Chapter 2.24
LOST MONEY, GOODS, AND OTHER UNCLAIMED PROPERTY1
Sections:
2.24.020 Unknown owner – Delivery of property to police department.
2.24.030 Time for claiming property by owner.
2.24.040 Unclaimed property – Disposition.
2.24.050 Unclaimed property – Sale.
2.24.070 Sale – Proceeds disposition.
2.24.090 Unclaimed property – Public use.
2.24.010 Duty of finder.
Any person who finds and takes possession of any money, goods or other personal property shall, within a reasonable time, inform the owner, if known, and make restitution without compensation, except a reasonable charge for taking care of the property. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.020 Unknown owner – Delivery of property to police department.
If the owner is unknown or has not claimed the property, the person finding the property shall, if such property is of the value of $10.00 or more, within a reasonable time turn the property over to the police department, and make an affidavit, stating when and where he found the property, particularly describing it. The police department shall notify the owner, if his identity is reasonably ascertainable, that it possesses the property and where it may be claimed. The police department may require payment by the owner of a reasonable charge to defray costs of storage and care of the property. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.030 Time for claiming property by owner.
If the owner appears within 120 days after receipt of the property by the police department, proves his ownership of the property, and pays all reasonable charges, the police department shall restore the property to him. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.040 Unclaimed property – Disposition.
When property is found and turned over to the police department and no owner appears and proves his ownership within 120 days:
A. If the reported value of the property is less than $50.00 and no owner appears and proves his ownership of the property within 120 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.
B. If the reported value of the property is $50.00 or more, and no owner appears and proves his ownership of the property within 120 days, the police department shall cause a 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 the 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. (Ord. 1380 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.050 Unclaimed property – Sale.
All other unclaimed property, held by the police department for a period of at least four months, shall thereafter be sold at public auction to the highest bidder. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.060 Sale – Notice.
Notice of sale of unclaimed property shall be given by the police chief at least five days before the time fixed therefor by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.070 Sale – Proceeds disposition.
All money obtained from the sale of any unclaimed property shall be deposited in the general fund of the city. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.080 Sale – Minimum bid.
Whenever the policy chief or any city official designated by the police chief determines that unclaimed property has a special value, it shall be appraised for the purpose of establishing a minimum bid for such item. In the event such item does not receive the minimum bid at auction, it may be retained by the police chief or his designate and thereafter the item may be sold pursuant to CMC 2.20.090. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
2.24.090 Unclaimed property – Public use.
If the police chief, his designate or the purchasing supervisor of the city determines that any unclaimed property transferred to him for sale is needed for a public use, such property may be retained by the city and need not be sold. (Ord. 1305 § 1, 1975.)
For statutory provisions regarding the disposition of lost or unclaimed property, see Civil Code § 2080 et seq. Prior history: 1964 Code §§ 28.1 – 28.5, as amended by Ord. 1231.