Should the City Council identify locations for managed safe recreational vehicle (RV) parking on city-owned land, develop a three-month “Grace Period” Permit program, and request that the State Lands Commission permit a temporary safe parking site at the Berkeley Waterfront?

At its July 23, 2019 regular meeting, the City Council will consider whether to:
 

1. Direct the City Manager to identify one or more locations on city-owned land, including at the Berkeley Waterfront, for the establishment of a managed safe RV parking site for individuals currently sheltering in an RV or oversized vehicle on the public right-of-way in the City of Berkeley. The site(s) shall be available specifically for individuals identified through outreach as meeting the priority populations criteria designated by City Council in its March 26, 2019 action and are therefore eligible for the city’s three-month Grace Period Permit Program.

A three-month Grace Period Permit (with possibility for renewal under limited specified circumstances) will be offered on a one-time basis to existing Berkeley RV dwellers who meet the priority populations criteria adopted by Council on March 26, 2019. The three-month Grace Period Permit will allow RV dwellers to park in a designated off-street safe location within City limits. As adopted and specified on March 26th, a safe parking location should be provided to priority populations prior to enforcement of RV parking regulations under Ordinance No. 7,643-N.S. (BMC Section 14.40.120) and shall include services to ensure health and safety, including sanitation services.

2. Once locations are identified, the City Manager should report back to the City Council on proposed locations and a proposed program model for the three-month Grace Period Permit program including a non-profit operator, service model, security measures, and sanitary facilities such as portable restrooms and hand-washing stations. The Council may at that time express its intent to allocate additional funding through Measure P tax receipts or other General Fund revenues to establish a long-term safe parking program for individuals who meet priority populations criteria and who have not previously received a three-month Grace Period Permit.

Program participants should be actively engaged with rehousing and other services. , and their stay will be short-term while they are seeking permanent housing and/or  a long-term off-street location to which they can relocate, such as an RV park.

3. The City Manager should explore all possible locations on city-owned land, including all vacant or partially-occupied city properties, “dead-end” streets, and the Berkeley Waterfront.

4. Direct the City Manager to submit a formal request to the California State Lands Commission for permission to establish a temporary safe parking location on City land at the Berkeley Waterfront based on the City of Berkeley’s declaration of a Homeless Shelter Crisis.
 

To read the full agenda item, see Item 39 on the July 23, 2019 agenda page.
 

The Council, whose Agenda & Rules Committee selected this topic, would like to hear from you.  How would you like them to decide, and what would you like them to consider?