In the construction of this code, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council or repugnant to the context of the provisions:
CITY: The city of Waterloo, Iowa, and extended to its several officers, agents and employees.
CITY ATTORNEY: The chief legal officer of the city, and includes the city solicitor.
CITY CLERK: The city clerk of the city.
COMPUTING TIME; HOLIDAYS: In computing time, the first day shall be excluded and the last included, unless the last day falls on Sunday, in which case the time prescribed shall be extended so as to include the whole of the following Monday; provided that, whenever the last day for the commencement of any action or proceedings, the filing of any pleading or motion in a pending action or proceedings or the perfecting or filing of any appeal from the decision of any court, board, commission or official falls on a Saturday, a Sunday or any recognized legal holiday, the time therefor shall be extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or such legal holiday.
COUNTY: The county of Black Hawk in the state of 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.
GENDER: Words importing the masculine gender only may be extended to females.
JOINT AUTHORITY: Words giving a joint authority to three (3) or more public officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed.
LAND, REAL ESTATE: The word "land" and phrases "real estate" and "real property" include land, tenements, hereditaments and all rights thereto and interest therein, equitable as well as legal.
MONTH, YEAR: The word "month" means a calendar month and the word "year" means a calendar year.
NUMBER: Words incorporating the singular number may be extended to several persons or things, and words importing the plural number may be applied to one person or thing.
OATH OR AFFIRMATION: The word "oath" includes affirmations in all cases where an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in like cases the word "swear" includes "affirm".
OFFICIALS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, ETC.: Whenever reference is made to officials, boards and commissions by title only, i.e., "council", "clerk", "the mayor" etc., they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards and commissions of the city of Waterloo.
OR, AND: "Or" may be read "and", and "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it.
PERSON: Includes and is applied to corporations, associations, clubs, societies, firms, partnerships, municipalities and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: Includes money, goods, chattels, evidences of debt and things in action.
PROPERTY: Includes real and personal property.
STATE: The state of Iowa.
TENSE: Words used in the present or past tense include the future as well as the present and past.
WORDS AND PHRASES: Words and phrases shall be construed according to the context and the approved usage of the language; technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, shall be construed according to such meaning.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING: Any mode of representing words and letters in general use, except that signatures, when required, must be made by the writing or mark of the person. (1970 Code, § 1-2; amd. 2001 Code)