CC Resolution 2019-016 Surplus Property & Equip PolicyRESOLUTION NO. 2019 - 016
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A
SURPLUS PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT POLICY
WHEREAS, purchasing, contracting, grant acceptance, and disposal
policies provide a guideline to City employees for the purchase and acceptance
of goods, services and funds used to supplement city operations, and for the
disposal of goods that are no longer needed or unusable; and
WHEREAS, purchasing, contracting, grant acceptance, and disposal
policies provide transparency and consistency; and
WHEREAS, purchasing, contracting, grant acceptance and disposal
policies enable the Finance Department and the City Manager to maintain a
system of financial controls for the efficient use, expenditure and disposal of
public funds and property; and
WHEREAS, the ability to sell, auction, donate, properly dispose or
transfer surplus property that is no longer in use by the City of La Quinta is
an act that is taken solely for the common benefit of the City and its citizenry;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the City’s Surplus Property and
Equipment Policy on October 6, 2015 via Resolution No. 2015-046, which is
hereby repealed and superseded by this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of La Quinta, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Resolution No. 2015-046 adopted on October 6, 2015 is
hereby repealed and this Resolution supersedes all prior Surplus Property and
Equipment Policy Resolutions adopted by the City Council.
SECTION 2. The Surplus Supplies and Equipment Policy attached hereto
as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference shall govern the disposition
of the City’s surplus property (excluding real property) in a manner that is for
the common benefit, whether it be through transfer, sale, auction, disposal,
or donation.
SECTION 3. This Policy, as applicable, shall constitute the procedures
and rules governing the disposal of all of the City’s non-real, surplus property
pursuant to Chapter 3.12 of the La Quinta Municipal Code.
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 3 of 8
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA
SURPLUS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT POLICY
SECTION I. Purpose.
To set forth the City of La Quinta’s administrative policy for the transfer and
disposition of surplus personal property, equipment and materials, pursuant
to the power granted onto the City Council pursuant to Article 1 of the Charter
of the City of La Quinta, and Chapter 3.12 of the La Quinta Municipal Code.
SECTION II. Definitions.
(1) The term “City” means the City of La Quinta.
(2) The term “nonprofit organization” means any charitable organization
exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue
Code, or successor statute.
(3) The term “public agency” means the United States or the State of
California or any agency or subdivision thereof, including any city, county,
special district, or school district.
(4) The term “surplus property” as used herein is used generically to
describe any City personal property, equipment or material that is no
longer needed or usable by the holding department. For purposes of this
policy, all surplus property including scrap, recyclables, trash, and/or junk
disposed, discarded or abandoned on City premises, including all surplus
property placed in storage or collection containers of any kind, is hereby
deemed to be City property and not property of any City employee.
“Surplus property” does not include real property or any interest in real
property.
(5) The terms “scrapping” and “recycling” as used herein refer to the act of
transferring discarded surplus property, including scrap or recyclables, to
a vendor for use, salvage or resale.
(6) The terms “scrap” or “recyclables” as used herein refer to surplus
property that (a) may be reused “as is” or after repair, or (b) may be
salvaged for its mineral value after treatment or processing.
(7) The term “trash” or “junk” as used herein refers to surplus property
which has no practical salvage or recyclable value.
EXHIBIT A
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 4 of 8
SECTION III. Methods of Transfer and Disposition.
All surplus property is disposed of “as is” and “where is,” with no warranty,
guarantee, or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the
condition, utility or usability of the property offered unless expressly
authorized by the City Council.
(1) Transfer to Another Department. Surplus property may be transferred
between City departments. All surplus property will first be considered for
transfer for the benefit of the city.
(2) Trade-In. Property declared as surplus may be offered as a trade-in for
credit toward the acquisition of new property.
(3) Return to Manufacturer. Surplus property may, when possible, be
returned to the manufacturer for buy-back credit.
(4) Donation. Surplus property may be donated or sold at less than
estimated value to any public agency or nonprofit organization.
(5) Sale and Disposal. Appropriate methods of sale and disposal are as
follows:
(a) Auction. Surplus property may be sold at public auction. Auctions
may be conducted by City staff, or the City may contract with a
professional auctioneer or electronic auction site.
(b) Sealed Bids. Sealed bids may be solicited for the sale of surplus
property. Surplus property disposed of in this manner shall be sold
to the highest responsible bidder, and the procedure for soliciting
and awarding by sealed bid shall follow the procedure for bidding
public works contracts as established by the City Council.
(c) Scrapping. Surplus property may be sold, auctioned, recycled,
donated, or discarded as scrap if the value of the surplus property’s
parts exceeds the value of the surplus property as a whole.
(d) No Value Item. Where the property is of minimal or no value to
the City due to spoilage, obsolescence or similar reason, or where
the cost of disposal of such surplus property would exceed the
recovery value, the surplus property may be sold or disposed in
such a manner as appropriate and in the best interest of the City.
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 5 of 8
SECTION IV. Procedures.
Consistent with California Government Code Section 37350, the City Council
sets forth the policy of the City for disposal or destruction of surplus property.
(1) City Council- and City Manager-Directed Transfers and Dispositions.
Transfers and dispositions of surplus property. Consistent with the methods
in Section III above, are hereby authorized according to the following:
(a) Property with an Estimated Market Value Exceeding $500. Once a
department head has identified surplus property, the transfer or
disposition of surplus property with an estimated market value
exceeding $500 per item shall be determined by the City Council
pursuant to a specific agenda item on an agenda for a regular or
special City Council meeting.
(b) Property with an Estimated Market Value of $500 or Less. Once a
department head has identified surplus property, the City Manager
may direct the transfer and disposition of such surplus property with
an estimated market value of $500 or less per item.
(2) Identifying and Valuing Surplus Property. Each department head is
responsible to identify surplus property regularly.
(a) Each department head will evaluate the operational status of the
surplus property and notify the Finance Director or their designee
in writing.
(b) The Finance Director or their designee will circulate the surplus
property notification between the other departments within the
City.
(c) The department head from which the surplus property originates
will determine the estimated market value of the surplus property
and recommend the most fiscally advantageous method of disposal.
(d) In determining the estimated market value, the department head
shall document the methods used to make such determination
including tools such as Kelly Blue Book, classified advertisements,
and vendors in the United States with similar products available.
(e) The estimated market value will consider a computation of
expenses associated with the disposal of surplus property. These
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 6 of 8
expenses may include advertising, auction costs, storage and
other costs.
(3) Accounting for the Disposition of Surplus Property. It is critical to maintain
all documentation for audit purposes regarding the disposition of surplus
property.
(a) Notice to Finance Director. Notification will be provided to the
Finance Director in writing of any transfer or disposal of surplus
property to a different location or department.
(b) Proceeds from Transfer and Disposition of Property. When so
authorized to transfer, sell, dispose, donate, recycle, or scrap
surplus property by the City Council or the City Manager pursuant
to this policy, the employee directed to undertake such activity shall
remit the entire proceeds from any such activity to the Finance
Director by check or money order made payable to the City of La
Quinta, and shall be deposited into the general fund or, if required
by law, deposited into a special purpose fund, of the City.
(c) Notification and Documentation. The department head will notify
the Finance Department in writing of the disposition of all surplus
property and attach all supporting documentation, including the
records required by this policy.
(d) Transfer of Ownership and Title. Delivery of the surplus property
together with transfer of ownership and title passes upon receipt of
the proceeds. The Finance Director shall cause licenses and title
documents to be executed and transferred upon verification of
receipt of funds.
(e) Inventory Adjustment. The Finance Department shall make
adjustments to the City’s inventories/assets lists showing the
disposition of surplus property.
(f) Recordkeeping. Copies of all records documenting the surplus
property process will be kept on file with the Finance Department
for so long as records are to be maintained by the City’s records
retention policy and by applicable law.
(4) Personal Scrapping, Recycling or Disposal of Trash or Junk (Unauthorized).
It is the policy of the City that no employee may engage in any sale,
scrapping or recycling or other transfer or disposal of surplus property,
unless specifically directed to engage in such activity by the City Council or
the City Manager who have been lawfully and duly authorized and
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 7 of 8
designated to direct such activity pursuant to this policy. Transferring,
selling, donating, scrapping, recycling or disposing of surplus property,
regardless of monetary value, by City employees for personal gain or to
benefit the interest of any person or party other than the City, is strictly
forbidden.
(5) Surplus Property and Employees. City officials and employees shall be
allowed to be the purchasers or direct recipients of any surplus property of
the City, on the condition that they acquire the surplus property according
to this Policy. Furthermore, when attempting to acquire surplus property,
City officials and employees must be treated the same as the general
citizenry and are therefore subject to all of the same notice, value, and
accounting requirements as set forth in this Policy.
(6) Exceptions. Any exceptions to this policy will only be made at the direction
of the City Manager; provided, however, that no exception may be made
concerning the transfer or disposition of surplus property exceeding $500
in estimated market value per item without the approval of the City Council.
SECTION V. Disciplinary Action(s).
Appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination, will be taken
if an employee is found, through proper investigation and application of
appropriate process, to:
(1) Have failed to promptly remit to persons officially designated to receive
proceeds, including cash or other consideration, from the sale of surplus
property;
(2) Have failed, in the performance of their duties, to promptly place in
appropriate City containers, bins, dumpsters, or other collection facilities,
equipment or containers, or have received, taken, given away, collected,
stored or retained in other than appropriate City containers, bins, or
collection facilities, or dump sites, City scrap, recyclables, trash or any such
surplus property belonging to City tenants;
(3) Have engaged in selling, scrapping, recycling or handling of surplus
property in violation of this policy or the procedures set forth herein,
including having engaged in any such activity for their personal interest or
gain, or in aid of others doing the same for their respective interest or gain;
(4) Have used City vehicles, facilities or equipment to collect, store, or
transport surplus property to sites, locations, or facilities, including the
facilities of scrap vendors or recycling centers, except as specifically
directed by the authorized City Manager, in accordance with this policy and
the procedures set forth herein; or
Resolution No. 2019–016
Surplus Property and Equipment Policy
Adopted: June 4, 2019
Page 8 of 8
(5) Have failed to notify his/her department director in a prompt and timely
manner after having observed any individual engaging in any of the above-
described act(s) or having learned that such act(s) were being committed
by other City employees.
SECTION VI. Policy Review.
The Finance Director shall review this Policy at a minimum of every five (5)
years and recommend any changes to the City Manager and City Council.