Newsbriefs - Summer 2026

The East Palo Alto City Council is shown in the city council chambers during its June 16, 2026 meeting. 

East Palo Alto Council debates new meeting conduct rules 

The East Palo Alto City Council debated a proposed resolution that would establish formal procedures for handling disruptions, public comment, and meeting conduct during council meetings. 

The proposal was presented by the city attorney’s office in response to Senate Bill 707, a state law requiring public agencies to adopt policies addressing disruptions at public meetings. City staff said the proposed changes were intended primarily to clarify existing practices and ensure compliance with state law. 

Under the proposal, public comment would generally remain limited to two minutes per speaker, with the possibility of reducing comments to one minute when more than 20 speakers are present. The proposal would also allow the meeting chair to alternate between in-person and remote speakers and establish procedures for responding to disruptions both in council chambers and online. 

The measure included restrictions on signs and props that obstruct views, block exits, use poles, or otherwise create disruptions. Staff emphasized that signs would still be permitted as long as they could be held by one person and did not interfere with the meeting. 

The proposal also outlined a formal process for removing disruptive participants. Individuals could only be removed after receiving a warning and continuing behavior that prevents the council from conducting business. Similar procedures would apply to remote participants. 

Several residents spoke against the proposal, arguing that it could restrict First Amendment rights and discourage public protest. Speakers contended that peaceful dissent and visible displays of disagreement are important forms of civic participation and warned a g a i n s t policies that could be used to silence criticism of government actions. 

Other residents supported the measure, saying clear rules are necessary to maintain order and allow meetings to proceed efficiently. One speaker suggested automatically muting microphones when speakers exceed their allotted time. 

Council members expressed differing views. Some said the proposal simply formalized existing practices and provided clear guidelines for handling disruptions, while others raised concerns about codifying additional restrictions beyond what is required by state law. 

Following discussion, a motion to adopt the resolution failed, with council members indicating that the item may return in the future, potentially separated into state-required provisions and additional local conduct policies. 

Read more about this discussion in the EPA Today editorial and Letters to the Editor section on page 4 of this issue 

Early results in on new Parking Enforcement Program 

At its June 16, 2026 meeting, East Palo Alto officials reported strong early compliance with the city’s new parking enforcement program during a City Council update on June 16, 2026

Dedicated parking enforcement began April 15 following a two-week warning period that included outreach in multiple languages and the issuance of warning notices. City officials said the program is focused on abandoned vehicles, street-sweeping violations, blocked driveways, handicap access violations, and other parking complaints. 

According to enforcement staff, 165 abandoned-vehicle tags have been issued since enforcement began, but only four vehicles ultimately required towing. Officials said the results indicate a compliance rate of 97.6 percent, as most vehicle owners moved their vehicles before they became eligible for tow. 

Council members discussed concerns about abandoned trailers, oversized vehicles, expired registrations, and parking congestion in residential neighborhoods. Officials also provided an update on the city’s residential permit parking initiative, which will include parking utilization studies, community outreach, and future City Council review before any permit parking zones are established. 

Staff said future goals include improving response times, increasing proactive patrols, strengthening public education efforts, and evaluating additional enforcement resources as demand grows. 

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