All lost, abandoned or unclaimed personal property, other than
live animals, coming into the possession of the city or any officer
or department thereof shall immediately be turned over to the custody
of the police department. Such personal property shall be held by
the police department for a period of at least six months unless sooner
claimed and restored; except, that bicycles need only be held by the
police department for a period of at least three months unless sooner
claimed and restored.
(Ord. No. 211, § 1)
If, at any time prior to the sale or destruction of any lost,
abandoned or unclaimed personal property as provided in this article,
any such property is claimed by any person who establishes his right
to the possession thereof to the satisfaction of the chief of police
or his authorized deputy in charge of such property, such personal
property shall be delivered to such person; provided, that such person
shall first pay to the police department the reasonable cost to the
city of holding, protecting and returning such property.
(Ord. No. 211, § 2)
If any lost, abandoned or unclaimed property with the reported
value of $50 or more remains unclaimed and unrestored for 90 days,
the chief of police shall cause notice of the property to be published
at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. If after seven
days following the first publication of the notice, no owner appears
and proves his ownership of the property, and the person who found
or saved the property pays the cost of publication, the title shall
vest in the person who found or saved the property, unless the property
was found in the course of employment by an employee of any public
agency in which case the property shall be sold at public auction.
Title to the property shall not vest in the person who found or saved
the property or in the successful bidder at the public auction unless
the cost of publication is first paid to the city. If any lost, abandoned
or unclaimed property with the reported value of less than $50 remains
unclaimed and unrestored for 90 days, the title shall vest in the
person who found or saved the property, unless the property was found
in the course of employment by an employee of any public agency, in
which case the property shall be sold at public auction.
(Ord. No. 211, § 3; Ord. No. 653, § 1, 2-11-80)
Notice of an auction sale under this article shall be given
by the chief of police at least five days and not more than 20 days
before the time fixed therefor, by publication at least once in a
newspaper of general circulation printed, published and circulated
in the city.
(Ord. No. 211, § 3)
If any lost, abandoned or unclaimed property shall be offered
for sale at public auction as provided in this chapter and shall not
be sold, such property shall be destroyed by the chief of police.
(Ord. No. 211, § 4)
In the event of any dispute regarding the administration or
application of this article, appeal may be made to the city council
and the city council shall thereupon settle such dispute.
(Ord. No. 211, § 5)
