Any officer of the City found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction of any act which violated this Charter shall be guilty of misconduct in office and of a misdemeanor. The officer may be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both such punishments in the discretion of the court. In addition, the officer shall forfeit his office with the City. These punishments shall be in addition to and not in place of any punishment for any other statutory or other violations committed by the officer.
When this Charter established a deadline which falls on a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday for which City Hall is closed, the deadline shall be extended to the next day during which City Hall is open.
When this Charter uses the term or refers to the concept "majority vote of the Commission" the term shall mean the concurring vote of a majority of the members of the Commission present and voting at any legal meeting of the Commission at which a quorum is present.
Subject to any exceptions in applicable State or Federal law, all records of the City shall be open to the public.
This Charter may be amended at any time in the manner provided by State law. If two or more amendments are adopted at the same election and have conflicting provisions, the one receiving the largest affirmative vote shall prevail.
Except as otherwise specifically provided or indicated by the context, the following rules of interpretation shall apply to this Charter.
(a) 
All words used in this Charter indicating the present tense shall not be limited to the time of the adoption of this Charter, but shall extend to and include the occurrence of any event or requirement, described in this Charter.
(b) 
The singular number shall include the plural and the plural number shall include the singular.
(c) 
The word "person" shall include political bodies, corporate bodies, unincorporated entities, partnerships, sole proprietorships, as well as individuals.
(d) 
The words "printed" and "printing" shall include reproductions by any reliable method.
(e) 
Except in reference to signatures, the words "written" and "in writing" shall include any method of documented communication which is understandable to normal literate persons.
(f) 
The word "officer" shall include but not be limited to the members of the Commission, the City's administrative officers, and their deputies.
(g) 
Any references to statutes shall be considered to be references to those statutes as amended.
(h) 
All references to section numbers shall refer to section numbers of this Charter.
If any provision, section or clause of this Charter is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect any remaining portion of this Charter. This Charter is declared to be severable.
If this Charter is adopted at the election to be held on November 5, 1996, it shall take effect and become the Charter of the City on December 1, 1996.