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Adelanto council approves donation of senior bus to nonprofit with three-year protection clause
Summary
The Adelanto City Council voted Sept. 24 to transfer a Victor Valley Transit Authority bus to a local nonprofit that serves seniors, approving a substitute motion that requires the receiving organization to commit to at least three years of service to keep the vehicle in Adelanto.
The Adelanto City Council on Sept. 24 approved transferring a Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) bus to a qualified nonprofit to support senior transportation, adding a requirement that the receiving organization keep the bus in service in the city for a minimum of three years.
City Manager said the bus is currently a city asset but poses a liability concern if driven or managed by non-city employees; staff recommended donating the vehicle to a qualified 501(c)(3), such as the senior center, to allow service to continue while removing potential city liability. "Once we transfer this vehicle to the entity, we no longer are liable for anything," the City Manager told the council when asked what the city would remain responsible for after a transfer.
Councilmembers debated alternatives including contracting out the service to preserve the asset, a tiered buyback or lease-for-a-dollar approach, and protections that would return the bus to the city if the nonprofit ceased providing local service. Councilwoman Evans urged caution, citing a prior donation that left a vehicle stored offsite, and suggested contracting to keep liability off the city while retaining the asset. "We need to find a way to contract this service out to get the liability off of us and provide the service while still holding on to our asset," Evans said.
Councilmember Mesa moved for a straight donation; Mayor Pro Tem Ramos offered a substitute motion to donate the bus with a stipulation that the recipient commit to a minimum three-year period of service in Adelanto. The substitute motion was seconded and approved after a roll call (Mayor Reyes was noted absent). The council directed staff to draft the agreement language to protect the city’s interests while prioritizing senior transportation and return to council for final approval.
City staff told council the bus is a used vehicle with more than 200,000 miles and that the agreement could include reversion or buyback language if the nonprofit leaves before the minimum term. The city attorney and city manager said such contract terms are feasible and will be developed for council review.
Next steps: staff will draft an agreement (donation, lease, or other structure per council direction) that includes language to keep local service for a defined minimum period and return to the council for final action.
