A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to enable the city, acting as a charter city pursuant to Article XI, Sections 5 and 7 of the State Constitution, to impose and collect civil administrative fines in conjunction with the enforcement of provisions of this code. Notwithstanding the provisions herein, the city has and shall continue to employ the philosophy of voluntary compliance when seeking compliance with this code as may be required by law.

B. Administrative Guidelines Approved by the City Council. The city shall prepare, promulgate, and update, as necessary, administrative citation and appeals guidelines which shall, among other things, establish policies for providing appropriate and adequate warnings with respect to possible municipal code violations to those persons who may receive an administrative citation, to provide direction to city staff for the correct process of issuing an administrative citation, and to establish the proper format of the administrative citation, and for service of that administrative citation in a manner consistent with the requirements of this chapter, due process and any other applicable law (hereinafter referred to as the “administrative citation guidelines”). Such administrative citation guidelines shall be expressly approved by a resolution of the city council prior to their adoption.

C. Effect on Title 15 Violations. The hearing requirements and procedures set forth in this chapter, as they relate to the administrative review of administrative citations, shall supersede any conflicting provisions within the municipal code or any of the codes adopted by Section 15.02.010 and amended by Section 15.04.010 and following. (Ord. 1625 § 1 (part), 2015)