(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) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHARTER or THIS CHARTER. The Home Rule Charter of the city, adopted by the voters on 2-16-1946, as amended.
CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION or MUNICIPALITY. The City of Texas City, Texas.
CITY COMMISSION. Whenever the words COMMISSION, or THE COMMISSION or THE CITY COMMISSION are used, they shall mean the City Commission of the City of Texas City, Texas.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be done a certain length of time before any proceeding shall be had, the day on which the notice is given or the act is done shall be counted in computing the time, but the day on which the proceeding is to be had shall not be counted.
COUNTY. Galveston County, Texas.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision of this code requires or authorizes an officer or employee of the city to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize the officer or employee to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the act or duty unless the terms of the provision specifically designate otherwise.
EASEMENT. A right, liberty, privilege or advantage without profit which the owner of one parcel of land may have in the lands of another; or a right in the owner of one parcel of land, by reason of the ownership, to use the land of another for a special purpose not inconsistent with a general property right in the owner.
HIGHWAY. Includes any street, alley, highway, avenue or public place or square, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, underpasses, overpasses and causeways in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
JOINT AUTHORITY. Words purporting to give authority to three or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise declared.
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 the municipality, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named, they mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the city.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of a part of the building or land.
PENAL CODE DEFINITIONS. The provisions of Tex. Penal Code Titles 1 through 3 shall apply in the interpretation of this code to the extent that the Penal Code mandates that they shall apply.
PERSON.
(a) Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver.
(b) 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. Includes every species of property, except real property, as defined in this section.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Lands, tenements and hereditaments.
ROADWAY. The portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of the street between the curb, or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
SIGNED. Any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present indication to authenticate a writing.
STATE. The State of Texas.
STREET. Includes any highway, alley, street, avenue or public place or square, bridges, viaducts, underpasses, overpasses, tunnels and causeways in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
SUBCHAPTER.
(a) 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.
(b) Not all chapters have
SUBCHAPTERS.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
(1998 Code, § 1-2)
Charter reference:
Meaning of words and designations, see Art. XVIII, § 11