ARTICLE XII. FRANCHISES.

Section 1200. Granting of franchises.

   Any person, firm or corporation furnishing the city or its inhabitants with any public utility or public service of any kind, or using the public streets, ways, alleys, or places for the operation of plants, works or equipment for the furnishing thereof, or traversing any portion of the city for any purpose, may be required by ordinance to have a valid and existing franchise therefor.

   The council shall provide, by ordinance, the method of procedure and the terms and conditions under which such franchises may be granted. Such ordinance shall provide for public notice and public hearings. Any ordinance granting any franchise or privilege shall be published at the expense of the applicant therefor.

   The council is empowered to grant such franchise by ordinance and to prescribe the terms and conditions of such grant. No franchise grant shall, in any way or to any extent, impair or affect the right of the city to acquire the property of the grantee thereof by eminent domain proceedings in the manner provided by law.

ARTICLE XIII. Repealed by Resolution No. 84 74-75 §3(b), Passed 4-8-75, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 4-21-75.

ARTICLE XIV. PERSONNEL SYSTEM.

Section 1400. Establishment by ordinance.

   Any officer authorized or empowered to appoint, employ, suspend or discharge, or fix the compensation of heads of departments, subordinate officials, officers, assistants, or employees of the city, shall exercise such authority or power subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any ordinance adopted by the city council establishing a personnel system.

(Res. No. 96 84-85 §1 (part), Measure A (part), Passed 4-9-85, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 4-16-85)

ARTICLE XV. MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 1500. Definitions.

   Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, as used in this Charter:

   A.   “Shall” is mandatory, and “may” is permissive;

   B.   “City” is the City of Chico and “department,” “board,” “commission,” “agency,” “officer,” or “employee,” is a department, board, commission, agency, officer or employee, as the case may be, of the City of Chico;

   C.   “County” is the County of Butte;

   D.   “State” is the State of California;

   E.   “Official newspaper of the city” is any newspaper which has been awarded a contract pursuant to Section 1114 of this Charter;

   F.   The word “Council,” wherever it occurs in this Charter, means the city council of the City of Chico.

(Res. No. 75 76-77 §1, Measure E (part), Passed 3-8-77, Filed in Office of Secretary of State 5-2-77)