Special Notice / Hearing: N/A
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Distribution of Surplus Safety Equipment to Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Manager, or designee(s), to distribute to nonprofit organizations and government agencies surplus safety equipment and to implement appropriate procedures, and to execute agreements with recipient organizations and agencies, to effectuate the distribution.
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BACKGROUND:
During the supply shortages that existed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the County purchased a range of safety equipment and cleaning supplies for potential use by hospital staff, first responders, and other front-line workers. The safety equipment includes primarily non-medical-grade isolation gowns, sterile gowns, face shields, and goggles, while the cleaning supplies include bleach, mop buckets, and mop handles.
Over the course of the past two years, the global supply of hospital-grade equipment and the demands of the pandemic response have evolved, and the County Manager has determined these supplies, which are currently stored at the San Mateo County Event Center, are surplus. The County has sufficient medical-grade supplies for hospital staff and other front-line workers and when the County offered the above-referenced supplies to local entities, including hospitals, schools, and businesses, none accepted at that time. The County Manager has estimated that the value of these supplies is approximately $7.7million.
Wine Country Marines is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that, among other things, has strong competence in identifying and helping to address the supply-related needs of other nonprofit organizations and government agencies throughout the region, State, and Nation. Wine County Marines has partnered with the County to use its extensive network to help identify nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies that can make appropriate use of the surplus supplies in furtherance of their respective missions. Subject to Board approval, County staff intends to work with Wine Country Marines and other appropriate organizations to distribute the surplus supplies to nonprofit and government agencies that can use the supplies in carrying out their missions.
DISCUSSION:
County Ordinance Code Section 2.83.130 (Disposal of Unneeded Personal Property) provides that, when personal property is, in the opinion of the County Manager, surplus and not needed by the County, the County Manager may dispose of such property. However, where the value of the property exceeds $10,000, the County Manager shall report such fact to the Board and obtain the Board’s approval prior to disposing of it.
Therefore, Board approval is required prior to distribution of the surplus supplies to the intended nonprofit and governmental organizations. Staff recommends that the Board authorize the County Manager to distribute the supplies to such organizations, provided that these organizations enter into agreements that require that the supplies be used in furtherance of the organizations’ missions and that prohibit resale of the supplies. It is further recommended that the Board authorize and direct the County Manager, or designee(s), acting in consultation with County Counsel and other staff, to implement appropriate procedures, and to execute agreements with recipient organizations, to effectuate the distribution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action to authorize the County Manager, or designee(s), to distribute the surplus supplies to nonprofit and governmental organizations and to implement appropriate procedures, and to execute agreements with recipient organizations, to effectuate the distribution will result in the distribution to nonprofit and governmental organizations of approximately $7.7million worth of equipment that was purchased by the County in response to the COVID 19 Pandemic.