§ 13-21. Civil code infractions; Jurisdiction; Purpose.

(a)

The city court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate, and assess and collect penalties for civil violations of the City Charter, city code and other ordinances, as declared in sec. 1-7(c) of this Code. The city court's jurisdiction over civil code infractions shall extend, under sections 3 and 6 of the City Charter, article XI, to issuance of orders requiring abatement of violations and requiring compliance with the applicable provisions of the City Code and other ordinances.

(b)

The jurisdiction of the city court over civil code infractions shall not be interpreted or applied in any manner to limit the jurisdiction of the superior court over civil actions for declaratory relief, for injunctive relief, for abatement of public or private nuisances, or for damages, the basis of which may be an act, omission or condition in violation of the City Code or other ordinances.

(c)

The purpose of this article is to provide, as an additional alternative to other enforcement means, for an informal, speedy and inexpensive process for the adjudication of civil code infractions, based upon an administrative hearing model, in which citizens who receive a civil code infraction complaint may obtain a prompt, simplified hearing, without the need in most cases to retain an attorney to represent them and without the severity of the consequences which might follow a criminal conviction for a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 1817 § 3, 9-27-94)