Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 3.80 Disposition of Surplus Personal Property

Surplus personal property, defined as personal property belonging to the city that is no longer fit or necessary for use by the city, including any lost or unclaimed property, must be disposed of according to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 9)

Any city department or office may create a list of all surplus personal property held by such city department or office. This list should include photos and descriptions of the property, the contact information for the personnel managing the department or office, and the address at which the property is kept. If approved by the head of the department or office, the property listed shall be known as surplus personal property. Departments or offices may only dispose of surplus personal property as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 9)

A. City departments and offices may only dispose of surplus personal property through one of the following methods:

1. Interdepartmental transfer. Departments or offices may transfer any surplus personal property to any city department or office for use by that department or office. If more than one department or office requests any particular item of surplus personal property, the city manager will decide which department or office will receive the property.

2. Sale at public auction to the highest bidder.

a. The procurement division may contract for qualified auction services to dispose of surplus personal property. The service will dispose of the property through a live public auction either in-person or online, or a combination of the two methods.

b. A notice must be placed on the city's public website instructing interested members of the public to visit the contracted auctioneer service's website for details about future auctions.

c. The city is under no obligation to publish a list of the surplus personal property in advance of an auction.

d. The city reserves the right to reject any and all bids received for any property.

3. Sealed proposal. The city manager may adopt policies for the disposal of surplus personal property through sealed proposals. Any policies must provide that the city reserves the right to reject any and all sealed proposals.

4. Incidental sale. Surplus personal property may be sold through an incidental sale, as provided in section 3.80.040 of this chapter.

5. Consignment. The city council may, by resolution, determine to dispose of surplus personal property by putting such property out to sale on consignment if the council finds that such method of sale is likely to bring the highest price to the city. The resolution must set forth the minimum price at which such property may be sold and call for bids for consignees to sell such property. At the same time council determines to sell such property on consignment, or later, the council may, by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote, determine to waive competitive bidding on the consignment contract if it determines that waiver is in the best interest of the city.

6. Sale to another public agency. Surplus personal property may be sold to any other public agency, provided that the price is determined to be fair and reasonable. Such determination shall be made by the head of the department or office for a sale for under $250,000, and by the city council for a sale of $250,000 or more.

7. Donation. By resolution of the city council, surplus personal property may be donated to any other public agency or charitable organization exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

8. Disposal. If the head of a department or office, in consultation with the procurement division, determines that an item has little or no resale value, or that the item is broken and irreparable, the department or office may dispose of the item without further action.

B. All dispositions pursuant to subsections A.1 through A.7 must be pursuant to a written document approved as to form by the city attorney or designee. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 9)

A. A department or office may sell any item of surplus personal property by incidental sale when it determines that the item:

1. Is scrap or salvage material, including, discarded fire hose, a tire casing, a dead storage battery, or worn-out or wrecked automobile or machine body or part;

2. Is perishable; or

3. Has been offered for public sale and no offer to purchase has been received.

B. For the purpose of this section, the term "incidental sale" means the sale of any item defined in subsection A of this section at a price, and at a time and place to be determined by the head of the department or office in possession of the surplus personal property, to any buyer who is willing to pay the price requested, without first advertising such sale or calling for bids.

C. Nothing in this section limits the ability of the city to sell, as it may deem proper, any item as defined in subsection A by sale at public auction or by sealed proposal as provided in section 3.80.030 of this chapter. (Ord. 2024-0010 § 9)