Redwood City Municipal Code § 20.243 Definitions

A. Purpose and Intent. The Temporary Safe Parking Program provides homeless individuals and families a safe place to temporarily park overnight in order to facilitate the transition to permanent housing. The provisions set forth in this Article enable operation of the Temporary Safe Parking Program, subject to specific performance standards and procedures. These standards and procedures are intended to ensure that the parking lot used for Temporary Safe Parking Programs will be safe, compatible with surrounding uses and effective at facilitating participants' transition to permanent housing.

(Ord. No. 2497, § 3, 5-24-21)

The following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:

CASE MANAGEMENT shall mean a system for arranging and coordinating care and services whereby a case manager assesses the needs of the Program Participants and arranges, coordinates, monitors, and advocates for services to meet the Program Participant's needs.

PARKING SITE shall mean the off-street parking lot located at 1402 Maple Street, Redwood City that is currently used for the Temporary Safe Parking Program. The term "Parking Site" shall also include any other off-street parking lot that may be used for the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

PROGRAM PARTICIPANT shall mean an individual who is approved to participate in the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE or RV shall mean any vehicle or trailer which is designed for human habitation or occupancy or designed and used for recreational camping or travel use, whether self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle, or any structure inspected, approved and designated as a recreational vehicle by and bearing the insignia of the State of California or any other State or Federal agency having the authority to approve recreational vehicles and shall include the following:

a. A camp trailer (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 242);

b. A fifth wheel travel trailer (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 324);

c. A house car (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 362);

d. A trailer (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 630);

e. A trailer coach (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 635);

f. A mobile home (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 396);

g. A park trailer (as defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 18009.3);

h. A recreational vehicle (as defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 18010); and

i. A truck camper (as defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 18013.4).

RV SAFE PARKING PERMIT shall mean a permit to park the RV, which is issued to a Program Participant as part of the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER shall mean LifeMoves, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has contracted with the City to manage the Temporary Safe Parking Program. The term "Social Service Provider" shall also include any other agency or organization licensed or supervised by any Federal, State or local health/welfare agency that has contracted with the City and has demonstrated experience with the homeless population by assisting individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency and self-determination through a comprehensive array of programs and actions.

TEMPORARY SAFE PARKING PROGRAM shall mean the two-year Temporary Recreational Vehicle (RV) Safe Parking Program approved by the Redwood City Council via Resolution No. 15881 on August 24, 2020, as may be amended from time to time, which creates among other things, a Parking Site for temporary parking. The "Temporary Safe Parking Program" shall not be considered "Emergency Shelter" pursuant to Zoning Code Section 25.8.S.

(Ord. No. 2497, § 3, 5-24-21)

The Temporary Safe Parking Program shall meet the following standards and procedures:

1. Program Participant Requirements. Program Participants shall meet all of the following requirements while participating in the Temporary Safe Parking Program:

a. At least one (1) member of the household of the Program Participant must have a valid driver's license;

b. Agree to engage in efforts to find permanent housing and participate in Case Management with the Social Service Provider;

c. Comply with any Parking Site rules and regulations as may be established by the Social Service Provider from time to time;

d. Comply with all parking laws and regulations of the City;

e. Visibly display the RV Safe Parking Permit in their Recreational Vehicle at all times;

f. Use a proper dumping facility for all disposal of stored sewage waste and to properly dispose of garbage;

g. Keep area around Recreational Vehicle clean and free of garbage/debris and refrain from storing belongings outside of the Recreational Vehicle;

h. All Program Participants shall not be a registered sex offender; and

i. All Program Participants shall not be convicted as a violent felon in the two (2) years prior to application filed to participate in Temporary Safe Parking Program and at all times during participation in the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

2. Recreational Vehicle Requirements. All Recreational Vehicles in the Temporary Safe Parking Program shall meet all of the following requirements:

a. Be owned or leased by one (1) or more of the Program Participants;

b. Recreational Vehicles must be in an operable condition so that the Recreational Vehicle is able to drive in a legal manner; and

c. Have evidence of current valid vehicle registration and minimum California insurance requirements.

3. Performance Standards and Procedures for the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

a. The Temporary Safe Parking Program shall be managed by a qualified Social Service Provider, subject to the approval of the City;

b. The Social Service Provider must provide Case Management to facilitate the transition to permanent housing and assist Program Participants in seeking social services, employment assistance and permanent housing;

c. The Social Service Provider may establish, from time to time, rules and regulations relating to the operation of the Temporary Safe Parking Program;

d. The Social Service Provider must screen prospective participants to ensure that all of the requirements set forth in this Section and the Temporary Safe Parking Program are satisfied:

i. Applicants for the Temporary Safe Parking Program will need to participate in an interview(s) for initial screening and verification of eligibility by the Social Service Provider who shall make recommendations regarding eligibility to the City's Homeless Services Manager. Applicants unable to meet the Temporary Safe Parking Program criteria may be recommended for a provisional RV Safe Parking Permit while an applicant works on resolving any barrier(s) to meeting program criteria.

ii. Final approval for participation in the Temporary Safe Parking Program will be determined by City's Homeless Services Manager.

iii. If approved, the Program Participant will be issued an RV Safe Parking Permit and may be assigned a parking space at the Parking Site. Program Participants may be asked to rotate between the Parking Site and on-street portions of the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

e. Approval for participation in the Temporary Safe Parking Program is for a thirty-day period, which may be renewed for additional periods of thirty (30) days, so long as the Program Participant is in compliance with the Temporary Safe Parking Program and the Social Service Provider rules and regulations at all times, up to a maximum time period of one (1) year duration in the Temporary Safe Parking Program; and

f. A Program Participant's failure to comply with Temporary Safe Parking Program requirements and rules and regulations may result in a revocation of the RV Safe Parking Permit.

4. Privacy, Fire and Life Safety Standards and Procedures.

a. The Parking Site will have designated parking spaces for the Program Participants' RV and each Program Participant authorized to park a vehicle at the Parking Site shall be assigned at least one (1) parking space;

b. Each RV shall be spaced at least twelve (12) feet from any other RV on the Parking Site;

c. The Social Service Provider shall have a representative present at the Parking Site at all times (24/7);

d. Only authorized Program Participants and their authorized guests, staff of the Social Service Provider or City staff may be present at the Parking Site at all times;

e. Fencing will surround the perimeter of the Parking Site with gates for pedestrian and vehicle ingress and egress;

f. Any hazardous material, such as gasoline, stored on the Parking Site shall be stored outside of a Program Participants' RV in an appropriate container approved by the City;

g. A minimum of four (4) fire extinguishers be kept on the Parking Site in an area visible and accessible to all people on the Parking Site; and

h. Overhead lighting shall be provided at the Parking Site.

5. Operational Standards and Procedures.

a. On-site garbage and recyclable disposal containers shall be provided. On-site collection of recyclables and garbage shall be performed at least three (3) times a week or more frequently, as necessary;

b. Temporary toilets and hand washing stations shall be provided at the Parking Site;

c. Vouchers for waste water disposal and water refill shall be provided to Program Participants; and

d. There shall be no fee to Program Participants to participate in the Temporary Safe Parking Program.

(Ord. No. 2497, § 3, 5-24-21)