In this
Code, and in all ordinances and resolutions passed by the city council,
the following rules contained in this section shall be observed, unless
their usage would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the
city council:
City.
The terms "city," "the city" and "this city" shall mean the
City of Jefferson, in Marion County, Texas.
City council.
The terms "the council," "the city council," and "governing
body" shall mean the mayor and aldermen acting as the City Council
of Jefferson, Texas.
City officers or departments.
Terms designating city officers or departments shall be construed
to mean the city officers or departments of the City of Jefferson,
Texas.
Code.
The terms "the Code" and "this Code" shall mean "The Code
of Ordinances, City of Jefferson, Texas."
Computation of time.
Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be
done in a certain length of time before any proceeding or step in
a proceeding shall be had, the day on which such notice is given,
or such act is done, shall not be counted in computing the time, but
the day on which such proceeding or step in a proceeding is to be
had shall be counted except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Code. If the last day of any period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal
holiday, the period is extended to include the next day that is not
a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
Conjunctions.
Unless the context clearly indicates the contrary, where
a provision involving two or more items, conditions, provisions or
events are connected by the conjunction "and," "or" or "either…or,"
the conjunction shall be interpreted as follows:
(1)
The term "and" indicates that all the connected terms, conditions,
provisions or events apply.
(2)
The term "or" indicates that the connected terms, conditions,
provisions or events apply singly or in any combination.
(3)
The term "either…or" indicates that the connected terms,
conditions, provisions or events apply singly but not in combination.
County.
The term "county " shall mean Marion County, Texas.
Delegation of authority.
A provision that authorizes or requires a city officer or
city employee to perform an act or make a decision authorizes such
officer or employee to act or make a decision through subordinates.
Gender.
A term importing the masculine gender only shall extend and
be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and corporations
as well as to males.
Highway.
The term "highway," when used in this Code, means the width
between the boundary lines of a publicly maintained way any part of
which is open to the public for vehicular travel.
May.
The term "may" is to be construed as being permissive and
not mandatory.
Month.
The term "month" shall mean a calendar month.
Number.
Any term importing the singular number shall include the
plural and any term importing the plural number shall include the
singular.
Oath.
The term "oath" shall be construed to include any affirmation
required by law. The terms "swear" and "sworn" shall be equivalent
to the terms "affirm" and "affirmed."
Official time standard.
Whenever certain hours are named in this Code, they shall
mean Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Saving Time, whichever
is in current use in the city.
Owner.
The term "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 the part
of such building or land, except as otherwise defined in this Code.
Person.
The term "person" shall extend and be applied to associations,
corporations, firms, partnerships, trustees, receivers, and bodies
politic and corporate as well as to individuals.
Personal property.
The term "personal property" shall include every species
of property except real property as defined in this section.
Preceding.
The term "preceding" means next before.
Property.
The term "property" includes real and personal property,
or a mixture of the two, if the sense used so indicates.
Real property.
The term "real property" include land, tenements and hereditaments.
Roadway.
The term "roadway" shall mean that portion of a street improved,
designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic. The term does not
include a curb, berm or shoulder.
Shall.
The term "shall" is to be construed as being mandatory.
Sidewalk.
The term "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of the street
between the curb or the lateral lane of the roadway and the adjacent
property line, all or a part of which is intended for the use of pedestrians.
Sidewalk area.
The space between the lateral lane of the roadway and the
boundary separating the public right-of-way and the adjacent private
property.
State.
The terms "the state" and "this state" shall mean the State
of Texas.
Street.
The term "street" means the entire width of a way held by
the city in fee or by easement or dedication that has a part open
for public use for vehicular travel. The term does not include a designated
state or federal highway or road or a designated county road.
Tense.
Terms used in the past or present tense include the future
as well as the past and present.
Vernon's Ann. Civ. St.
The abbreviation "Vernon's Ann. Civ. St." shall mean the
latest edition or supplement to Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes.
V.T.C.A.
The abbreviation "V.T.C.A." shall mean and refer to the latest
edition or supplement of Vernon's Texas Code Annotated.
Written and in writing.
The terms "written" and "in writing" shall be construed to
include any representation, other than oral, of words, letters or
figures, whether by writing, printing or otherwise.
Year.
The term "year" shall mean a calendar year.