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O77-07ORDINANCE No. 77-7 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY A NUISANCE AND AUTHORIZING IMPOUNDING; DECLARING WEAPONS A NUISANCE AND AUTHORIZING IMPOUNDING, SALE AND DESTRUCTION; REGULATING LOST AND FOUND PROPERTY; DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY SEIZED AS EVIDENCE; PROVIDING A LIEN ON IMPOUNDED PROPERTY; AND PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENNEDALE: SECTION 1. NUISANCE PERSONAL PROPERTY (a.) Any personal property or obstruction placed; left standing, erected or lying in violation of any city ordinance or left unattended for more, than forty-eight (48) hours upon any public street, sidewalk, park or other public, or private property without consent of owner or person in charge of premises, may be declared a nuisance. (b.) All property found is declared a nuisance and may be removed by the Chief of Police or at his direction and shall be taken to a place of impoundment designated by the Chief of Police. Such property remaining unclaimed, unidentified for a period of sixty (60) days shall be kept until redeemed by the owner or sold in accordinance with Resolution No. 77-L4 SECTION 2. WEAPONS AS A NUISANCE OR EVIDENCE (a.) All weapons, as defined in the Weapons Chapter of the Texas Penal Code, placed, left standing, or lying in violation of any ordinance of the City or left unattended in or upon any public street, alley, sidewalk, park or other public property, or private property without consent of owner or person in charge of premises, may be declared a nuisance. (b.) Any weapons declared a nuisance may be removed by the Chief of Police or at his direction and shall be taken to a place of impoundment designated by the Chief of Police. (c.) All weapons found in violation of (a) of this section which shall remain unidentified and unclaimed in the custody of the Police Departement of the City for a period of sixty (60) days without being claimed by the owner thereof (provided that nothing herein shall require the release of a prohibited weapon, as defined by Section 46.06 of the Texas Penal Code) and which are not being held as evidence in any pending case, shall be destroyed in the presence of one police officer and the Chief of Police who shall make a report under oath, listing the make, model, type and serial number of the property destroyed, together with the time, date, place and manner of destruction to the City Administrator. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to (i) weapons which the Chief of Police of the City has determined to be serviceable, which shall be kept in reserve by the City Police Department for use in the event of civil disorder or disaster, (ii) weapons which have been classified as "antique" or "collector's''items" by a qualified expert in the firearms field and which shall be advertised as such and sold at public auction as provided herein. The Chief of Police shall determine and select a qualified expert in the firearms field to classify such weapons. (d.) All property (abandoned, stolen, or recovered), contraband or controlled substances (the possession, use, sale, manufacture, transportation, repair, delivery of which is prohibited by law), and other property seized as evidence in connection with an offense under any ordinance of the City or the Texas Penal Code or being held as evidence in any pending case shall be disposed of under the provisions of Articles 18.18, 18.19, 47.01-47.11 Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. (a.) SECTION 3. LOST AND FOUND PROPERTY All lost or misplaced personal property turned over to the Police Department shall be held for a period of sixty (60) days. If unclaimed by the owner, and the owner is unidentified, the property may be returned to the finder. If the property owner is identified, the property shall be held until claimed or after sixty (60) days form date of custody by the Police Department shall process the property as determined in Resolution No. 77-4 Provided that nothing in this section shall require the release of a prohibited weapon as defined by the Texas Penal Code. SECTION 4. LIEN AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY (a.) The City of Kennedale shall have a lien on impounded personal property for costs incurred in impounding, storing and advertising such property, and the lien shall be prior and superior to all other liens except advaloreum taxes. The City may retain possession of said property until all costs are paid and may sell as provided. (b.) The Chief of Police shall give to the City Administrator a list of all property impounded who shall administer the disposition of the property as provided in Resolution No. 77-4 PASSED AND APPROVED This loth day of March, 1977 ATTEST: Evelyn Templeton, C- y Secretary (City Seal) APPROjI D: eve Radakovich, Mayor