In the construction of this Code, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Council or repugnant to the context of the provisions:
1. Verb Tense And Plurals: Words used in the present tense include the future, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.
2. May: The word “may” confers a power.
3. Must: The word “must” states a requirement.
4. Shall: The word “shall” imposes a duty.
5. Gender: The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.
6. Interpretation: All general provisions, terms, phrases, and expressions contained in this Code shall be liberally construed in order that the true intent and meaning of the Council may be fully carried out.
7. Extension of Authority: Whenever an officer or employee is required or authorized to do an act by a provision of this Code, the provision shall be construed as authorizing performance by a regular assistant, subordinate, or a duly authorized designee of said officer or employee.
8. Ordinance: The word “ordinance” contained in the ordinances of the City has been changed in the content of this Code to “title,” “chapter,” “section,” or “subsection” or words of like import for organizational and clarification purposes only. Such change to the City’s ordinances is not meant to amend passage and effective dates of such original ordinances.
Where words and phrases used in this Code are defined by State law, such definitions apply to their use in this Code and are adopted by reference. Those definitions so adopted that need further definition or are reiterated, and other words and phrases used herein, have the following meanings, unless specifically defined otherwise in another portion of this Code:
1. “Alley” means a public right-of-way, other than a street, affording secondary means of access to abutting property.
2. “City” means the city of Clive, Iowa.
3. “Clerk” means the city clerk of Clive, Iowa.
4. “Code” means the code of the City of Clive, Iowa.
5. “Council” means the city council of Clive, Iowa.
6. “County” means Polk County and Dallas County, Iowa.
7. “Measure” means an ordinance, amendment, resolution, or motion.
8. “Month” means a calendar month.
9. “Oath” means an affirmation in all cases in which by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words “affirm” and “affirmed” are equivalent to the words “swear” and “sworn.”
10. “Occupant or tenant” means applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
11. “Ordinances” means the ordinances of the City of Clive, Iowa, as embodied in this Code, ordinances not repealed by the ordinance adopting this Code, and those enacted hereafter.
12. “Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, domestic, or foreign corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, trust, or other legal entity, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative thereof, but does not include a governmental body.
13. “Preceding and following” means next before and next after, respectively.
14. “Property” means includes real property, and tangible and intangible personal property unless clearly indicated otherwise.
15. “Property owner” means a person owning private property in the City as shown by the County Auditor’s plats of the City.
16. “Public place” means but is not restricted to, any City owned open place, such as parks and squares.
17. “Public property” means any and all property owned by the City or held in the name of the City by any of the departments, commissions, or agencies within the City government.
18. “Public way” means any street, alley, boulevard, parkway, highway, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare.
19. “Sidewalk” means that surfaced portion of the street between the edge of the traveled way, surfacing, or curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
20. “State” means the State of Iowa.
21. “Statutes or laws” means the latest edition of the Code of Iowa, as amended.
22. “Street or highway” means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular traffic.
23. “Writing and written” means printing, typing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters.
24. “Year” means a calendar year.
The catchlines of the several sections of this Code, titles, headings (chapter, section, and subsection), cross references, and State law references, unless set out in the body of the section itself, contained in this Code, do not constitute any part of the law, and are intended merely to indicate, explain, supplement, or clarify the contents of a section.