(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY, THIS CITY or MUNICIPALITY. The City of Newcastle, Oklahoma.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COUNCIL or CITY COUNCIL. The City Council of Newcastle.
COUNTY. McClain County, Oklahoma.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving JOINT AUTHORITY to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving authority to a majority of the persons or officers.
LAW. Applicable federal law, provisions of the state constitution and state statutes, the ordinances of the city, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MAYOR. The Mayor of the city.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OTHER OFFICIALS or OFFICERS, AND THE LIKE. Whenever reference is made to officers, agencies or departments by title only, such as “Clerk”, “City Clerk”, “City Attorney”, “Fire Chief”, “Police Chief” and the like, they shall mean the officers, agencies or departments of the city.
PERSON. Includes natural persons, corporations (private and public), partnerships and all other unincorporated organizations, trusts, estates and government agencies, except when a contrary intention plainly appears.
PRECEDING; FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Real and personal property.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Oklahoma.
STATUTORY REFERENCES. References to the statutes of the state as they now are or as they may be amended.
STREET. Street, avenue, boulevard, road, alley, lane, viaduct, highway, court, place, square, curb or any other public way in the city which is dedicated and open to public use.
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have SUBCHAPTERS.
WEEK. Seven days.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year.
(2002 Code, § 10.05)