General Rule Regarding Definitions.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.
Acts by Agents.When an ordinance requires an act to be done which may by law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
Clerk.Whenever the word "clerk" is used, it shall be construed to mean the clerk of the town of Huachuca City, Arizona.
Code.The words "the code" or "this code" shall mean "the code of the town of Huachuca City, Arizona," unless the context indicates otherwise.
Council.Whenever the word "council" is used, it shall be construed to mean the common council of the town of Huachuca City, Arizona.
"Day"means the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following.
Daytime, Nighttime."Daytime" is the period of time between sunrise and sunset. "Nighttime" is the period of time between sunset and sunrise.
Department, Board, Commission, Office, Officer or Employee.Whenever any "department, board, commission, office, officer or employee" is referred to, it shall mean a department, board, commission, office, officer or employee of the town unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Gender – Singular and Plural.Words of the masculine gender include the feminine, words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.
Joint Authority.All words purporting to give a "joint authority" to three or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority.
"Oath"includes affirmation or declaration.
Or, And."Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
Person.The word "person" shall extend and be applied to firms, corporations or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.
"Personal property"includes every species of property, except real property, as defined in this section.
Preceding, Following.The words "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.
"Property"shall include real and personal property.
Shall, May."Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.
Signature or Subscription by Mark."Signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the signer cannot write, such signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature of subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
State.The words "the state" shall be construed to mean the state of Arizona.
Tenant or Occupant.The word "tenant" or "occupant" applied to a building or land shall include any person holding a written or oral lease or who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
Tenses.The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.
Time – Computation.The time within which an act is to be done, as provided in this code or in any order issued pursuant to any ordinance, when expressed in days shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last; except that if the last day is a Sunday or holiday, it shall be excluded; and when such time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday or a holiday, from midnight to midnight, shall be excluded.
Time – Reasonable.In all cases where any section of this code requires any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, such reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such duty or compliance with such notice.
Town.Whenever the word "town" is used, it shall be construed to mean the town of Huachuca City, Arizona.
Town Right-of-Way.Term used to describe real property owned and controlled by the town and generally for streets, roadways, sidewalks, alleys, and public uses appurtenant thereto.
Town Easement.Term used to describe, generally, the legal rights of the town to use the real property of another person or entity for a specific town purpose.
A "week"consists of seven consecutive days.
"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, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise.
The word "year"shall mean a calendar year, except where otherwise provided.
(Prior Code § 1-3; Ord. 13-10 § 1, 2014)