(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 Clara City, Minnesota.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This city code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
CONVICTION. Either of the following accepted and recorded by the court:
(a) A plea of guilty; or
(b) A verdict of guilty by a jury or a finding of guilty by the court.
COUNTY. The County of Chippewa, Minnesota.
CRIME. Conduct which is prohibited by ordinance and for which the actor may be sentenced to imprisonment or fine.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBER. A person who is not counted for the purpose of determining a quorum, and has no right to vote, but shall have the right and obligation (within his or her discretion) to speak to any question coming before the board, commission or other deliberative body of which he or she is a member.
INTERSECTION. The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb line or, if no curb, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways or streets which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different streets joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
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. All terms shall mean a pledge taken by the person and administered by an individual authorized by state law.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of the city unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
ORDINANCE. An ordinance duly adopted by the City Council of Clara City, Minnesota.
PERSON. Extends to and includes an individual, person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, 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.
POLICE OFFICER and PEACE OFFICER. Every officer, including special police, authorized to direct or regulate traffic, keep the peace and appointed or employed for the purpose of law enforcement.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PRIVATE PROPERTY. All property not included within the definition of public property or public place.
PUBLIC PROPERTY and PUBLIC PLACE. Any place, property or premises dedicated to public use, owned by the city, occupied by the city as a lessee, or occupied by the city as a street by reason of an easement, including, but not limited to, streets, parks or parking lots so owned or occupied.
ROADWAY. The portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a street includes two or more separate roadways, the term ROADWAY, as used herein, shall refer to any roadway separately, but not to all roadways collectively.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Minnesota.
STREET. The entire area dedicated to public use, or contained in an easement or other conveyance or grant to the city, and shall include, but not be limited to, roadways, boulevards, sidewalks, alleys and other public property between lateral property lines in which a roadway lies.
SUBCHAPTER. A division 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.
(Prior Code, § 1.02)