The following words and phrases whenever used in this code shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
(1) 
"City"
means the city of Longview, Washington or the area within the territorial limits of the city of Longview, Washington and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision;
(2) 
"Computation of time."
Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be done, a certain length of time before any 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 is to be had shall be counted;
(3) 
"Council"
means the city council of the city of Longview, Washington. "All its members" or "all councilmen" means the total number of councilmen provided by the general laws of the state of Washington;
(4) 
"County"
means the county of Cowlitz, Washington;
(5) 
"Law"
denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state of Washington, the ordinances of the city of Longview, Washington, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder;
(6) 
"May"
is permissive;
(7) 
"Must" and "shall."
Each is mandatory;
(8) 
"Oath"
includes affirmation;
(9) 
"Office."
The use of the title of any officer, employee, or any office means such officer, employee, or office of Longview unless otherwise specifically designated;
(10) 
"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;
(11) 
"Owner,"
applied to a building, structure or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant, or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or part of such building structure or land;
(12) 
"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;
(13) 
"Personal property"
includes every species of property except real property;
(14) 
"State"
means the state of Washington;
(15) 
"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;
(16) 
"Written"
includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed or multigraphed.
(Ord. 1562 § 1, 1972)
The following grammatical rules shall apply in this code:
(1) 
Gender. A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and corporations as well as to males;
(2) 
Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular;
(3) 
Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa;
(4) 
Use of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases not specifically defined shall be construed according to the context and approved usage of the language;
(5) 
Or, And. "Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it.
(Ord. 1562 § 2, 1972)
The provisions of this code and all proceedings under it are to be construed with a view to effect its objects and to promote justice.
(Ord. 1562 § 4, 1972)