(A) Generally. The rules and the definitions set forth in this chapter shall be observed in the construction of this code and the ordinances of the city unless the construction would be inconsistent with either the manifest intent of the Council or the context of this code or the ordinances of the city.
(Prior Code, Art. 1-2)
(B) Acts by agents. When this code or an ordinance requires an act to be done which may by law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, the requirement shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-2)
(C) Gender; singular and plural. Words of the masculine gender include the feminine; words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-9)
(D) Joint authority. All words purporting to give “joint authority” to three or more city officers or other persons shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of the officers or other persons unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-11)
(E) Or, and. “Or” may be read “and”, and “and” may be read “or”, if the sense requires it.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-14)
(F) Shall, may. “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-20)
(G) Shall have been. The words “shall have been” include past and future cases.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-21)
(H) Tenses. The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-25)
(I) 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 a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday it shall be excluded; and when the time is expressed in hours, the whole of Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, from midnight to midnight, shall be excluded.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-26)
(J) 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, the reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean the time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of the duty or compliance with the notice.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-27)