Grand Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 3.20 Sale and Disposition of Unclaimed Property

Whenever used in this Chapter "unclaimed property" shall include any and all lost, abandoned or unclaimed personal property of whatsoever kind or character, but shall not include property which is specifically ordered to be destroyed by the provisions of the law, nor to the disposal of dogs, cats or livestock.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 12.052(e))

Any and all unclaimed property coming into the possession of the police department shall be inventoried at least every three months by the persons having custody of the same, and a full and complete list thereof shall be transmitted to the chief of police.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 12.052(a))

The chief of police, upon receipt of the list of unclaimed property provided for in Section 3.20.010, shall determine therefrom the unclaimed property that has been held by the police department for a period of at least six months, whereupon the police department shall notify the chief probation officer and the director of welfare of the availability of the property. Such bicycles or toys as the chief of police may designate shall be turned over to the probation or welfare departments for use in any program of activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. Thereafter, the police department shall cause the remainder of the unclaimed property so held for a period of at least six months to be sold at public auction as follows:

A. Notice of such sale, describing the property in sufficient detail for its identification, shall be prepared by the police department, and the notice signed by the chief of police, which notice of the sale shall be given at least five days before the time fixed therefor by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City.

B. No City officer, elected or appointed, or employee, shall directly or indirectly submit a bid for the purchase or the unclaimed property at the sale.

C. The property so offered for sale shall be sold to the highest bidder for cash, provided that the chief of police may, in his discretion, fix a minimum sale price and may refuse to sell unless the minimum price is offered.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 12.052(b))

The proceeds of auction sale sales under this Chapter shall immediately be deposited with the City Treasurer and placed in the City general fund.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 12.052(c))

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the police department to safely keep any and all unclaimed properties subject to the right of the chief of police to sell the properties at public auction as provided in this Chapter, whereupon the property shall then be delivered to the purchaser upon payment of the purchase price.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 12.052(d))