Section 42. Penalties for violation of ordinances

Any person violating an
  ordinance of the common council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, except
  that an ordinance may provide that  a  violation  thereof  shall  be  an
  offense,  and  the  common  council  may  provide  therein or by general
  ordinance, that any person guilty of such violation shall be liable to a
  fine which shall not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars in amount,  or
  to  imprisonment  not  exceeding  one hundred and fifty days, or to both
  such fine and imprisonment, or such ordinance may provide for a penalty,
  not exceeding five hundred dollars to be recovered  by  the  city  in  a
  civil  action.  The city may maintain an action or proceeding in a court
  of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with, or to  restrain  by
  injunction  the  violation of, any ordinance of the common council or of
  the commissioner of public safety, notwithstanding  that  the  ordinance
  may provide a penalty for such violation.