HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6866
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6866)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 5/9/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Donation of a Surplus Ambulance to Oaxaca, Mexico
Title: Approval of the Donation of a Surplus Ambulance to Oaxaca, Mexico
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Fire
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution donating a surplus ambulance to
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.
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. The City of Palo Alto has contributed surplus fire equipment to Oaxaca and
provided training for its firefighters. The Fire Department will soon have a surplus ambulance
that is no longer used by the Fire Department as it has exceeded its useful life.
Discussion
The Fire Department recently purchased two new Leader ambulances to add to the fleet of fire
apparatus. This will provide 6 nearly identical ambulances for the Palo Alto Fire Department to
deliver services to the citizens of Palo Alto. We anticipate taking possession of the new
ambulances in spring 2016.
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The 2003 Ford F-450 ambulance with about 155,000 miles on it is being removed from reserve
status and reduced from the City fleet. Although beyond its useful life for the City of Palo Alto,
this ambulance would be of great benefit to the city of Oaxaca. Neighbors Abroad have agreed
to coordinate the delivery of the ambulance to Oaxaca.
Timeline
After Council’s approval of the resolution and the receipt of the replacement ambulances,
Neighbors Abroad will support the transportation of the vehicle to the Mexico/United States
border where the balance of the transportation will be provided by the State of Oaxaca. The
goal is to transfer the vehicle in time for a May 2016 delivery.
Resource Impact
The ambulance has a salvage value of $10,000. Neighbors Abroad asks the City to make an in-
kind contribution of $7,000 toward the salvage value, Neighbors Abroad will make a $2,000
donation to the City for the benefit of Oaxaca and the State of Oaxaca will purchase the vehicle
for the net of $1,000.
Policy Implication
This donation is consistent with existing City policies and furthers international and intercultural
understanding.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Oaxaca Ambulance (PDF)
Attachment B: Oaxaca Engine Donation Resolution (DOC)
Attachment B
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RESOLUTION NO. ____
RESOLTUION 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, 2016 marks the 52nd 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 ambulance; 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 ambulance to Oaxaca, Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the surplus ambulance 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 ambulance; and
WHEREAS, Neighbors Abroad has agreed to coordinated the transfer of said ambulance;
and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 3711.0 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 ambulance 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
ambulance.
Attachment B
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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
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Senior Asst. City Attorney Fire Chief