HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurplus Sale of Nuclear GaugeCITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Declare the City's Nuclear Gauge is Surplus Property and Authorize Its
Sale to the Highest Bidder
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: April 13, 2006
Recommendation:
By minute motion, concur with staff that the City's property known as the
Troxler 3411B Nuclear Gauge is no longer needed; declare it surplus property
and authorize the Public Works Director to sell it to the highest bidder.
Discussion:
A nuclear gauge is used for determining soil relative density and moisture content. The City's
nuclear gauge was purchased at a time when these soils testing services were not readily
available in Coachella Valley. This situation has changed in that today, adequate soils testing
consultants exist in the valley to provide this service when needed.
In the past twelve months, the City's nuclear gauge has cost the City over $4,000 in license
renewal fees, safety training, and supplies. The cost to house the instrument and staff time in
training and management of the unit has not been calculated. Staff believes it would be more
cost-efficient to hire consultants to perform this testing when needed than to own and maintain
the nuclear gauge.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council declare the City's Troxler 3411B Nuclear Gauge
surplus property and authorize the Public Works Director to advertise and sell it to the highest
bidder.
Submitted by:
Mark Greenwood, P.E. Paul Gibson
Director of Public Works Finance Director
Approval:
Homer Croy
Assistant City Manager for Development Services
/dhl
Carlos Ortega
City Manager