CHAPTER 1: GENERAL

ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

   1-1.   City code designations and citations

   1-2.   References to State law

   1-3.   Definitions and rules of construction

   1-4.   Rules of interpretation

   1-5.   Tie vote

   1-6.   Provisions considered as continuations of existing ordinances

   1-7.   Severability

   1-8.   Headings of chapters

   1-9.   Effect of repeal of ordinances

   1-10.   Violation of the code

   1-11.   Unlawful acts

   1-12.   City seal

   1-13.   Official flower

ARTICLE II. UTILITY BILLING HEARINGS; CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF CODE

   1-20.   Policy and purpose

   1-21.   Review procedure prior to termination of utility services for nonpayment of bills

   1-22.   Good cause for termination

   1-23.   Notice of delinquency; request for administrative hearing; appeal of hearing officer decision

   1-24.   Appointment of hearing officer; nature of administrative hearing

   1-25.   Appointment of appeal officer; appeal of decision of hearing officer; nature of appeal hearing

   1-26.   Jail labor authorized; services of misdemeanant probationers

   1-27.   Notices

   1-28.   Proof of notice

   1-29.   Summons for violation of code provisions

   1-30.   Time to appear

   1-31.   Place to appear

   1-32.   Violator to sign consent

   1-33.   Posting of bail

   1-34.   Warrant not to be issued until failure of defendant to appear

   1-35.   Penalty for wilful failure to appear

   1-36.   Warrant for arrest

   1-37.   Applicability of summons procedure

   1-38.   Arresting officer

ARTICLE III. JUDICIAL REVIEW

   1-45.   Judicial review

   1-46.   Actions to determine validity

   1-47.   Powers of hearing officers; subpoenas

ARTICLE IV. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

   1-50.   Municipal election day

   1-51.   Commencement

ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

   1-55.   Administrative hearings

   1-56.   Rules and regulations

   1-57.   Hearing officer

   1-58.   Appeal procedure

   1-59.   Conduct of hearing

   1-60.   Hearing officer authority

   1-61.   Decision

ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 1-1. CITY CODE DESIGNATIONS AND CITATIONS.

   The ordinances included in this and the following chapters, articles, divisions, and sections shall constitute and be designated as “The Code of the City of Oxnard, California,” and may be so cited. These ordinances may also be cited as the “City Code.”

(`64 Code, Sec. 1-1)

SEC. 1-2. REFERENCES TO STATE LAW.

   Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references to State law in this code are to the California Codes.

(`64 Code, Sec. 1-2)

SEC. 1-3. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

   In this and all ordinances of the city, the following definitions and rules shall be observed, unless such would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council or the context clearly requires otherwise:

      (A)   CITY - The City of Oxnard including the area within the territorial city limits of the city and such territory outside of the city over which the city council has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any provision of law.

      (B)   CITY COUNCIL - The city council of the City of Oxnard.

      (C)   CITY MANAGER - The city manager of the city or designee.

      (D)   CODE - CITY CODE refers to the 2002 Code of the city and its subsequent amendments. Otherwise, CODE refers to California Codes (for example, Vehicle Code).

      (E)   COMPUTATION OF TIME - The time in which any act provided by law is to be accomplished is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the day is a holiday and then that day is also excluded.

      (F)   COUNTY - The County of Ventura.

      (G)   DAY - A calendar day, unless specified otherwise.

      (H)   DAYTIME - The period of time between sunrise and sunset.

      (I)   GENDER - The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.

      (J)   MAY - A permissive term.

      (K)   MONTH - A calendar month.

      (L)   NIGHTTIME - The period of time between sunset and sunrise.

      (M)   NUMBER - The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.

      (N)   OFFICIAL TIME - Either Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Saving Time, as may be in current use in the city.

      (O)   PERSON - Any individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation or company.

      (P)   PERSONAL PROPERTY - Includes every species of property, except real property, as defined in this section.

      (Q)   PROCESS - Includes a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings of either a civil or criminal nature.

      (R)   PROPERTY - Includes real and personal property.

      (S)   REAL PROPERTY - Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

      (T)   SHALL - A mandatory term.

      (U)   STAFF - The employees of the city.

      (V)   STATE - The State of California.

      (W)   TENANT - Any person holding a written or an oral lease of, or a person occupying the whole or a part of a building or land, either alone or with others.

      (X)   TENSES - The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.

      (Y)   UNDEFINED WORDS - Words and phrases not defined in this code are construed according to the approved usage of the English language.

      (Z)   WEEK - Seven consecutive days, from Sunday to Saturday.

      (AA)   YEAR - A calendar year.

(`64 Code, Sec. 1-3)

SEC. 1-4. RULES OF INTERPRETATION.

   Unless otherwise provided herein, the provisions of the Civil Code, Sections 13 and 1645, are hereby adopted in the interpretation of words and phrases used in this code.

(`64 Code, Sec. 1-4)