Unless otherwise specified in this Section, property lawfully coming into the possession of the City and its duly designated agents, in the course of its Municipal operations shall be stored and safely maintained by the City for a period of sixty (60) days. Such property shall be disposed of by the City in the following manner:
A. During such sixty (60) day period the City may deliver such property to the owner upon proof of ownership, and upon ten (10) days' notice by mail to other persons who may have asserted a claim of ownership. In the event ownership cannot be determined to the satisfaction of the City Administrator, or his designee, he may refuse to deliver such property to anyone until ordered to do so by the court. The City Administrator may in his discretion choose to deposit such property with the court if there are sufficient competing claims to the property.
B. If the true owner does not claim the property during the sixty (60) day period, the City may release the unclaimed property to the finder of the property if, at the time of delivery to the City, the finder indicated in writing that he or she wished to assert a claim to the property as finder. This subsection is not applicable if the property was found by a City employee in the ordinary course of his other duties.
C. Upon the expiration of the sixty (60) day period, property remaining unclaimed may be sold by the City to the highest bidder at public auction or sale following one week published notice thereof. In lieu of public auction or sale, any of such unclaimed property may be appropriated to the use of the City upon approval of such appropriation by the City Administrator. If the property is not sold at the public auction or sale and is not deemed appropriate for use by the City, the City Administrator may then dispose of the property in any manner he deems appropriate.
D. The City Administrator, or his designee, may at any time without notice and in such manner as he determines to be in the public interest, dispose summarily of any property coming into the City's possession which he determines to be dangerous or perishable. The City Administrator shall make a record of the pertinent facts of the receipt and disposal of such property. (Ord. 266, 4-15-85)