Sec. 36-9.2. Storage, notice, fees.
A. Impoundment. Upon taking custody of the impounded property, the authorizing official shall take the impounded property to any City storage yard or building unless Section 36-9.4 shall apply.
B. Notice to owner. If the owner or custodian of the impounded property is known, or can be reasonably ascertained, the authorizing official shall give written notice to the owner or custodian as provided in this section.
C. Notice when owner unknown. If the impounded property has a collective value of five hundred dollars or more and the owner or custodian is not known and cannot be reasonably ascertained, the authorizing official shall publish notice of its impoundment as provided in this section. If the impounded property has a value less than five hundred dollars and the owner or custodian is unknown, notice shall be posted as provided in this section.
D. Notice requirements. Prior to conducting a sale or otherwise disposing of the impounded property pursuant to Section 36-9.3, the authorizing official shall furnish notice in the manner provided in this section. If the notice is to be written, notice shall be mailed to the owner’s last known address by certified U.S. mail return receipt requested. If notice is by publication, notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the City’s official newspaper of general circulation. If notice shall be posted, it shall be posted at least ten calendar days in a conspicuous location as near as practicable to the location where the City took custody of the impounded property. Any notice as provided in this section shall include the following:
1. A description of the impounded property, date and location of impoundment;
2. A statement of the charges due on the date of notice and any other charges that may accrue;
3. A statement that unless the charges are paid within sixty days of the date of the notice that the authorizing official may dispose or otherwise sell the impounded property at a specified time and place;
4. A statement that the owner must present satisfactory proof of ownership of the impounded property;
5. A statement that at any time before the disposal or sale of the property the owner may pay the amount necessary to redeem the property;
6. The name, street address and telephone number of the authorizing official, or designated agent, whom the owner may contact to respond to the notice.
E. Fees. Upon release of impounded property to an owner or custodian, the authorizing official shall charge and collect a fee for the custody, transportation and storage as set forth in this subsection. Fees may be waived in whole or in part for stolen property found in the public right-of-way if the owner has reported to the proper jurisdiction that the property was stolen and agrees to assist in a prosecution of the party responsible.
1. The fee for custody and transportation of impounded property is equal to the City’s personnel and equipment costs to take custody and transport the impounded property.
2. The storage fee for such impounded property is one dollar per calendar day per cubic foot of space required to store the impounded property. (Ord. No. G-4599, § 2, 2004)