Agenda Item #14.1
For Council Meeting of November 1, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GINA GIOMI, TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION MANAGER
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO THE SANTA ROSA CITY CODE ADDING CHAPTER 10-22 LOST PROPERTY AGENDA ACTION: ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council introduce an ordinance to amend Title 10 of the Santa Rosa City Code by adding Chapter 10-22 Lost Property for the disposition of unclaimed lost property.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Santa Rosa does not have a straightforward legal process to dispose of items valued at over $250.00 that comply with Civil Code 2080.4. Adopting the Lost Property Ordinance would allow the City to retain funds from selling lost or abandoned property.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Rosa Police Department does not currently have a method by which it can dispose of lost or abandoned property valued in excess of $250.00. While City Code 11-42 allows the Department to dispose of toys, sporting equipment, and bicycles, the Department is routinely forced to store other items which do not fall under the categories set forth in City Code 11-42.
Civil Code 2080.4 allows municipalities to create an ordinance that would legally empower a City to dispose of items valued in excess of $250.00; a City Ordinance also allows the City to retain the funds received from the disposal of the property. Without a specific ordinance, the Department must rely on the County to dispose of lost or abandoned property.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
None.
ANALYSIS
The Police Department must facilitate the sale, auction, or disposal of high-value items (anything valued in excess of $250.00). Currently, the Department utilizes a third-party auction site to sell items that are in reasonably good shape, abandoned by the owner, or do not have an identifiable legal owner.
The Police Department concludes that to facilitate the sale, auction, or disposal property valued in excess of $250.00, Santa Rosa City Council should adopt ordinance 10-22, the Lost Property Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this process have been appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 adopted budget within the Police Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
None.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance
CONTACT
Sean Wall, Property Bureau Supervisor
[email protected]
707-543-3605
ADDING CHAPTER 10-22 – LOST PROPERTY
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