A. Civil penalties shall be assessed pursuant to California Government Code Section 36900, as presently written or hereafter amended. Specifically, there shall be assessed an administrative penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation of the same ordinance within one (1) year and an administrative penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for a second violation of the same ordinance within one (1) year and an administrative penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one (1) year. Each day shall be a separate violation. Not withstanding the foregoing, for a violation of Model California Building Codes and the California Fire Code, there shall be an administrative penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation of the same ordinance within one (1) year and an administrative penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for a second violation within one (1) year and an administrative penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one (1) year of the first violation. Each day a violation exists shall be a separate violation.
B. Civil penalties, excluding accruing interest, shall not exceed the amounts set forth in the California Government Code.
C. The assessment of civil penalties may begin to accrue on the date of initial occurrence of the violation, as identified by the City of Gridley.
D. Payment of the penalty shall not excuse a failure to correct the violation nor shall it bar further enforcement action by the city.
E. The failure of any person to pay a penalty assessed by administrative citation within the time specified on the citation shall result in the assessment of a late fee. The amount of the late fee shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount of the administrative penalty owed.
F. A civil penalty assessed by administrative citation constitutes a debt to the city. In the event any person fails to pay a civil penalty within the time specified, the city may take such action as is appropriate to collect the debt, including, but not limited to an action in small claims court, an assessment lien, or any other legal remedy.
(Ord. 791-2010 (part), 2010)