(A) Interpretation.
(1) The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.
(2) OR may be read AND, AND may be read OR, if the sense requires it.
(3) Whenever the words HE or SHE is used, it shall be construed to include both sexes.
(4) Whenever any “department, board commission, office, officer or employee” is referred to, it shall mean a department, board, commission, office, officer, or employee of the City, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(B) Definitions. All words and phrases shall be constructed and understood according to the common and approved usage of the language; but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
ACTS BY AGENTS. When an ordinance requires an act to be done which may by law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
CITY. The City of Coolidge, Arizona.
CODE, THE CODE, or THIS CODE. The Code of the City of Coolidge, Arizona unless the text indicates otherwise.
COUNCIL. The Common Council of the City of Coolidge, Arizona.
COUNTY. The County of Pinal, Arizona.
OATH. Includes affirmation or declaration.
PERSON. Extend to and shall be applied to firm, corporations, or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION BY MARK. Includes a mark when the signer cannot write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION BY MARK can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their names thereto.
STATE. The State of Arizona.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. As applied to a building or land, shall include any person holding a written or an oral lease or who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
TIME (COMPUTATION). The time within which an act is to be done as provided in this code or in any order issued pursuant to any ordinance, when expressed in days, shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, except that if the last day is Sunday or a holiday, it shall be excluded; and when such time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday or a holiday, from 12:00 midnight to 12:00 midnight, shall be excluded.
TIME (REASONABLE). In all cases where any section of this code shall require any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, such REASONABLE TIME OR NOTICE shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such duty, or compliance with such notice.
WEEK. A week consists of seven consecutive days.
YEAR. A calendar year, except where otherwise provided.
(Prior Code, § 1-3)
Statutory reference:
For definition and construction of statutes generally, see A.R.S. §§ 1-211 to 1-215