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(A) Generally. Words and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage. Words and phrases that have acquired a technical or particular meaning, whether by legislative definition or otherwise, shall be construed accordingly.
(B) Number, gender and tense. As used in the code, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The singular includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular.
(2) Words of one gender include the other genders.
(3) Words in the present tense include the future.
(C) Calendar; computation of time.
(1) In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by the state rules of civil procedure, by order of court or by any applicable statute, the day of the act, event or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or a state or federal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday nor a holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be excluded in the computation. A half holiday shall be considered as another day and not as a holiday.
(2) In all cases where the law requires any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, reasonable time or notice shall mean the time as only may be necessary for the prompt performance of the duty or compliance with the notice.
(D) Authority. When the law 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 acts when done by an authorized agent.
(E) Joint authority. All words purporting to give joint authority to three or more city officers or to other persons shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of the officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority or inconsistent with state statute or other provisions.
(F) Exceptions. The rules of construction shall not apply to any law which contains any express provision excluding the construction, or when the subject matter or context of the law may be repugnant thereto.
If the provisions of different codes, chapters or sections of the codified ordinances conflict with or contravene each other, the provisions bearing the latest passage date shall prevail. If the conflicting provisions bear the same passage date, the conflict shall be construed so as to be consistent with the meaning or legal effect of the subject matter taken as a whole.
If any provision of a section of these codified ordinances or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the section or related sections which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions are severable.
(A) Wherever in a penalty section reference is made to a violation of a section or an inclusive group of sections, the reference shall be construed to mean a violation of any provision of the section or sections included in the reference.
(B) References in the code to action taken or authorized under designated sections of the code include, in every case, action taken or authorized under the applicable legislative provision which is superseded by this code.
(C) Whenever in one section reference is made to another section hereof, the reference shall extend and apply to the section referred to as subsequently amended, revised, recodified or renumbered, unless the subject matter be changed or materially altered by the amendment or revision.
Reference to a public office or officer shall be deemed to apply to any office, officer or employee of the city exercising the powers, duties or functions contemplated in the provision, irrespective of any transfer of functions or change in the official title of the functionary.
If a manifest error is discovered, consisting of the misspelling of any words; the omission of any word or words necessary to express the intention of the provisions affected; the use of a word or words to which no meaning can be attached; or the use of a word or words when another word or words were clearly intended to express the intent, the spelling shall be corrected and the word or words supplied, omitted or substituted as will conform with the manifest intention, and the provisions shall have the same effect as though the correct words were contained in the text as originally published. No alteration shall be made or permitted if any question exists regarding the nature or extent of the error.
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