In the construction of this code, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the City Council or repugnant to the context of the provisions. For the purpose of this code of ordinances, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY. The City of Marshalltown, Iowa, and extends to its several officers, agents and employees.
CITY ATTORNEY. The chief legal officer of the city.
CLERK. The Clerk of the city.
COUNTY. The County of Marshall in the State of Iowa.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision or section appears requiring an officer of the city to do some act or make certain inspections, it is to be construed to authorize the officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or make the required inspection unless the terms of the provision or section designate otherwise.
GENDER. Words of one gender include the other genders.
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 is otherwise expressed.
LAND and REAL ESTATE. Land, tenements, hereditaments and all rights thereto and interest therein, equitable as well as legal.
MISDEMEANOR. Any unlawful violation of any city ordinance, upon conviction thereof, there is prescribed a punishment.
MONTH and YEAR.
(1) The term MONTH means a calendar month.
(2) The term YEAR means a calendar year.
NUMBER. Words importing the singular number may be extended to several persons or things, and words importing the plural number may be applied to one person or thing.
OATH and AFFIRMATION. The word OATH includes AFFIRMATIONS in all cases where an affirmation may be substituted for an oath and, in like cases, the word SWEAR includes AFFIRM.
OFFICIALS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND THE LIKE. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards and commissions by title only (i.e., “Council”, “Clerk”, the “Mayor” and the like), they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards and commissions of the city.
PERSON. Includes and shall be applied to corporations, associations, clubs, societies, firms, partnerships, municipalities and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes money, goods, chattels, evidences of debt and things in action.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
STATE. The State of Iowa.
STREET. Any public street, highway, boulevard, avenue, alley, parkway, public place, plaza, mall or publicly owned right-of-way of easement within the limits of the city.
TENSE. Words used in the present of past tense include the future as well as the present and past.
WORDS AND PHRASES. Construed according to the context and the approved usage of the language; technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, shall be construed according to such meaning.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING. Any mode of representing words and letters in general use, except that signatures, when required, must be made by the writing or mark of the person.
(2013 Code, § 1-2)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see I.C.A. § 4.1