A. 
The provisions of this code and all proceedings under it are to be construed to effect its objects and to promote justice.
B. 
All the provisions of this code and all other city ordinances shall be interpreted to refer to the appropriate or designated officer or office of the city, and whether an ordinance, uniform code, statute or other matter which is adopted by reference refers to any department, officer, employee, inspection, police or other function, unless the context requires otherwise, all references shall be to the appropriate or designated office, officer, department, agency, employee or function of the city, or to the person or agency performing the function for the city.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Neither the adoption of this code nor the repeal by this code of any ordinance previously in effect in the city or within the territory currently comprising the city, shall in any manner affect the prosecution for the violation of any ordinance, which violation was committed prior to the effective date of this code, nor be construed as a waiver of any license or penalty on such effective date due and unpaid under such ordinances, nor be construed as affecting any of the provisions of such ordinances relating to the collection of any such license or penalty or the penal provisions applicable to any violation of such ordinances, nor to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit required to be posted, filed or deposited pursuant to any ordinance and all vested rights and obligations pertaining to such ordinances shall continue in full force and effect.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
If any chapter, section, sentence, clause or portion of this code is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
This code shall refer only to the omission or commission of acts within the territorial limits of the city and that territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of the Constitution or any law, or by reason of ownership or control of property.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
All references in this code to places, acts, persons or things and all else in relation to this code shall be construed to mean that the same are applicable to this city, whether the city is mentioned in each particular section or not.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Unless the provisions of this code otherwise specifically provide, or the context of this code indicates to the contrary, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions set forth in this chapter shall govern the construction of this code.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
The title, chapter, article and section headings contained in this code shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify or in any manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of the provisions of any title, chapter, article or section of this code.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, a public officer or employee, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of such officer or employee or by a person otherwise duly authorized pursuant to law or ordinance, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Whenever any reference in this code is made to an ordinance, the reference shall apply to such ordinance of the city, unless this code expressly provides otherwise. Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code, or to any ordinance of this city, the reference shall apply to all amendments and additions to this code.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
When a limitation or period of time prescribed in any existing ordinance or statute for acquiring a right or barring a remedy or for any other purpose, has begun to run before this code goes into effect, the time which has already run shall be deemed a part of the time prescribed as such limitation.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
A. 
As used in this code, unless a different meaning is apparent from the context or is specified elsewhere in the code:
"Calendar year"
means from January 1st through December 31st of any given year.
"City"
means the city of Moorpark.
"City manager"
means the appointed official of the city who occupies the position as chief administrative officer of the city.
"Council"
means the city council of the city of Moorpark.
"Councilmember"
means a person duly elected to the council.
"County"
means the county of Ventura.
"Fiscal year"
means from July 1st of any given year through June 30th of the following year.
Gender.
The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.
"Goods"
means and includes wares and merchandise.
"May"
is permissive.
"Month"
means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed.
Number.
The singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.
"Oath"
includes affirmation.
Official Time Standard.
Whenever certain hours are named in this code, they mean standard time or daylight saving time, as may be in current use in the city.
"Operate"
means and includes carrying on, keeping, conducting or maintaining.
"Owner,"
applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or a part of such building or land.
"Person"
includes any person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, association, public corporation, political subdivision, city (except the city of Moorpark), the county of Ventura, any district in the county of Ventura, the state of California or the United States of America or any department or agency of any thereof, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.
"Personal property"
includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
"Police,"
"police chief" or "chief of police" means the agency which performs the appropriate law enforcement function for the city and the head of the agency or division thereof which at the time involved has responsibility for performing the police function for, or within, the city.
"Property"
includes real and personal property.
"Quarterly,"
where used to designate a period of time, means the first (1st) three calendar months of any given year or any succeeding period of three calendar months.
"Real property"
includes land, tenements and hereditaments.
"Sale"
includes any sale, exchange, barter or offer for sale.
"Section"
means a section of this code, unless some other source is specifically set forth.
"Shall"
is mandatory.
"State"
means the state of California.
"Street"
includes all streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, alleys, courts, places, squares or other public ways in the 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 the state.
"Subsection"
means a subsection of the section in which the term occurs, unless some other section is expressly set forth.
"Tenant" or "occupant,"
applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building of land, whether alone or with others.
Tense.
The present tense includes the past and future tense and the future tense includes the present tense.
"Writing"
includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by this code, such notice, report, statement or record shall be made in writing in the English language, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.
B. 
Words and phrases not defined in this code are construed according to the approved usage of the language or, when appropriate, by reference to definitions contained in state or federal law.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Whenever a notice is required to be given, or may be given, under any provision of this code or any provision of any code adopted by reference by this code or any provision of any ordinance or resolution of the city not included within this code, such notice may be given as herein provided. Unless different or special provisions are otherwise specifically made in this code or in some other applicable enactment, any 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 that person's last known business address as the same appears in the public records or other records pertaining to the matters 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 in the official receptacle thereof.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of this city or by the affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury of any person over the age of 18 years, which shows service in conformity with this code or other provisions of law applicable to the subject matter concerned.
(Ord. 2 § 1, 1983)
A. 
Certain provisions of the Ventura County Ordinance Code and of the uncodified ordinances and resolutions of the county of Ventura adopted by reference pursuant to Ordinance 6 of the city of Moorpark reflect the county governmental structure and contain references to officials, official titles, commissions and other designations which are not a part of the structure of this city's government. In order to effectively and intelligently administer the county enactments to the extent that they are adopted by reference by said Ordinance 6, it is the purpose of this section to provide for the substitution of the appropriate city official, title or designation in the county enactments.
B. 
Whenever in the enactments of the county of Ventura which are adopted by reference by the city there is reference to "board of supervisors," this reference shall be interpreted to mean the "city council of the city of Moorpark."
C. 
Whenever in the enactments of the county of Ventura which are adopted by reference by the city there is a reference to an officer, office, official title, or other designation, the reference shall be interpreted to mean that office, title or designation in the governmental structure of the city, or if there is none, any official or titleholder in the city who has been specifically directed by the city council or the city manager to perform the functions referred to or the duties imposed.
D. 
Whenever it is appropriate under the circumstances, and in the enactments of the county of Ventura which are adopted by reference by the city, there is a reference to the "county of Ventura," said reference shall be interpreted to mean the "city of Moorpark."
E. 
Whenever in the enactments of the county of Ventura which are adopted by reference by Ordinance 6, there is a reference to "board of supervisors," "planning commission," or "planning director," such reference shall be interpreted to mean that these agencies are acting as agents or agencies of the city of Moorpark, until such time as the city council has created an agent or agency(ies) within the city government structure to otherwise perform the functions of the said county agency or agencies, and until such time as said city agent or agency has commenced functioning and has been directed to undertake the particular function or functions theretofore performed by the said county agency or agencies.
(Ord. 6 § 17, 1983)