§ 10.99 GENERAL PENALTY.
   (A)   (1)   The City Council is authorized to create, by resolution, adopted by a majority of the members of the Council, supplemental administrative penalties.
      (2)   These administrative penalty procedures in this section are intended to provide the public and the city with an informal, cost effective and expeditious alternative to traditional criminal charges for violations of certain provisions of this code. The procedures are intended to be voluntary on the part of those who have been charged with those offenses.
      (3)   Administrative penalties for violations of various provisions of the code, other than those penalties established in the code or in statutes that are adopted by reference, may be established from time to time by resolution of a majority of the members of the City Council. In order to be effective, an administrative penalty for a particular violation must be established before the violation occurred.
      (4)   In the discretion of the peace officer, City Administrator or other person giving notice of an alleged violation of a provision of this code, in a written notice of an alleged violation, sent by first class mail to the person who is alleged to have violated the code, the person giving notice may request the payment of a voluntary administrative penalty for the violation directly to the City Administrator within 14 days of the notice of the violation. In the sole discretion of the person giving the notice of the alleged violation, the time for payment may be extended an additional 14 days, whether or not requested by the person to whom the notice has been given. In addition to the administrative penalty, the person giving notice may request in the notice to the alleged violator to adopt a compliance plan to correct the situation resulting in the alleged violation and may provide that if the alleged violator corrects the situation resulting in the alleged violation within the time specified in the notice, that the payment of the administrative penalty will be waived.
      (5)   At any time before the payment of the administrative penalty is due, the person who has been given notice of an alleged violation may request to appear before the City Council to contest the request for payment of the penalty. After a hearing before the Council, the Council may determine to withdraw the request for payment or to renew the request for payment. Because the payment of the administrative penalty is voluntary, there shall be no appeal from the decision of the Council.
      (6)   At any time after the date the payment of the administrative penalty is due, if the administrative penalty remains unpaid or the situation creating the alleged violation remains uncorrected, the city, through its Attorney, may bring criminal charges in accordance with state law and this code. Likewise, the city, in its discretion, may bring criminal charges in the first instance, rather than requesting the payment of an administrative penalty, even if a penalty for the particular violation has been established by Council resolution. If the administrative penalty is paid, or if any requested correction of the situation resulting in the violation is completed, no criminal charges shall be initiated by the city for the alleged violation.
   (B)   (1)   Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this code for which another penalty is not specifically provided, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty which may be imposed for any crime which is a misdemeanor under this code, including state statutes specifically adopted by reference, shall be a sentence of not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
      (2)   Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this code, including state statutes specifically adopted by reference, which is designated to be a petty misdemeanor shall, upon conviction be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. The penalty which may be imposed for any petty offense which is a petty misdemeanor shall be a sentence of a fine of not more than $300.
      (3)   In either the case of a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor, the costs of prosecution may be added. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during which a violation occurs or continues.
      (4)   The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject the officer or employee to the penalty imposed for a violation.
      (5)   In addition to any penalties provided for in this section or in division (A) above, if any person, firm or corporation fails to comply with any provision of this code, the Council or any city official designated by it, may institute appropriate proceedings at law or at equity to restrain, correct or abate the violation.