HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12b - Lost and Found Items at the Public Library
DATE: August 20, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 2362 AMENDING ARTICLE IV, CHAPTER 3 OF
THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 4304
CONCERNING LOST AND FOUND ITEMS AT THE ARCADIA PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Recommendation: Introduce
SUMMARY
The City of Arcadia’s current ordinance requires that all personal items found in City
buildings, if unclaimed after a reasonable time, be turned over to the Chief of Police for
disposition through public auction. Because the Arcadia Public Library regularly has a
high volume of such items, and because such items are typically of such low monetary
value, this approach has proven to be neither logistically feasible nor convenient to
patrons seeking to reclaim their items. The amended ordinance would require the
Arcadia Public Library to retain lost and found items for at least five weeks, after which
time unclaimed items would be given to a local chari table organization. Money found at
the Library would continue to be turned over to the Chief of Police and , if unclaimed,
would continue to be deposited into the City’s General Fund.
BACKGROUND
The Arcadia Public Library recently reviewed its lost and found procedure and
discovered that there is an existing City Ordinance that conflicts with current practices at
the Library. The Citywide Ordinance states all lost and found items are to be turned into
the Police Chief, who holds onto them for several months before selling them at auction.
This is practical for many things that may actually be sold at auction, including cars,
bicycles, jewelry, and other valuables. However, items left at the Library rarely fall into
those categories. Most items left behind at the Library include articles of clothing, sippy
cups, textbooks, musical instruments, keys, and phones – things that would not typically
generate interest at auction. Most items are retrieved by their owners within a few days,
but many items go unclaimed.
Ordinance No. 2362 regarding Lost and Found
Items at the Arcadia Public Library
August 20, 2019
Page 2 of 3
The Library for many years has a general procedure of keeping minor items received for
three weeks before turning them over to a local charitable organization. Items that are
higher in value, such as cash and jewelry, are forwarded to the Police Departm ent and
held according to the City Code rules. While this process has served the City and its
patrons well, it is inconsistent with the City Code and should be rectified.
Because of the large volume of unclaimed items at the Library particularly, space
considerations come into play if they are going to be held onto for months at a time. In
addition, referring patrons to the Police Department for retrieval of minor items is
inconvenient.
DISCUSSION
Ordinance No. 2362 would amend Article IV, Chapter 3 of the Arcadia Municipal Code
by adding Section 4304 concerning lost and found items at the Arcadia Public Library in
order to codify current procedures. This Ordinance would require lost and found items to
be retained at the Arcadia Public Library for at least five weeks, an increase of two
weeks over the current practice. Items not claimed at the Library would be turned over
to a charitable organization within Arcadia or within 20 miles of the City if an appropriate
organization is not located in the community. An example would be the Bargain Box, the
Assistance League of Arcadia, or other second hand/thrift stores that would accept the
donated items. The organization would be chosen by the Director and approved by the
City Manager. Lost money and other valuables would still be turned over to the Chief of
Police and if unclaimed, would continue to be deposited into the City’s General Fund or
put up for auction, respectively.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under t he California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There would be no significant fiscal impact from this Ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council introduce Ordinance No. 2362 amending Article IV,
Chapter 3 of the Arcadia Municipal Code by adding Section 4304 concerning lost and
found items at the Arcadia Public Library.
Ordinance No. 2362 regarding Lost and Found
Items at the Arcadia Public Library
August 20, 2019
Page 3 of 3
Attachment: Ordinance No. 2362