A. Civil violation enforcement actions shall be commenced either by citation or complaint in the name of the state. Any city employee responsible for the enforcement of any provision of the city code may issue a citation. Alternatively, the city prosecutor may file a complaint. Upon receipt of the complaint, the court shall issue a summons.

B. The employee issuing a citation may serve it on the defendant. The citation or complaint and summons may also be served in the same manner as the summons in a civil action, except that service may not be by publication. In addition, a citation or summons may be served by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Return of the receipt shall be prima facie evidence of service.

C. The citation or complaint and summons shall contain at least the following information: the time, date, and place of the alleged violation; reference to the city ordinance or code provision violated; the time, date, and place for the defendant to appear; an affirmation signed by the citing city employee that the violation took place; and warning of default in the event of failure to appear.