The following words and phrases whenever used in the ordinances of the city of Hawthorne, California, shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
"City"
means the city of Hawthorne, California, or the area within the territorial limits of the city of Hawthorne, California, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.
"Computation of time"
means the time within which an act is to be done. It is computed by excluding the first day and including the last day; and if the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
"Council"
means the city council of the city of Hawthorne, California. "All its members" or "all councilmen" means the total number of councilmen provided by the general laws of the state of California.
"County"
means the county of Los Angeles.
"Engage in"
includes commerce, engage in, carry on, conduct, maintain, manage and operate.
"Goods"
includes wares and merchandise.
"Law"
denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state of California, the ordinances of the city of Hawthorne, and when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
"License fee"
includes any charge imposed for a license, whether the object is regulation or revenue, or both regulation and revenue.
"May"
is permissive.
"Month"
means a calendar month.
"Must" and "shall."
Each is mandatory.
"Oath"
includes an affirmation or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words "swear" and "sworn" are equivalent to the words "affirm" and "affirmed."
"Occupation" or "business"
includes businesses, professions, trades and occupations, and all and every kind of calling.
"Operate"
includes carry on, keep, conduct, maintain or manage.
"Or"
may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it.
"Ordinance"
means a law of the city; provided, that a temporary or special law, administrative action, order or directive, may be in the form of a resolution.
"Owner,"
applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.
"Person"
means natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.
"Personal property"
includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
"Preceding" and "following"
mean next before and next after, respectively.
"Property"
includes real and personal property.
"Public employees retirement system."
Whenever the words "state employees' retirement system" are used, they mean and include "public employees" retirement system."
"Real property"
includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
"Sale"
includes any sale, exchange, barter or offer for sale.
"Sidewalk"
means that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
"State"
means the state of California.
"Street"
includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs or other public ways in this city which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
"Tenant" and "occupant,"
applied to a building or land, include any person who occupies whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
Title of office.
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the city.
Vote, approval or consent.
Except as may be otherwise provided in connection therewith, the phrase "vote, approval or consent of the council or other body" means the affirmative vote of a majority of those members present at a meeting having a quorum in attendance. Whenever said phrase refers to the members of the council or other body rather than to the council or body as such, the vote required shall be in relation to the total membership rather than to those members present at the meeting.
"Written"
includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed or multigraphed.
"Year"
means a calendar year.
All words and phrases shall be construed and understood according to the common and approved usage of the language; but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement is construed as to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of the city:
A. 
Gender. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.
B. 
Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
C. 
Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable.
D. 
Use of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases not specifically defined shall be construed according to the context and approved usage of the language.
Whenever a notice is required to be given under the ordinances of the city, unless different provisions herein are otherwise specifically made, such notice may be given either by personal delivery thereof to the person to be notified or by deposit in the United States Mail in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to such person to be notified at his last known business or residence address as the same appears in the public records or other records pertaining to the matter to which such notice is directed. Service by mail shall be deemed to have been completed at the time of deposit in the post office or any United States mailbox. Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of this city or by affidavit of any person over the age of eighteen years which shows service in conformity with this code or other provisions of law applicable to the subject matter concerned.
The provisions of the ordinances of the city, and all proceedings under them, are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice.