1.13.080 - Payment and collection of fines, fees and other charges.

(a)

Payment. All administrative fines and re-inspection fees imposed by means of a citation shall be due from the citee and shall be received by the city (or agent thereof) within twenty-one calendar days from the date the citation was served. Thereafter, a late penalty charge shall be due and owing, as well as interest, as imposed by this chapter.

(1)

Administrative fines, re-inspection fees, late penalty charges, and any interest due shall be paid to the city at such location or address as stated in the citation, or as may otherwise be designated by the city administrator.

(2)

Payment of an administrative fine shall not excuse or discharge a citee from the duty to immediately abate a violation of the Code, nor from any other responsibility or legal consequences for a continuation or repeated occurrence(s) of a violation of the Code.

(3)

Abatement of a violation shall not excuse the obligation of a citee to pay an administrative fine or any other charges, fees, or costs imposed as a result of the issuance of a citation.

(b)

Collection. Unpaid administrative fines and other charges, fees, or costs imposed in accordance with this chapter shall constitute a debt that may be collected in any manner allowed by law, including, but not limited to: (i) the filing of a small claims or civil action in the Los Angeles Superior Court; and/or, (ii) by means of collecting the debt using the California Franchise Tax Board "Inter-Agency Offset Program" (pursuant to Section 12419.10 of the California Government Code); and/or, (iii) by denying the issuance or renewal of any city approval, license, permit, or other entitlement to any citee who has failed to tender all unpaid administrative fines, late penalty charges, interest charges, or re-inspection fees; and/or, (iv) by pursuing any and all legal and equitable remedies for the collection of unpaid fines, fees, interest and penalties. The use of one recovery method does not preclude the use of ay other recovery method. The city administrator, or a designee thereof, may promulgate policies and procedures for the city's election to use one or more of the foregoing collection remedies.

(Ord. No. 698, § 4, 4-17-2019)