The text
The City Council of the City of Commerce finds and declares as follows: (1)
Enforcement of the Commerce Municipal Code and adopted codes, ordinances, and laws throughout the city is an important public service in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Although it is always the goal of the city to obtain voluntary compliance with its laws, the city council recognizes that there will be instances where compliance must be compelled by administrative or judicial means when persons responsible for violations of the Code fail or refuse to voluntarily comply with applicable laws.
(2)
Government Code Section 53069.4 authorizes local jurisdictions to enact legislation making a violation of any local ordinance subject to an administrative fine or penalty. The state legislature has also enacted other provisions of California law that allow local governments to impose administrative or civil fines/penalties for violations of specified provisions of state law. The city council intends, pursuant to this statute, to establish an administrative citation program that:
(A)
Imposes a non-judicial administrative fine and/or penalty for offenses of the Commerce Municipal Code (including, but not limited to, any other code, ordinance or law adopted therein) and other state laws as authorized by statute;
(B)
Encourages prompt abatement or correction of prohibited conditions, uses or activities in the city; and
(C)
Creates deterrence against future violations of the city's laws.
(3)
The administrative citation remedy is not intended to replace any other remedy allowed by the Commerce Municipal Code or state law. It is intended to provide an alternative and/or additional means by which the city's laws may be enforced.
(Ord. No. 698, § 4, 4-17-2019)