For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY. The City of Spencer, Iowa.
CITY COUNCIL or COUNCIL. The City Council of the city.
CODE. The code of the city and all amendments thereto.
COMPUTING TIME. In computing time, the first day shall be excluded and the last included, unless the last falls on Sunday, in which case the time prescribed shall be extended so as to include the whole of the following Monday.
COUNTY. Clay County, Iowa.
IN THE CITY. All territory over which the city now has or shall hereafter acquire jurisdiction.
JOINT AUTHORITY. Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it shall be otherwise expressed in the ordinance or resolution giving the authority.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH; SWORN. The word OATH shall be deemed to include an affirmation, and the word SWORN shall be construed to include the word “affirmed.”
OCCUPANT or TENANT. Applied to a building or land, shall mean any person who holds a written or oral lease of, or actually occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
OWNER. Any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, contract purchaser, tenant in partnership or joint tenant of the whole or a part of any property, either alone or with others.
PERSON. A natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns or the agent of any of them.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every species of property, except REAL PROPERTY as defined by this section.
PRECEDING; FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Lands, tenements and hereditaments and shall embrace all chattels real.
SIGNATURE.
(1) Includes a handwritten SIGNATURE, a SIGNATURE stamp or an electronic SIGNATURE; and
(2) The Mayor, City Clerk, Deputy City Clerk and Finance Officer may use or direct and authorize a designee to possess and use a facsimile SIGNATURE stamp or an electronically scanned signature. Such SIGNATURE stamps or electronically scanned SIGNATURES shall be kept in the secure possession and under the control of the officer at all times.
STATE. The State of Iowa.
WRITTEN; IN WRITING. May include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.
YEAR. A calendar year unless otherwise expressed.
(Prior Code, § 1-3-2) (Ord. 739, passed 11-19-2012; Ord. 893, passed 7-18-2022)