4d
25-89042
CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Authorize the Escheatment of Unclaimed Checks & Deposits
1. Motion to authorize the Director of Finance to escheat unclaimed checks and deposits held by various City funds pursuant to Government Code Sections 50050-50057.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Calendar
Approved for December 9, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On an annual basis, the Finance Departments presents the City Council a list of unclaimed property that meet the requirements mandated by Government Code Sections 50050-50057 to escheat funds. As required by the Government Code, the City has made multiple efforts to return these outstanding funds to their rightful owners by attempting to contact them through a variety of different means. Through these attempts, at the time of preparing this report on November 6, 2025, we have re-issued seventy outstanding checks totaling $96,911.29. We have also received fourteen claim forms for outstanding deposits totaling $105,400.00, which were under review at the time this report was being prepared. After multiple outreach efforts, the remaining unclaimed property as of November 6, 2025, is $41,724.06 for outstanding checks and $359,198.60 for outstanding deposits. Claims will continue to be accepted until today (December 9, 2025), and the actual remaining unclaimed property balance may be less due to additional claims received.
4d2
25-89042
6 4
8 0
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Director of Finance to escheat unclaimed checks and deposits held by various funds pursuant to Government Code Sections 50050-50057.
ANALYSIS
California Government Code Sections 50050-50057 provide the legal framework for local agencies to handle unclaimed funds, such as uncashed checks or unclaimed deposits. These laws allow local governments to take ownership of and transfer unclaimed money to their general fund after three years for funds over fifteen dollars ($15), following a defined public notification process. The notification process requires the list of unclaimed checks and deposits to be published as public notice once a week for two successive weeks in a local newspaper. Then any remaining unclaimed funds become the property of the City on a designated date not less than forty-five days nor more than sixty days after the first publication of the notice. Any individual check under fifteen dollars ($15) that remain unclaimed for one year can be transferred to the general fund without public notice.
Outstanding Checks:
In February 2025, Finance staff obtained a list of all outstanding checks from the City Treasurer’s office which included checks issued in 2021 and earlier. Staff, from multiple departments, and AdminSure, the City’s workers’ compensation third-party administrator, worked collectively to contact each payee to notify them of their unclaimed funds by phone, e-mail, and U.S. mail. Multiple attempts were made to contact each individual, after which the City per state requirements published the list of unclaimed funds in the local newspaper on October 23 and October 30, 2025. The City took additional measures, beyond the general requirements, by issuing a press release, posting notifications on the City’s website and the City’s different social media platforms.
In addition, with the help of Information Technology Department (ITD), the City launched a new online portal allowing claimants to search and submit a claim for their funds directly through the City’s online portal.
The outstanding checks can be reissued by Accounts Payable once a replacement check affidavit is submitted to the City Treasurer’s Office. Once the affidavit is reviewed and approved, the City Treasurer’s Office will then process a stop payment with the bank for the original check then forward the completed packet to Accounts Payable for a check to be reissued.
As of November 6, 2025, the date this report was prepared, staff were able to re-issue seventy outstanding checks totaling $96,911.29 with the remaining unclaimed checks being 142 checks, totaling $41,724.06.
Outstanding Deposits:
Also in February 2025, Finance staff worked with Public Works and Community Development staff for the list of outstanding deposits. Public Works and Community Development staff contacted each payee through variety of methods including phone, e- mail, and U.S. Mail. Currently, there are sixteen unclaimed deposits in the amount of 4d3
25-89042
6 4
8 0
$10,320.00, which are associated with the Excavation Permits administered by Public Works Department. In addition to the sixteen 16 unclaimed deposits, there are fifty-six (56) unclaimed deposits in the amount of $348,878.60, which are associated with the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Bond administered by Community Development Department.
To obtain excavation permit refund, applicants must submit an application. Public Works staff will review the inspection document to verify the eligibility. Once all requirements are met, Public Works staff request the issuance of the refund through Accounts Payable.
To obtain a C&D Debris Bond refund, applicants must divert 65% of the project’s estimated debris to a certified mixed debris recycling facility and submit Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan Compliance Report within six months of certificate of occupancy. Community Development staff request the issuance of the refund through Accounts Payable once all the requirements are met.
Construction permits associated with the C&D Debris Bond deposits often remain active for more than three years. By the end of a five-year period from issuance, the permits are either expired, or construction projects are completed. Thus, C&D Debris Bond deposits older than five years are subject to the escheatment.
On July 30, 2019, Council approved the amendment of Chapter 8 of the Glendale Municipal Code, related to Construction Demolition Debris, transferring enforcement, responsibility, and administration of the Ordinance from Public Works Department, Integrated Waste Management, to the Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division. The amendment applies to the C&D Debris Bond deposits processed after the adoption date. Six outstanding C&D Debris Bond deposits in the amount of $16,105.00 were processed prior to the amendment adoption date, and thus, shall be retained by the City to promote waste diversion efforts in the community. (Ord. 5895 §1, 2017). The remaining fifty outstanding C&D Debris Bond deposits in the amount of $332,773.60, shall be retained by the City in the General Fund.
After extensive outreach over the past few months, staff received fourteen claim forms for unclaimed deposits totaling $105,400.00 as of November 6, 2025, the date this report was prepared. These fourteen claims were reviewed by CDD staff to verify refund eligibility, and refunds would be issued once the verification process is complete. The remaining seventy-two unclaimed deposits total $359,198.60.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The City of Glendale has taken measures beyond the State’s minimum notification requirements utilizing a variety of different outreach methods. First, City staff and AdminSure attempted to contact each payee directly by phone, e-mail, and U.S. mail.
Next, detailed notices were published in the Glendale Independent on October 23 and October 30, 2025. A press release was also published providing instructions on how to claim these funds by directing any party of interest to the City’s website and the City’s 4d4
25-89042
6 4
8 0
new unclaimed funds portal. Similar notices have also been posted on the City’s website and various social media platforms. While the traditional methods of initiating a claim by calling or e-mailing remained intact, the City launched a new online portal allowing claimants to search and submit a claim for their funds directly through this portal. This portal allowed any claimant who chooses to initiate a claim online to go through the process with ease. Staff will continue to work with the public and accept any new claims until the timeframe per Government Code Section 50050-50057 is met and per City Council's authorization to escheat any remaining unclaimed funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved by the Council, the escheated funds up to $400,922.66 will be reverted to the following funds:
General Fund $350,180.43
Compensation Insurance Fund $8,636.28
Electric Public Benefit Fund $438.04
Electric Fund $10,579.81
Housing Assistance Fund $9,631.00
Joint Air Support Fund $17.06
Liability Insurance Fund $1,370.00
Parks Mitigation Fee Fund $3,760.00
Refuse Disposal Fund $16,310.04
Total $400,922.66
* The amounts above are as of November 6, 2025, the date this report was prepared.
The final escheated amount may be lowered based on the number of checks and deposits claimed between November 6, 2025, and the date of the City Council meeting this report is presented.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
This item is not subject to CEQA/NEPA review.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Do not authorize to escheat the checks and deposits held by various funds pursuant to Government Code Sections 50050-50057.
2. Consider any other alternative not presented by staff. 4d5
25-89042
6 4
8 0
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Jack Liang, Director of Finance
Prepared by:
Steve Kwon, Accounts Payable Supervisor
Steve Kim, Accounting Supervisor
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Outstanding checks and deposits to be escheated Exhibit 2: Copy of Press Release
Exhibit 3.1: Proof of publication in the Glendale Independent (Oct 23, 2025) Exhibit 3.2: Proof of publication in the Glendale Independent (Oct 30, 2025)