Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain or ordinary
and usual sense, but technical words and phrases having a peculiar
and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their
technical import.
The headings of the Chapters and Sections of this Code are intended
as guides and not as part of this Code for purposes of interpretation
or construction.
Whenever any ordinance or part of an ordinance shall be repealed
or modified, either expressly or by implication, by a subsequent ordinance,
the ordinance or part of an ordinance repealed or modified shall continue
in force until the subsequent ordinance repealing or modifying the
prior ordinance shall go into effect unless otherwise expressly provided;
but not suit, prosecution, proceeding, right, fine or penalty instituted,
created, given, secured or accrued under any ordinance prior to its
repeal shall in anywise be affected, released or discharged but may
be prosecuted, enjoyed and recovered as fully as if such ordinance
or provisions had continued in force, unless it shall be therein otherwise
expressly provided.
When a law repealing a former law, clause or provision is itself
repealed, it does not revive the former law, clause or provision,
unless it is otherwise expressly provided; nor shall any law repealing
any former law, clause or provision abate, annul or in any wise affect
any proceedings had or commenced under or by virtue of the law so
repealed, but the same is as effectual and shall be proceeded on to
final judgment and termination as if the repealing law had not passed,
unless it is otherwise expressly provided.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council
that the Chapters, Sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases
of this Code are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph,
Section, or Chapter of this Code shall be declared unconstitutional
or otherwise invalid by the valid judgment or decree of any Court
of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality or invalidity
shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences,
paragraphs, Sections, and Chapters of this Code since the same would
have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation in
this Code of any such unconstitutional or invalid phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or Section.
Except as otherwise specifically provided or indicated by the
context, all the words in this Code indicating the present tense shall
not be limited to the time of adoption of this Code but shall extend
to and include the time of the happening of any act, event, or requirement
for which provision is made herein, either as a power, immunity, requirement,
or prohibition.
The provisions of the preceding Section shall not apply to those
Chapters of this Code wherein there is a separate definition of notice.
The time in which an act is to be done will be computed by excluding
the first day and including the last day. If the last day is a Sunday
or legal holiday observed by the City, that day will be excluded.
When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven (7)
days, intermediate Sundays and legal holiday observed by the City
will be excluded in the computation. Any half holidays will not be
counted as a legal holiday for the purposes of this Code.
When any subject matter, party or person is described or referred
to by words importing the masculine, females as well as males, and
associations and bodies corporate as well as individuals, shall be
deemed to be included.
Words importing joint authority to multiple persons shall be
construed as authority to a majority of such persons.
When any subject matter, party or person is described or referred
to by words importing the singular number, the plural and separate
matters and persons and bodies corporate shall be deemed to be included;
and when words importing the plural number are used, the singular
shall be deemed to be included.