HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2511-5393CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, January 12, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
D.Surplus Property Donated by the City to Nonprofit Agencies; CEQA Status: Not a Project
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Meeting Date: January 12, 2026
Report #:2511-5393
TITLE
Surplus Property Donated by the City to Nonprofit Agencies; CEQA Status: Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
This item is an informational report, and no Council action is required.
DISCUISSION
Section 2.31.010 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) allows for the donation of unusable or
obsolete City property and equipment to nonprofit or other organizations and to provide a
report on such donations. The following are excerpts from the PAMC:
(b) Property with No Commercial Value. The city manager may authorize the
abandonment, destruction or donation to public bodies, charitable, civic or nonprofit
organizations, of city property which has no commercial value or of which the estimated
cost of continued care, handling, maintenance or storage would exceed the estimated
proceeds of sale. Such determination shall be made in writing and countersigned by the
director of administrative services.
(c) Donations to Nonprofit Support Organizations. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this chapter, the city manager may adopt policies and procedures
authorizing the donation of surplus property that is no longer suitable for use by the city
to nonprofit organizations that are formed for the purpose of supporting city programs.
The city's donation of surplus property shall be contingent on a written agreement that
any profits from the sale of such items shall be used for the purchase of equipment,
books or capital expenses related to the program supported by the nonprofit
organization.
(d) Annual Report to Council. The city manager shall identify all property donated to
nonprofit agencies pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) above. In January of each year, the
city manager shall provide a report to the city council that includes an inventory of the
items donated by the city and all contributions made to the city from nonprofit
Tabel 1: Donations to Nonprofit Agencies in Calendar Year 2025
Date of
Donation
Estimated Value Recipient organization Description of the
item(s) donated
9/27/2025 N/A: Exceeded useful
life
Oaxaca Bomberos via
Neighbors Abroad
Expired Personal
Protective Equipment
and some small tools
7/2/2025 N/A: Exceeded useful
life
Boulder Creek Fire
Department
Expired Personal
Protective Equipment
and some small tools
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The donated items are accomplished with existing staff in city departments. No other resource
impacts are identified with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This report is for informational purposes only with no action required by the Council and therefore it is
not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Administrative Services Department collaborated with City departments to prepare the
donation information contained in this report.
APPROVED BY:
Lauren Lai, Administrative Services Director