In the construction of this code and of all ordinances of the city, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
CITY or THIS CITY. The City of Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa.
CITY COUNCIL or COUNCIL. The City Council of the City of Fort Madison, Iowa.
CODE. The Code of the City of Fort Madison, Iowa, and all amendments thereto.
COMPUTING TIME. In computing time, the first day shall be excluded and the last included, unless the last falls on Sunday, in which case the time prescribed shall be extended so as to include the whole of the following Monday.
COUNTY or THIS COUNTY. Lee County of the State of Iowa.
GENDER. Whenever the masculine gender is used, female as well as males shall be deemed to be included.
IN THE CITY or WITHIN THE CITY. All territory over which the city now has or shall hereafter acquire jurisdiction.
JOINT AUTHORITY. Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it shall be otherwise expressed in the ordinance or resolution giving the authority.
MISDEMEANOR. Wherever used in this city code, means a simple misdemeanor.
MONTH. A calendar month.
NUMBER. Whenever any words in any section of this Code import the plural number, the singular shall be deemed to be included and whenever the singular number shall be used it shall be deemed to include the plural.
OATH. Includes an affirmation, and the word “sworn” shall be construed to include the word “affirmed”.
OCCUPANT or TENANT. Applied to a building or land, means any person who holds a written or oral lease of, or actually occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
OR, AND. The word “or” may be read “and” and “and” may be read “or”, if the sense requires it.
OWNER. Includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership or joint tenant of the whole or a part of any property, either alone or with others.
PERSON. A natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns or the agent of any of them.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes every species of property, except real property as defined by this section.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments and shall embrace all chattels real.
SHALL. The word “shall” is mandatory.
STATE or THIS STATE. The State of Iowa.
TENSE. Words in the present tense shall include the future.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING. May include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters, but unless a facsimile signature is authorized when the written signature of any person is required by law to any official or public writing or bond required by law, it shall be in the proper handwriting of such person or in case he or she is unable to write, by his or her proper mark, witnessed as required by law.
YEAR. A calendar year unless otherwise expressed.
(Ord. B-254, passed 3-7-1978)