(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or 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) Specific definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CALENDAR YEAR. From January 1 through December 31 of any given year.
CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, or MUNICIPALITY. The City of Riverbank, California.
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. The City Council of the City of Riverbank.
COUNTY. Stanislaus County, California.
DAY. A calendar day unless otherwise expressed.
FISCAL YEAR. From July 1 of any given year through June 30 of the following year.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
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.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION, or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission, or department of this city unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, or receiver. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER as applied to any unincorporated entity shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. This term shall include money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Both real and personal property.
QUARTERLY. When used to designate a period of time, shall mean the first three calendar months of any given year or any succeeding period of three calendar months.
REAL PROPERTY. This term shall include lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of California.
STREET. This term shall include all streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, alleys, courts, places, squares, 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 this state.
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.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. Applied to a building or land, the terms shall include any person who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed; equivalent to the words YEAR OF OUR LORD.
(Ord. 2008-009, passed 10-13-08)