South Pasadena Municipal Code Art. VII Disposition of Unclaimed Property

It shall be and it is hereby declared to be the duty of every employee and officer of the city who shall find any lost money or other property in or upon any public grounds, highways, road, public building, place or property of the city, to deliver the same to the chief of police, together with a statement in writing stating fully the circumstances of the finding and the name and address of the owner or person believed to be the owner, if known. (Ord. No. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)

Such personal property shall be held by the police department for a period of at least six months unless claimed within a shorter period of time; with the exception of bicycles which shall be held at least three months unless claimed within a shorter period of time. (Ord. No. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)

If at any time prior to the sale or destruction thereof as hereinbefore provided, 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, such person shall first pay to the police department the reasonable cost to the city of holding, protecting and returning such property. (Ord. No. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)

(a) If any such property shall remain unclaimed and unrestored for at least six months (except bicycles, three months), such property shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder at such time as the chief of police shall determine. Such auction shall be conducted by the chief of police or by any agent appointed by him for that purpose. Such property may be sold separately or in such lots as the auctioneer may determine. The purchaser at such auction sale shall take a clear title to the property purchased free of any equity of redemption. All funds derived by said auction shall be placed into the city’s general fund.

(b) Whenever it is determined that property that otherwise would be subject to auction would better benefit the city or any of its departments by being placed into city service, the city manager or his designee shall so declare in a supplemental to the property report on file. Thereafter, such property shall be placed into city service.

(c) Any bicycle or toys, or both, in the possession of the chief of police for a period of at least three months may, instead of being sold at public auction, be turned over to the county probation, the county welfare department or other charitable organization for use in any program or activity which the chief of police deems in accordance with his responsible discretion. (Ord. No. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 1988, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)

Notice of each such auction sale shall be given by the chief of police at least five days and not more than twenty 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. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)

If any such property shall be so offered for sale at such public auction as herein provided, and shall not be sold, such property shall be destroyed by the chief of police. (Ord. No. 1466, § 1; Ord. No. 2187, § 5, 2009.)