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: The City of Mason City, in the County of Cerro Gordo, in the State of Iowa.
CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL: The City Council of the City of Mason City.
CITY SEAL: The seal of the City described as follows: a disk having around the margin thereof the words "City Seal" and within the circle on the face thereof the words "City of Mason City, Iowa".
CODE: The Code of Mason City, 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: The County of Cerro Gordo in the State of Iowa.
FISCAL YEAR: The Municipal fiscal year beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on June 30 of the following year.
GENDER: Whenever the masculine gender is used, females as well as males shall be deemed to be included.
IN THE CITY: All territory over which the City now has or shall hereafter acquire jurisdiction.
JOINT AUTHORITY: Words giving a joint authority to three (3) 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.
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: The word "oath" shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed".
OCCUPANT OR TENANT: As applied to a building or land, shall mean 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: 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 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: Every species of property, except real property as defined by this section.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING: Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY: Real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY: Lands, tenements and hereditaments and shall embrace all chattels real.
SHALL: The word "shall" is mandatory.
STATE: The State of Iowa.
STATUTE REFERENCES: Whenever reference is made to the Iowa Code, this shall mean and have reference to the latest edition of the Iowa Code, as amended and supplemented.
TENSE: Words in the present tense shall include the future.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING: 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 is unable to write, by his proper mark, witnessed as required by law.
YEAR: A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. (1953 Code § 3-1; amd. 1985 Code; Ord. 1476, 1-15-1979; 2017 Code)