Chapter 6.88
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Sections:
6.88.010 Finder a depository for owner.
6.88.020 Procedure when owner unknown.
6.88.030 Restoration of property to owner.
6.88.040 Retention of unclaimed property.
6.88.050 Sale of unclaimed property.
6.88.060 Transfer of unclaimed property to city.
6.88.070 Sale or disposition of unclaimed property by city.
6.88.080 Redemption of unclaimed property.
6.88.090 Proceeds from sale of unclaimed property.
6.88.100 Credit to general fund.
6.88.010 Finder a depository for owner.
Any person who finds a thing lost within the city of Norco is not bound to take charge of it; but, if he does so, he is thenceforward a depository for the owner, with the rights and obligations of a depository for hire. Any person who finds and takes possession of any money, goods, things in action or other personal property, or saves any domestic animal from drowning or starvation, shall within a reasonable time inform the owner, if known, and make restitution without compensation, except a reasonable charge for saving and taking care of the property. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part) 1974)
6.88.020 Procedure when owner unknown.
(a) If the owner is unknown or has not claimed the property, the person saving or finding the property shall, if such property is of the value of ten dollars or more, within a reasonable time turn the property over to the Riverside County sheriff’s station in the city of Norco and make an affidavit, stating when and where he found or saved the property, particularly describing it. If the property was saved, he shall state:
(1) From what and how it was saved;
(2) Whether the owner of the property is known to him;
(3) That he has not secreted, withheld, or disposed of any part of the property.
(b) The sheriff’s department shall notify the owner, if his identity is reasonably ascertainable, that it possesses the property and where it may be claimed. The sheriff’s department may require payment by the owner of a reasonable charge to defray costs of storage and care of the property. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.030 Restoration of property to owner.
If the owner appears within ninety days after receipt of the property by the sheriff’s department, proves his ownership of the property, and pays all reasonable charges, the sheriff’s department shall restore the property to him. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.040 Retention of unclaimed property.
All property in the possession of the sheriff’s department found or saved within the city of Norco, including property found or saved in the course of employment by an employee of the sheriff’s department or an employee of any other public agency, shall be held by the sheriff’s department in behalf of the city of Norco for a period of at least four months except for unclaimed bicycles which shall be held for a period of at least three months. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.050 Sale of unclaimed property.
After property has been held for the periods prescribed in Section 6.88.040 and, except for property transferred pursuant to Section 6.88.060, the sheriff’s department shall sell said property at public auction to the highest bidder, with notice of such sale being given by the sheriff’s department at least five days before the time fixed for such sale by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county of Riverside, except as hereinafter provided:
The sheriff’s department may sell such property by public auction, in the manner and upon the notice of sale of personal property under execution, if it is a thing which is commonly the subject of sale, when the owner cannot, with reasonable diligence, be found or, being found, refuses upon demand to pay the lawful charges provided in Sections 6.88.010 and 6.88.020 herein in the following cases:
(a) When the thing is in danger of perishing, or of losing the greater part of its value; or
(b) When the lawful charges provided in Sections 6.88.010 and 6.88.020 herein amount to two-thirds of its value. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.060 Transfer of unclaimed property to city.
Prior to any publishing notice of sale provided in Section 6.88.050 herein, the sheriff’s department shall furnish the city manager with an itemized list of all property to be sold at public auction which has been found or saved in the city of Norco. The city council shall give written notice to the sheriff’s department designating any property which should be transferred to the city of Norco rather than sold at public auction. Upon receipt of such written notice, the sheriff’s department shall forthwith transfer any property so designated to the city of Norco and shall proceed to publish notice of sale of any remaining property. Within thirty days after receipt of any property so transferred, the city council shall authorize payment to the sheriff’s department of all lawful charges incident to said property provided in Sections 6.88.010 and 6.88.020 herein. (Ord. 207 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.070 Sale or disposition of unclaimed property by city.
Any property transferred to the city of Norco pursuant to Section 6.88.060 shall be sold by the city at public auction to the highest bidder, with notice of such sale being given by the city manager at least five days before the time fixed for such sale by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of Riverside or, upon a determination by the city council that such transferred property is needed for a public use, such property may be retained by the city of Norco and need not be sold. Any property remaining unsold after being offered at public auction may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the city of Norco. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.080 Redemption of unclaimed property.
Any property sold at public auction or transferred to the city of Norco, pursuant to Sections 6.88.050 or 6.88.060, shall not be subject to redemption by the owner or other person entitled to its possession. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.090 Proceeds from sale of unclaimed property.
Within sixty days after the sale of unclaimed property at public auction, pursuant to Section 6.88.050, the sheriff’s department shall pay the net proceeds from such sale to the city of Norco. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)
6.88.100 Credit to general fund.
All proceeds received from the sale of unclaimed property, pursuant to Sections 6.88.070 and 6.88.090, shall be credited to the general fund by the treasurer. (Ord. 297 Sec. 2 (part), 1974)