of Neighborhoo d
Wellness .
Should Council elect to move the Pilot Program forward and direct changes to the Municipa l
Code for the long term operation of a program, staff proposes that the South Broad Stree t
Corridor Plan (SBSCP) schedule would shift and revisions would be completed in late summe r
and presented to the Planning Commission and City Council in late fall . The current schedul e
anticipated that the Planning Commission and City Council would consider the plan this spring .
This would have impacts to the LUCE update as Planning Commission and City Counci l
approved SBSCP revisions would not be fully integrated into background and other plannin g
documents and may diminish integration into the LUCE EIR .
If Council decides to direct staff to revise the parking regulations in the Municipal Code, Publi c
Works staff would need to consider which work items need to be reprioritized . The Parking
Services staff is fully committed to existing work plan projects like the Major City Goal fo r
Neighborhood Wellness, credit card meter project, Sunday parking implementation, Palm -
Nipomo Parking Garage, Downtown Champion duties, new parking district implementation, a s
well as several Parking Fund CIPs, just to name some of the highest priorities .
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 4
Staff believes that the Palm-Nipomo Parking Garage project is at a stage where some delay coul d
be acceptable . The new development in the Downtown continues to be slow, and som e
opportunity exists to wait before proceeding into the environment phase . In addition, th e
processing of new parking district requests could be delayed if Council directs this to be a
priority, The revision to parking regulations within the City could have an impact on where an d
what Districts are requested for and waiting to process new requests may provide some clarit y
and be of some benefit .
The Police department has limited resources to do proactive parking enforcement within the city .
If council were to develop more stringent ordinances and give direction for more proactiv e
enforcement of this type of behavior it would reduce patrol efforts to address other problem area s
within the city especially during the daytime hours . It is difficult to quantify or identify a specifi c
impact that would result from focused enforcement related to new parking regulations . Some o f
the impacts could reduce attention to traffic enforcement, enforcement of issues in th e
downtown, and issues surrounding the schools .
Next Step s
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
If Council approves the establishment of a safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Center ,
staff will work with CAPSLO to implement the program consistent with the parameters an d
conditions included in the Draft Council Resolution . At the end of the pilot program period, staf f
will report back to Council with findings on the pilot program . If Council determines that a
long-term citywide program is desirable, staff will bring back the necessary Municipal Cod e
changes to Council for review and consideration .
Parking Enforcemen t
If directed by the City council, staff would evaluate parking programs and Municipal cod e
amendments that address problems sleeping and camping in vehicles on Public streets . In th e
course of developing a program, staff will evaluate all aspects of this issue including th e
following :
1) Should the City amend parking restrictions on public streets to limit the overnigh t
parking of RVs and/or other oversized vehicles as other cities have done? If so, what ar e
the parameters ?
a. The Police Department believes an ordinance that limits the ability of RV parkin g
on city streets would be valuable . This issue is present in the area surrounding th e
Prado Day center and as well as many other areas of the city . If an ordinanc e
were created to limit the ability to park RVs on city streets it would reduce th e
number of complaints within the city and reduce the need for 72 hour tagging i n
many areas . Temporary permitting for short periods of time would be evaluate d
for visitors utilizing RVs while visiting our city . By limiting the number o f
permits and time associated with the permit it could help address the issue o f
long-term storage of RVs on city streets and camping in RVs .
Safe Parking Pilot Program & Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 5
2)Should authority be given to the Police Chief and/or Public Works Director to restric t
parking on an emergency basis to address threats to public health and safety ?
a . Because the primary violation of the parking restrictions occurs during nighttim e
hours, it is recommended that the Police Department take lead on enforcement o f
any new restrictions and any permit process . It may be advisable to consider
allowing the Police Chief to designate "No Parking" Zones if needed in extrem e
circumstances similar to the current regulation that allows the Parks & Recreatio n
Director to close City Parks when illegal or dangerous behaviors warrant .
3)What is the appropriate avenue for public notification of these parking regulations? Thi s
analysis will include an estimate the type and number of signs that would be needed t o
make the new restrictions enforceable . The desire to regulate must be balanced with a
signage and information program that 1) helps local residents understand why the stricte r
regulations are needed ; 2) provides adequate notice from a due process standpoint ; and 3 )
does not appear to "trap" unsuspecting motorists who may just be visiting . Th e
investment in signs and the ongoing maintenance of those signs are significant costs, an d
the City should be prepared for objections from residents who believe that stricte r
regulations are unnecessary .
FISCAL IMPAC T
At this time, CAPSLO has not proposed a budget or requested specific funding for the safe
parking pilot program . CAPSLO is developing a budget based on the anticipated costs t o
administer the program . The program budget is expected to include costs associated wit h
staffing, sanitation, facilities maintenance, case management, and other incremental costs . Onc e
these costs are known, it is expected that CAPSLO would make a proposal to the City and othe r
participating jurisdictions, such as the County, for funding . A budget request could be made t o
the City and County by the middle of this week .
In general, the safe parking program could result in an incremental and on-going increase i n
annual funding support requested by CAPSLO . If the program is successful, other servic e
providers may initiate programs, as well . The City has existing programs, including th e
Community Development Block Grant program and the Grants-In-Aid program, that suppor t
social service programs such as a safe parking program .
In conclusion, the fiscal impact on the City's General Fund associated with the proposed saf e
parking pilot program is expected to be minimal, and approval of a long term safe parkin g
program could result in additional demand for funding through the City's grant programs . Staff
will report back to the City Council regarding specific program costs when more information i s
known at the conclusion of the pilot program . The fiscal impact associated with the delays t o
other identified priorities due to staff redirection, especially with regard to housing programs, ha s
not been fully evaluated and cannot be estimated at this time .
Safe Parking Pilot Program &Public Street Parking Restrictions Page 1 6
ALTERNATIVE S
1.The Council may approve the safe parking pilot program with modified findings and/o r
conditions .
2.The Council may continue action, if more information is needed . Direction should b e
given to staff regarding additional information needed to make a decision .
3.The Council may deny the safe parking pilot program if the necessary findings cannot b e
made . Action denying the proposal should include the basis for denial .
4.The Council could withhold direction to evaluate further changes to the municipal cod e
related to parking enforcement .
ATTACHMENT S
1.Vicinity Ma p
2.CAPSLO Safe Parking Pilot Program Proposa l
3.Letter to CAPSLO dated February 29, 201 2
4.Draft minutes from the Human Relations Commission March 7, 2012, meetin g
5.Police Department calls for service involving homeless person s
6.Higuera Commerce Park Specific Plan Area Ma p
7.San Luis Obispo County 2011 Enumeration Report (number of individuals per sleepin g
location)
8.HSOC Resolutio n
9.Vehicle Access and Turning Movement Exhibi t
10.Draft Council Resolutio n
T :\Council Agenda Reports\2012\2012-03-20\B1-Prado Safe Parking (Johnson-Corey)\Safe Parking CAR Reportv4 .docx
Attachment 2
PRADO DAY CENTER HOMELESS SAFE PARKING PROGRA M
The Problem
For a variety of reasons, including the economy, lack of affordable housing, and limited shelte r
beds, an increasing number of individuals and families have had to reside in their vehicles .
Currently these people park their vehicles overnight throughout the streets of the city of San Lui s
Obispo and are heavily concentrated on Prado Road . Residents sleeping in vehicles with no
oversight or restroom facilities create a wide variety of health and safety issues for themselves a s
well as the community at large . On any given night, 30 or more cars, vans, and RV's are parke d
bumper to bumper and line both sides of Prado Road .
In a continued effort to provide emergency shelter services to our homeless and indigen t
population, we at the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo are expressing a n
interest in providing safe, sanitary, and regulated overnight parking for these people at the Prado
Day Center site, and hope to engage the City in more detailed discussion to make this a reality .
We are aware that there are many people in this situation, but we are also aware that imprope r
behavior by the program participants may cause the program to fail . Therefore, the participant s
must agree to the Program Rules and Procedures before they are allotted a space for the evening .
Program Missio n
The goal of the Prado Day Center Safe Parking Program is to provide homeless persons wit h
vehicles a safe place to temporarily park their cars .
Target Client s
1)Clients who are in need of a safe place to park their vehicles overnight and have a
demonstrated commitment to return to permanent or other transitional housing .
2)Clients who are willing to actively participate in the case management program wil l
receive a guaranteed parking space until they are housed .
Type of Proposed Activitie s
The Prado Day Center Safe Overnight Parking Program will accommodate up to 25 vehicles i n
the main parking lot . This program is being proposed as a four month pilot . After that time, th e
program will be evaluated and a decision will be made regarding possible continuation . The
decision will rely on a number of factors, including safety and /or security issues during the tria l
period, funding, and client's success in achievement their goals .
Sanitation and Site Securit y
At minimum, one restroom will be made available at all times through the rental of a portabl e
"Port-a-Potty", which all clients will have access to .
There will be a zero tolerance toward drugs and alcohol on the site .
At minimum, shelter staff will do one drive through of the parking lot each evening and again i n
the morning to help maintain a safe and sanitary environment . At this point there is not enough
funding to support a dedicated staff person on-site at all times . We hope to have detaile d
discussions with SLOPD regarding the support of their patrols during the evening hours .
Should funding be made available CAPSLO would place video cameras with a live internet fee d
directly to the MLM Shelter office where there is a staff on duty all night to monitor activities .
Attachment 2
Our hope is to discuss with the City as soon as possible ways to ensure the safety and security o f
clients, facility and near-by grounds as these will affect all partners .
Intake and Assessmen t
Every client will complete the current intake that all CAPSLO Homeless Services client s
complete . All data collected will be entered into the HMIS database, and used to help staff mak e
appropriate assessments and referrals .
Case Managemen t
Case management services will be offered to every client utilizing the parking lot . Those
choosing to participate in case management will be given a parking preference Working with a
case manager includes, but is not limited to :
•Assistance in obtaining long term stable housing .
•Assistance with budgeting and other financial management issues .
•Assistance in obtaining/increasing income .
•Assistance in accessing other service providers (i .e ., County Mental Health, Drug an d
Alcohol Services, Social Security).
Residency Requirement s
While the program is open to all, evidence of residency for 6 months or longer in the City of Sa n
Luis Obispo will result in a higher likelihood of placement . The evidence for this can be such
items as earlier utility bill, older hotel bills, bills from area medical facilities, current intake fro m
one of our other homeless programs, etc . New area arrivals will be given lower priority .
We believe that the program described above is aligned with the goals stated in our County's 10 -
year Plan to End Homelessness and is supported by the Resolution adopted by the Council whic h
was tasked to oversee that plan (see attached HSOC Safe Parking Resolution signed b y
Supervisor Adam Hill dated March 21, 2011).
city Of San luis Attachmen t~3
Community Development Department • 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-321 8
February 29, 201 2
CAPSL O
Attn : Dee Torre s
1030 Southwood Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
Subject : Safe Parking Pilot Program (Prado Day Center )
Dear Ms . Tones :
We appreciate CAPSLO advancing the conversation and developing an initial proposal t o
establish a safe parking pilot program at the Prado Day Center . The February 6`h proposal
advances a key component of the goal to provide a form of transitional housing consistent wit h
the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness . Since submittal of th e
proposal, City staff has met internally with the Police Department, Fire, Public Works, Utilities ,
Administration and the City Attorney to evaluate the proposal and identify policy and program
management issues . City staff met with you last week to outline and discuss the proposal .
Discussions focused on performance standards for a successful pilot program and the social ,
fiscal, and legal dynamics surrounding the proposed program . An initial list of performanc e
standards was also the focus of the discussion .
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a list of performance standards that staff wil l
recommend as conditions of approval associated with launching a pilot program and eventuall y
rolled into a permanent program should it be approved .
There is no need to revise the February 6th proposal, but we wanted to alert CAPSLO to thes e
performance standards as described below . We believe that many of the performance standard s
are necessary to ensure the establishment of both a successful pilot and long-term program .
The following list is divided into two parts . Part 1 (Pilot Program Performance Standards )
includes items that will be recommended as conditions that would essentially modify the
February 6th safe parking proposal . Part 2 (Permanent Program Criterion) includes additional
items that the City would like CAPSLO to incorporate into its program implementation so th e
effectiveness of each practice can be evaluated during implementation of the pilot program .
Evaluation of these practices through the pilot program will allow us to determine together i f
they should become components of a potential permanent program located at this or other sites i n
the City .
The City understands that there is a significant need for a program and that CAPSLO's
administration of the program and the suggested conditions will place additional strain on alread y
constrained resources . Recognizing this dynamic, the City is prepared to work with CAPSL O
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs and activities .B l _2 0
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7410 .
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
February 29, 201 2
Page 2
Attachment 3
and remains flexible on the timing, implementation and exact nature of the performanc e
standards .
Part 1 – Pilot Program Performance Standard s
1)Modify the number of vehicles allowed to participate in the pilot program to 5-10 . Please
clarify whether the site will be male only, female only, RV only, etc .
2)Pilot program participants must be enrolled in programs and paired with a case manager .
3)Clearly indicate the length/duration of the pilot program . Four months seems to be an
adequate timeframe for both CAPSLO and the City to evaluate the operation of the pilo t
program, but we are open to discussions .
4)Restroom facilities shall be provided (Port-a-Potty). Provide the location of the facility o n
a site plan for reference .
5)No drugs or alcohol may be contained in program vehicles or consumed on City property.
6)No firearms of any kind may be contained in program vehicles or on City property .
7)No music may be played that is audible outside vehicles .
8)No cooking or food preparation shall be performed outside of the participant's vehicle .
9)Camping tarps or equipment beyond the top of the vehicle is prohibited .
10)Only one vehicle is allowed per participant or household at the site .
11)Provide program rules to participants .
12)Program monitoring and oversight shall be provided . Please submit a monitoring progra m
(i .e . hours and frequency of site visits) for consideration .
13)All trash shall be properly disposed . Please indicate the location of existing and propose d
trash storage containers on a site plan for use by the program .
14)Program participants shall possess a current driver's license, vehicle registration, an d
insurance for the vehicle that will be parked in the designated space . CAP SLO shall kee p
a copy of all three on record .
15)CAPSLO shall provide a recognizable parking permit for vehicles registered in th e
program . This will assist CAPSLO staff and police officers recognize vehicles which ar e
authorized to participate in the program .
16)Provide pilot program hours . Overlap with the Prado Day Center with the pilot program
should be limited .
17)Utilities such as water, electricity or gas shall not be connected with RV's or other
vehicles .
18)Vehicles may only be occupied by clients and approved registered household members .
Guests shall not be allowed .
19)Program participants and all household members who will be staying in vehicle must sig n
an indemnification and waiver indemnifying and waiving all rights against the City . Th e
City will provide a standard indemnification form .
20)Program participants shall keep barking or aggressive dogs in their vehicles . Pets shall b e
kept on a leash at all times on the property . Animal waste shall be picked up immediatel y
and disposed of properly .
21)Program participants shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rule s
and regulations .
22)Failure of program participants to follow all program rules will result in termination fro m
the program .
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
February 29, 201 2
Page 3
Attachment 3
Part 2 — Items for Consideratio n
1)Consider how to remove those individuals from the program who are not using their saf e
parking spaces consistently .
2)Consider whether to limit the number of months/years participants may remain in th e
program .
3)Prepare a waiting list for those qualified individuals unable to participate in the pilo t
program .
4)Participants should notify CAPSLO if leaving the program site for an extended period o r
permanently.
5)Provide a plan to track participant compliance with program rules . The plan shoul d
include a maximum number of warnings, process for eviction, and criteria to terminat e
participants from program following multiple offenses .
The City is prepared to assist CAPSLO with identifying alternatives to performance condition s
and is receptive to modifications of suggested pilot program standards . We have tentativel y
scheduled a study session hearing with the City Council on March 20, 2012 .
We are excited to work with you on this important community issue . If you have any question s
regarding this letter or the specific items listed above, please contact me at tcorey@slocitv .org o r
805-781-7169 .
Sincerely,
CC : City Counci l
Katie Lichtig, City Manage r
Michael Codron, Assistant City Manage r
Steve Gesell, Police Chief
Derek Johnson, Community Development Directo r
Tyler Core y
Housing Programs Manage r
Community Development Department
Attachment 4
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION (HRC )
MINUTES REGULAR MEETIN G
March 7,201 2
5 :00 p .m .
990 Palm St — Council Hearing Roo m
CALL TO ORDER : 5 :00 P M
PRESENT :Chairperson :Charlene Rosales,Vice Chairperson :Louise Mathen y
Commissioners :Theresa Merkle, John Rollefson, Hillary Trout and Ronal d
Tille y
ABSENT :non e
STAF F
PRESENT :Monica Irons, Human Resources Director, Community Developmen t
Director Derek Johnson, Police Chief Steve Gesell .
SIDERATION OF MINUTES :
SINESS ITEM S
Item 1 .REVIEW 2011-2012 GRANTS-I D LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS (ROSALES )
Commissioners agreed by consensu at assignments as provided in agend a
packet were acceptable .
Item 2 .REVIEW 2011-2012 GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) MID-• -REPORTS (ROSALES )
Trout reported on SLO YMCA After School Program, e Cool Earth, L a
Clinica de Tolosa . Tilley expressed difficulty trying to ge old of SLO Legal
Alternatives regarding the Senior Legal Services Project . - ► fson reporte d
last month on all his assigned agencies . Matheny had nothing report at thi s
time . Rosales reported on Assistance League, Operation School - I, Cas a
Solana, Senior Nutrition Program, Transitional Food and Shelter, a n
ACTIO Moved by Trout/Matheny to approve the minutes of February 1, 2012 a s
submitted ; motion carried 6 :0
PUBLIC COMMENT,
No public comment .
Attachment 4
Children's Health Initiative (dis-enrolling in health insurance due to cos t
increases). All agencies satisfied reporting requirements .
Item 3 .PARKING AT PRADO DAY CENTER (JOHNSON/GESELL) (1 Hour )
Community Development Director Johnson provided an overview of issues o n
Prado Road with overnight parking and summarized a proposal received b y
the City from CAPSLO for a 6 month pilot program to provide a limited numbe r
of safe parking spaces on the Prado Day Center site . A staff report will b e
presented to Council on this topic on March 20 th at the 7 p .m . session .
Commissioners agreed by consensus that the HRC supports the collaborativ e
efforts among the City, County, and service providers aimed at addressing th e
safety, social, environmental, and related issues resulting from the overnigh t
parking on Prado Road, including the pilot program proposed by CAPSLO .
The commission further expressed its willingness to participate in educatio n
and outreach to support these efforts .
COMMISSIONER COMMENT S
All commissioners expressed gratitude for the presentation . Rollefson expressed interest i n
further defining HRC's role in assisting in education in this area . Rosales reported th e
Grants-in-Aid subcommittee met and will bring initial recommendations back to the ful l
commission at the April 4, 2012 meeting .
There being no further business to come before the HRC, Rosales adjourned the HR C
meeting at 7 :11 p .m . to the regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 5 :0 0
p .m . in the Council Hearing Room at 990 Palm St .
Respectfully Submitted ,
Monica Irons ,
Human Resources Director
Attachment 5
Calls for Service with "Transient "
2007
2008
2009
2010
201 1
Yea r
140 0
120 0
1000
800
600
40 0
20 0
0
749'
Attachment 5
B l -2 6
Incident 2007 2008 2009 2010 201 1
5150 6 8 12 12 6
Alcohol 70 96 153 143 12 1
Animal Problem 5 4 3 7 5
Assault 10 12 24 11 1 4
Assist Req 31 0 49 28 5 3
Burg 2 5 6 1 3
Controlled Narc 11 7 10 13 1 8
Disorderly 48 97 153 125 10 7
Fire/Smoke 7 7 12 10 7
Littering 1 5 3 4 6
Loitering 47 35 79 68 8 5
Medical 19 29 43 26 1 9
Missing Person 7 3 1 5 2
Muni Code 8 34 107 68 109
Robbery 3 1 1 4 1
Sex Offense 4 7 3 3 3
Suspicious 97 104 116 134 19 7
Theft 23 27 44 25 3 1
Traffic Offense 12 12 28 10 1 8
Trespass 220 219 262 250 31 3
Vandalism 9 8 12 10 1 1
Weapon 1 3 4 4 8
Welfare Check 24 33 71 77 74
30 0
25 0
20 0
15 0
10 0
50
-
0
5150 Alcohol Anima l
Problem Assault Assist Req Burg Controlled
Narc Disorderly Fire/Smoke
2007 6 70 5 10 31 2 11 48 7
2008 8 96 4 12 0 5 7 97 7
2009 12 153 3 24 49 6 10 153 1 2
2010 12 143 7 11 28 1 13 125 1 0
2011 6 121 5 14 53 3 18 107 7
Attachment 5
---------ii EI
Littering Loitering Medical Missin g
Pe rson Muni Code Robbery Sex Offense Suspicious Theft Tr a
Off(
1 47 19 7 8 3 4 97 23 1
5 35 29 3 34 1 7 104 27 1
3 79 43 1 107 1 3 116 44 -2
4 68 26 5 68 4 3 134 25 1
6 85 19 2 109 1 3 197 31 1
B1 -2 7
Attachment 5
200 7
200 8
200 9
201 0
201 1
iffic Welfar e
Anse Trespass Vandalism Weapon Check
.2 220 9 1 24
.2 219 8 3 3 3
262 12 4 7 1
.0 250 10 4 7 7
.8 313 11 8 74
B1 -2 8
Attachment 6
Attachment 7
Nature of Homelessnes s
Where did you sleep last night? (la )
Of the 274 responses from homeless individuals pertaining to sleep location, 133 slept outside o r
in a vehicle .Seventy-two surveyed homeless people slept in a shelter, transitional housing or a
detox/halfway house .Thirty-seven spent the night as a guest with family and friends or dou-
bled up with more than one family .Twenty-two people slept in a motel, three of which used a
voucher.6 Ten spent the night in jail .
Reported number of individuals per sleeping locatio n
doubled up 4%
vehicle 21 %
outside 27 %
motel 8%
transitional housing 4 %
guest 9 %
shelter 11 %
detox/halfway house 12 %
jail 4%
0
20
40
60
80
6 Motel vouchers provided by Transitional Food and Shelter, Inc .http :/ /www.nowheretogo .com
Continuum of Care San Luis Obispo County 2011 Homeless Enumeration Repor t
14
Attachment 8
Path to allom e
10 Year Plan to
End Homelessness
HOMELESS SERVICES OVERSIGHT COUNCI L
RESOLUTIO N
SAFE PARKING PROGRAM FOR HOMELES S
WHEREAS the incidence of homeless residents has increased in recen t
years due to the recessionary times .
WHEREAS a number of homeless residents sleep in their vehicle s
overnight, as their only form of shelter ;
WHEREAS residents sleeping in vehicles create : 1) a perceived threat t o
public safety; 2) a concern for one's personal safety when forced to use a
vehicle as night shelter; and 3) a drain on law enforcement resources ;
WHEREAS a number of jurisdictions have established Safe Parkin g
Programs that provide a safe, designated location where homeless residents
can park undisturbed for the night ;
WHEREAS a Safe Parldng Program can facilitate outreach to homeles s
and can assist their transition to services and housing ;
WHEREAS the Homeless Services Oversight Council of San Luis Obisp o
County convened a discussion group who researched best practices of Saf e
Parking Programs and prepared informational materials for local use ;
THEREFORE the Homeless Services Oversight Council endorses Saf e
Parking as a necessary and valuable interim housing opportunity, benefittin g
both the community and homeless residents .
FURTHER,the Homeless Services Oversight Council urges loca l
jurisdictions to seriously consider the establishment of Safe Parking projects
and to make their best efforts to support such interim approaches, using th e
identified best practices .
We envision n future
in which the-housin g
and comprehensive
services necessaryt o
remain housed ar e
available for all,
afjrdt g everyone
maximum set
sujlciency,andthe
opportunity to b e
productive anal
partidipattog '
members otour
coinmuniO .
March, ( ,2011
Supervisor Adam Hil l
Chair, Homeless Services Oversight Counci l
limaimammasissams
Homeless Services Oversight Council//,AO.Box i 101 //Son Luis Obispo,CA
Ca r
-T RV in transi t
Potential RV
Parking Space
=Medical Facility
50
1
100 Feet
Attachment 1 0
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series )
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL SUSPENDING ENFORCEMENT OF TH E
REQUIREMENTS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 17 .16 .01 5
FOR A PORTION OF 43 PRADO ROAD AND AUTHORIZING A SAFE PARKIN G
PILOT PROGRAM AT PRADO DAY CENTE R
(43 PRADO ROAD )
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public hearing i n
the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, on March 20 ,
2012, for the purpose of considering a safe parking pilot program to allow overnight sleeping in
vehicles at the Prado Day Center at 43 Prado Road ; an d
WHEREAS, the City's Municipal Code, 17 .16 .015 prohibits sleeping in vehicles except in
lawfully operated mobile home parks, travel trailer parks, or campgrounds ; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing community need for programs providing saf e
accommodations for individuals and families utilizing vehicles for temporary shelter in order t o
facilitate the transition to permanent housing ; and
WHEREAS, CAPSLO has requested to establish a safe parking pilot program at the Prad o
Day Center; and
WHEREAS, the established homeless services program and facilities at the Prado Da y
Center is an appropriate location for a temporary pilot program to accommodate people sleeping i n
vehicles overnight as temporary shelter ; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has duly considered all evidence, including the testimony o f
the applicant, interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendations by staff, presented at sai d
hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Lui s
Obispo as follows :
Section 1 . Findings .Based upon all the evidence, the City Council makes the followin g
findings :
1.A safe parking pilot program advances a key component of the goal to provide a form o f
transitional housing consistent with the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-year Plan to En d
Homelessness .
2.There is a growing community need for a safe parking pilot program for those looking for a
safe place to temporarily sleep in their vehicles while they transition to permanent housing .
3.A pilot program will allow CAPSLO and the City to evaluate the success of the progra m
prior to deciding whether to move forward with a long-term City-wide program .
4.As conditioned, a safe parking pilot program within the parking area for the Prado Day
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series)
Attachment 1 0
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 2
Center, as show on Exhibit A, is a logical addition to the homeless services currentl y
provided and managed by CAPSLO .
Section 2 .Conditions .The City Council hereby authorizes the Prado Day Center to
operate a safe parking pilot program at 43 Prado Road in the location specified in Exhibit A an d
subject to the following conditions :
1.The pilot program shall be valid only for the Prado Day Center parking area located at 4 3
Prado Road and only as shown on attached Exhibit A .
2.The pilot program shall be valid for a six month period from the date of progra m
implementation .
3.The number of vehicles allowed to participate in the pilot program shall be limited to fiv e
(5).
4.Pilot program participants must be enrolled in programs to facilitate the transition to mor e
permanent housing and paired with a case manager .
5.Restroom facilities shall be provided by CAPSLO .
6.No drugs or alcohol may be contained in program vehicles or possessed or consumed o n
City property .
7.No weapons or firearms of any kind may be contained in program vehicles or used o r
possessed on City property at 43 Prado Road .
8.No fires of any kind shall be permitted on City property .
9.No music may be played that is audible outside vehicles .
10.No cooking or food preparation shall be performed outside of the participant's vehicle .
11.Camping tarps or equipment beyond the top of the vehicle are prohibited .
12.Only one vehicle is allowed per participant or household at the site .
13.A monitoring and oversight program shall be provided to the City prior to commencemen t
of the pilot program .
14.Provide program hours .
15.Provide a site plan with the following information :
a.Location of trash and recycling bins
b.Location of restroom facilitie s
c.Parking plan
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series)
Attachment 1 0
Safe Parking Pilot Program
Page 3
d . Any lighting or security facilitie s
16.Program participants shall possess a current driver's license, vehicle registration, an d
insurance for the vehicle that will be parked in the designated space . CAPSLO shall keep a
copy of all three on record .
17.CAPSLO shall provide a recognizable parking permit for vehicles registered in the program .
This will assist CAPSLO staff and police officers to recognize vehicles which are authorize d
to participate in the program .
18.Utilities such as water, electricity or gas shall not be connected with RVs or other vehicles .
19.Vehicles may only be occupied by .clients and approved registered household members .
Guests shall not be allowed .
20.Program participants and all household members who will be staying in vehicle must sign a n
indemnification and waiver indemnifying and waiving all claims or causes of action agains t
the City, including relocation benefits . The City will provide a standard indemnification an d
waiver form.
21.Program participants shall keep barking dogs in their vehicles and dogs demonstrating
aggressive behavior shall not be permitted to be maintained on City property . Pets shall b e
kept on a leash at all times on the property . Animal waste shall be picked up immediatel y
and disposed of properly .
22.Program participants shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules an d
regulations .
23.Failure of program participants to follow all program rules will result in termination fro m
the program .
24.Program rules shall be distributed to all program participants .
Section 3 . Suspension of Municipal Code Enforcement .In order to facilitate the
operation of the pilot program, the City Council hereby suspends enforcement of Section 17 .16 .01 5
of the City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code prohibiting the use of a recreational vehicles as a
dwelling unit as it applies to the City property located at 43 Prado Road, as shown in Exhibit A .
Enforcement of Section 17 .16 .015 on this property shall be suspended only for such time period a s
the pilot program is authorized by the City to operate and enforcement shall resume at such time a s
the pilot program is terminated .
Section 4 . City Manager Authority .The City Manager is authorized to act on behalf o f
the City in executing any necessary agreements or other related actions to implement the safe
parking pilot program at the Prado Day Center .
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series)
Attachment 1 0
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 4
On motion of , seconded by , and on the
following roll call vote :
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 20 th day of March, 2012 .
Mayor Jan Marx
ATTEST:
Elaina Cano, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM :
Christine Dietrick, City Attorney
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series)
Attachment 1 0
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 5
Exhibit A
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL REMOVING A PORTION OF 43 PRAD O
ROAD FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF MC 17 .16 .015 AND AUTHORIZING A
SAFE PARKING PILOT PROGRAM AT PRADO DAY CENTE R
(43 PRADO ROAD )
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a public hearing i n
the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, on March 20 ,
2012, for the purpose of considering a safe parking pilot program to allow overnight sleeping i n
vehicles at the Prado Day Center at 43 Prado Road ; and
WHEREAS, the City's Municipal Code, 17 .16 .015 prohibits sleeping in vehicles except i n
lawfully operated mobile home parks, travel trailer parks, or campgrounds ; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing community need to accommodate people sleeping i n
vehicles overnight within the City on a temporary basis while they transition to permanent housing ;
and
WHEREAS, CAPSLO has requested to establish a safe parking pilot program at the Prad o
Day Center ; and
WHEREAS, the established homeless services program and facilities at the Prado Da y
Center is an appropriate location for a temporary pilot program to accommodate people sleeping i n
vehicles overnight ; an d
WHEREAS, the City Council has duly considered all evidence, including the testimony o f
the applicant, interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendations by staff, presented at sai d
hearing .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Lui s
Obispo as follows :
Section 1 . Findings .Based upon all the evidence, the City Council makes the followin g
findings :
1.A safe parking pilot program advances a key component of the goal to provide a form o f
transitional housing consistent with the San Luis Obispo Countywide 10-year Plan to En d
Homelessness .
2.There is a growing community need for a safe parking pilot program for those looking for a
safe place to temporarily sleep in their vehicles while they transition to permanent housing .
3.A pilot program will allow CAPSLO and the City to document the success of the progra m
prior to deciding on whether to move forward with a long-term City-wide program .
4.As conditioned, a safe parking pilot program within the parking area for the Prado Da y
Center, as show on Exhibit A, is a logical addition to the homeless services currently
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series )
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 2
provided and managed by CAPSLO .
Section 2 . Conditions .The City Council hereby authorizes the Prado Day Center to operat e
a safe parking pilot program at 43 Prado Road in the location specified in Exhibit A and subject t o
the following conditions :
1 . The pilot program shall be valid only for the Prado Day Center parking area located at 4 3
Prado Road and only as shown on attached Exhibit A .
2 . The pilot program shall be valid for a six month period from the date of progra m
implementation .
3 . The number of vehicles allowed to participate in the pilot program shall be limited to
4 . Pilot program participants must be enrolled in programs and paired with a case manager .
5 . Restroom facilities shall be provided .
6 . No drugs or alcohol may be contained in program vehicles or consumed on City property .
7 . No firearms of any kind may be contained in program vehicles or on City property .
8 . No music may be played that is audible outside vehicles .
9 . No cooking or food preparation shall be performed outside of the participant's vehicle .
10 . Camping tarps or equipment beyond the top of the vehicle is prohibited .
11 . Only one vehicle is allowed per participant or household at the site .
12 . A monitoring and oversight program shall be provided to the City prior to commencemen t
of the pilot program .
13 . Provide program hours .
14 . Provide a site plan with the following information :
a.Location of trash and recycling bin s
b.Location of restroom facilitie s
c.Parking plan
d.Any lighting or security facilitie s
15 . Program participants shall possess a current driver's license, vehicle registration, and
insurance for the vehicle that will be parked in the designated space . CAPSLO shall keep a
copy of all three on record .
16 . CAPSLO shall provide a recognizable parking permit for vehicles registered in the program .
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series )
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 3
This will assist CAPSLO staff and police officers recognize vehicles which are authorized t o
participate in the program .
17.Utilities such as water, electricity or gas shall not be connected with RV's or other vehicles .
18.Vehicles may only be occupied by clients and approved registered household members .
Guests shall not be allowed .
19.Program participants and all household members who will be staying in vehicle must sign a n
indemnification and waiver indemnifying and waiving all rights against the City . The City
will provide a standard indemnification form .
20.Program participants shall keep barking or aggressive dogs in their vehicles . Pets shall be
kept on a leash at all times on the property . Animal waste shall be picked up immediatel y
and disposed of properly .
21.Program participants shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules an d
regulations .
22.Failure of program participants to follow all program rules will result in termination fro m
the program .
23.Program rules shall be distributed to all program participants .
Section 3 . City Manager Authority .The City Manager is authorized to act on behalf of th e
City in executing any necessary agreements or other related actions to implement the safe parkin g
pilot program at the Prado Day Center .
On motion of , seconded by , and on the
following roll call vote :
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
B l -40
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series )
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 4
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 20 th day of March, 2012 .
Mayor Jan Mar x
ATTEST :
Elaina Cano, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM :
/S/ Christine Dietric k
Christine Dietrick, City Attorney
City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series )
Safe Parking Pilot Progra m
Page 5
Exhibit A
B1 -42