(A) For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
BUILDING. Any human-made structure permanently affixed to the ground.
CHIEF OF POLICE. The city police officer.
CITY. The City of Peosta, Iowa, or the area within the territorial limits of the city, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.
CLERK. The Clerk of the city.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. The time within which an act is to be done. It shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day; and if the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
COUNCIL. The City Council of the city. All its members or all Council persons mean the total number of Council persons provided by the city charter under the general laws of the state.
COUNTY. The County of Dubuque, Iowa.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision 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.
FISCAL YEAR. July 1 to June 30.
LAW. Denotes applicable federal law, the Constitution, and statutes of the state, the ordinances of the city, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
MAY. Confers a power.
MONTH. A calendar month.
MUST. States a requirement.
OATH. Construed to include an affirmative or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED shall be equivalent to the words SWEAR and SWORN.
OR. May be read as AND; and AND may be read as OR if the sense requires it.
ORDINANCE. A law of the city; however, an administrative action, order, or directive may be in the form of a resolution.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, or tenant by the entirety of the whole or part of such building or land.
PERSON. A natural person, any other legal entity, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer, or employee of any of them.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes any interest in land.
SHALL. Imposes a duty.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
STATE. The State of Iowa.
STREET. Includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways in the city which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of the state.
TENANT and OCCUPANT. When applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
TITLE OF OFFICE. Use of the title of any officer, employee, board, or commission means that officer, employee, department, board, or commission of the city.
WRITTEN. Includes printed, typewritten, or electronically transmitted such as facsimile or electronic mail.
YEAR. A calendar year.
(B) All words and phrases shall be construed and understood according to the common and approved usage of the language; but technical words and phrases, and such other as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law, shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
(C) When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed as to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
(Prior Code, § 1-1-1)