(A) Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, motor vehicles or other property which shall remain unclaimed with the Police Department for a period of 30 consecutive days shall be conclusively presumed to have been abandoned.
(B) Authority for sale. All abandoned, stolen or recovered motor vehicles or other property which shall remain with the Police Department without being claimed or re-claimed by the owners, whether known or unknown, may be sold and disposed of at public auction.
(C) Notice and manner of sale. Thirty days’ notice of the time and place of sale and a descriptive list of the motor vehicles or other property to be offered for sale shall at any regular entrance to the City Hall. Copies of the notice shall be sent, by registered mail, to the last known address of the recorded owner of the title and/or to the lien holder of record, if any, of all property offered for sale. Thereafter, the property shall be offered for sale at public auction and sold to the highest bidder for each separate piece of property offered for sale.
(D) Hours of sale. The sale of abandoned motor vehicles or other property at public auction, as provided for in this chapter, shall be conducted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the place and date designated in the notice.
(E) Payment for purchased items. All sales made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be made for cash.
(F) Administrator of sale. The independent contractor with whom the city shall contract for wrecker and storage service for all motor vehicles or other property ordered impounded by the Police Department shall conduct the public auction authorized by this chapter.
(G) Reports of administrator of sale. The independent contractor shall keep an accurate statement of each motor vehicle or other piece of property sold and the price bid and paid therefor, and shall make a complete report in writing to the Finance Officer as to time, place and manner of conducting the sale. All funds received on account of the auction shall be delivered to the Finance Officer who shall give a receipt therefor.
(H) Disposition of receipts. The City Mayor is hereby required to place all funds received under and by virtue of this chapter to the credit of the General Fund to be thereafter dispersed as the City Council shall order.
(I) Property deemed worthless. Any property which has been listed and offered for sale and for which no price nor sum has been offered, if deemed, in the opinion of the contractor, to be worthless and without value, shall be disposed of in a manner as a contractor shall prescribe. A description of all property deemed or dispose of as worthless or without value shall be reported to the City Council, together with the date and manner of disposal.
(Ord. passed 6-17-1980)