HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8470
City of Palo Alto (ID # 8470)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 10/23/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Donation of a Surplus Fire Engine to Oaxaca, Mexico
Title: Adoption of a Resolution Donating a Surplus Fire Engine to our Sister
City, Oaxaca, Mexico and Accepting $5,000 From Neighbors Abroad as the
Purchase Price of the Fire Truck
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Fire
Recommended Motion
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution accepting $5,000 from
Neighbors Abroad as the purchase price for a surplus fire engine that will be transferred
to the Sister City of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Background
Neighbors Abroad, a volunteer community organization operating under the auspices of
the City of Palo Alto, directs the activities of Palo Alto’s officially recognized Sister Cities
Program. Its purpose is to promote international and intercultural understanding.
Neighbors Abroad was founded on January 18, 1963 after the Palo Alto City Council
initiated a Sister City organization in concert with President Eisenhower’s Town
Affiliation Program. Neighbors Abroad has received recognition from the United Nations
and was given the Tall Tree Award from the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce for
Outstanding Community Organization. It has also received awards from Sister Cities
International for several of its programs, including the 25th Anniversary Celebration, the
Observatory and Planetarium in Oaxaca, a Reforestation Program in Oaxaca, and the
Vocational Resource Center in Palo Alto.
Oaxaca became a sister city in 1964. Summer exchanges by groups of high school
students have been a longtime tradition, along with periodic visits by groups of Palo
Altans organized by Neighbors Abroad.
On several occasions, the City of Palo Alto has contributed surplus fire equipment to
Oaxaca and provided training for its firefighters.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Discussion
The fire engine that is recommended to be donated to Oaxaca, Mexico is a 1991 Pierce
fire engine. This unit has 130,212 miles and is no longer of any use to the Palo Alto Fire
Department due to its age and increased maintenance costs.
The Fire Department recently purchased a new Pierce fire engine to add to the fleet of
fire apparatus replacing the 1991 Pierce fire engine described above. This most recent
fire engine purchase completed the Department’s goal of having identical engines for
the Palo Alto Fire Department to serve the community of Palo Alto.
Staff estimates the value of the 1991 Pierce fire engine at approximately $35,000.
Neighbors Abroad offered $5,000 towards the purchase price and requests that Council
waive the remaining $30,000 of the salvage value as part of the donation to the Sister
City of Oaxaca.
Resource Impact
The 1991 fire engine has a salvage value of $35,000. Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto has
extended an offer of $5,000 for the purchase of the 1991 Pierce fire engine. Neighbors
Abroad requests that the City make an in-kind donation contribution of the remaining
salvage value of $30,000.
Policy Implications
This donation is consistent with the existing City policies and furthers international and
intercultural understanding.
Attachments:
Original Title for Unit #6116 (1991 Pierce)
Resolution
Attachments:
Attachment A: 6116 orig Title
Attachment B: Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. ____
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO DONATING SURPLUS FIRE EQUIPMENT TO
OAXACA, MEXICO
WHEREAS, the Council did in 1964, establish a sister city affiliation with Oaxaca,
Mexico; and
WHEREAS, 2017 marks the 53nd anniversary of the sister city relationship between City
of Palo Alto and Oaxaca, Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the Council desires to continue to serve the community interests of
international and intercultural understanding; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Department has a surplus fire engine; and
WHEREAS, Neighbors Abroad is a volunteer organization that maintains and carries out
the activities of the City of Palo Alto’s officially recognized Sister City Program; and
WHEREAS, Neighbors Abroad has collaborated with the Fire Department to donate this
surplus fire engine to Oaxaca, Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the surplus fire engine would serve the Fire Department of Oaxaca, Mexico;
and
WHEREAS, the Palo Alto Fire Department has communicated with the Fire Chief of
Oaxaca and has confirmed the desire to accept the surplus fire engine; and
WHEREAS, Neighbors Abroad has agreed to coordinate the transfer of said surplus fire
engine; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 37110 authorizes a city to spend money for
promotion of sister city and town affiliation programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. To authorize the City Manager to cause the donation and transfer of the
surplus fire engine to the City of Palo Alto’s Sister City of Oaxaca, Mexico.
SECTION 2. To authorize the Fire Chief of Palo Alto to coordinate with the Fire Chief
of Oaxaca, Mexico, and the Palo Alto Neighbors Abroad for the delivery of the surplus fire
engine.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES;
NOES;
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
___________________________________ ____________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________________
City Manager
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Chief Asst. City Attorney Fire Chief