(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense; however, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY. The City of Auburn, Michigan.
CITY COMMISSION. The City Commission of Auburn, Michigan.
CODE, THIS CODE, THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY CODE or AUBURN CITY CODE. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COUNTY. Bay County, Michigan.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and, in those cases, the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of the municipality, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, co-partnership, trustee, lessee or receiver. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER, as applied to any unincorporated entity, shall mean the partners or members thereof, and, as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any place to or upon which the public resorts, or travels, whether such place is owned or controlled by the city or any agency of the State of Michigan, or is a place to or upon which the public resorts or travels by custom, or by invitation, expressed or implied.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curb lines or lateral lines and the right-of-way lines which is intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Michigan.
STREET, HIGHWAY and ALLEY. The entire width subject to an easement for public right-of-way, or owned in fee by the city, county or state, of every way or place, of whatever nature, whenever any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right for purposes of public travel. The word ALLEY shall mean any such way or place providing a secondary means of ingress and egress from a property.
SUBCHAPTER. A subsection of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have SUBCHAPTERS.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
(1991 Code, § 1.5)