(a) 
Receipt of unclaimed property. Whenever any property of any kind or nature comes into the possession of the Police Department, such unclaimed property shall be held for three months. During such time, the Police Department shall attempt to ascertain the owner thereof.
(b) 
Return of unclaimed property. If the owner of any unclaimed property can be found or ascertained, such property shall be restored to such owner on demand upon the payment of any and all costs incurred by the Police Department in caring for the personal property.
(c) 
Disposition of unclaimed property. If, after three months, any unclaimed property remains unclaimed or unredeemed by the owner by paying the cost for the care thereof, thereafter the unclaimed property shall be either sold at public auction under the supervision of the Chief of Police or shall be transferred to the City's purchasing office for sale to the public at public auction.
(d) 
Notice of sale. Prior to the auction of any unclaimed property, the Chief of Police (if the auction is supervised by the Chief of Police) or the City Manager (if the auction is supervised by the City's purchasing office) shall give notice of such sale at least five days prior to the date of the sale by the publication of such notice once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the County. Such notice shall give the time of the sale, the place of the sale, and any storage charges against the property.
(e) 
No redemption of unclaimed property after transfer to the purchasing office. Once any unclaimed property is transferred to the City's purchasing office, the property shall not be redeemable by the owner or any other person entitled to possession.
(f) 
Public use of unclaimed property. If the City's purchasing office determines that any unclaimed property transferred to it for sale is needed for a public use, such property may be retained by the purchasing office and need not be sold.
(g) 
"Public Use" as defined in this section means that unclaimed personal property transferred to the City and determined to be surplus may be used by city employees or volunteers in that capacity as part of their assigned duties, or such property may with approval of the City Manager be donated - and ownership transferred - to another public agency, community non-profit organization, or any individual person(s) determined to have a need for use of the property which serves a public purpose.
(§ 1, Ord. 1573, c.s., as amended by § 1, Ord. 1917 c.s., eff. October 12, 1966, § 1, Ord. 2485 c.s., eff. December 31, 1987, and § 1, Ord. 2913 c.s., eff. October 2, 2003)
(a) 
Personal property other than vehicles. The Police Department, the City's Department of Public Works, or a contractor designated by the City Manager and approved by the City Council may take into its possession and care for any abandoned bicycle, tricycle, go-cart, automobile, or other personal property left upon any public alley, street, or place and is hereby authorized to place the same in storage and take any and all steps necessary to properly care for such property for 90 days. Upon taking possession of such property, the Police Department, Department of Public Works or the designated contractor shall give notice thereof to the owner if such owner can be ascertained by a reasonable investigation. If the true owner or the one entitled to possession of the property appears within 90 days of receipt of the property, such property shall be restored upon proof of ownership and upon the payment of all necessary costs incurred in the care and protection of such property. Should any such property remain unclaimed by its true owner after 90 days, such property may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or return, any impounded personal property stored for longer than 90 days.
(§ 2, Ord. 1573 c.s., as amended by § 1(11), Ord. 2844 c.s., eff. November 4, 1999, and § 1, Ord. 3198 c.s., eff. February 6, 2020)