In the construction of this code and of all ordinances, the following rules are observed unless the construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the council:
CITIZEN: A person who resides in Seminole County, does not reside within the limits of any city or town except the city of Seminole, and is eligible to vote in state and local elections.
CITY OR THIS CITY: The city of Seminole, Oklahoma, or the area within the territorial limits of the city of Seminole, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any law or constitutional provision.
COMPUTATION OF TIME: Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act is to be done, the time period in which the act or notice is required shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day. If the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
COUNCIL OR CITY COUNCIL: The city council of Seminole.
COUNTY OR THIS COUNTY: The county of Seminole, Oklahoma.
GENDER: A word importing one gender only shall extend and be applied to other genders and to firms, partnerships, and corporations as well.
JOINT AUTHORITY: All words giving "joint authority" to three (3) or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.
LAW: Includes applicable federal law, provisions of the constitution and statutes of the state of Oklahoma, the ordinances of the city, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
MANAGER OR CITY MANAGER: The city manager of the city.
MAY: Is permissive.
MAYOR: The mayor of the city.
MONTH: A calendar month.
NONTECHNICAL AND TECHNICAL WORDS: Words and phrases which are not specifically defined shall be construed according to the common and accepted usage of the language; but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
NUMBER: A word importing the singular number only may extend and be applied to several persons and things as well as to one person and thing. Words used in the plural number may also include the singular unless a contrary intention plainly appears.
OATH: Shall be construed to include 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".
OR, AND: "Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or", if the sense requires it.
OTHER OFFICIALS OR OFFICERS: Whenever reference is made to officers, agencies or departments by title only, i.e., "clerk", "city clerk", "city attorney", "fire chief", "chief of police", etc., they shall mean the officers, agencies or departments of the city.
PERSON: Shall extend and be applied to a natural person, any persons and to associations, clubs, societies, firms, partnerships, trusts, and bodies politic and corporate, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them, unless a contrary intention plainly appears.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING: Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY: Shall include real and personal property.
RESIDENT: A person whose actual dwelling or primary residence is located within the corporate limits of the city of Seminole and who is eligible to vote in state and local elections.
SHALL AND MUST: Are mandatory.
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE OR SUBSCRIPTION: Includes a mark when a person cannot write.
STATE OR THIS STATE: Shall be construed to mean the state of Oklahoma.
STATUTORY REFERENCES: References to statutes of the state of Oklahoma as they now are or as they may be amended to be.
STREET: Shall be construed to embrace streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts, highways, courts, places, squares, curbs and all other public ways in the city which are or are hereafter dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
TENSE: Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
WEEK: Seven (7) days.
WORDS AND PHRASES NOT DEFINED: Words and phrases not specifically defined shall be construed according to the context and approved usage of the language.
WRITTEN: Includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed or multigraphed.
YEAR: A calendar year. (Ord. 981, 1-11-2005)