The following words and phrases, whenever used in the ordinances of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, California, 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:
A. 
“City”
means the city of Palos Verdes Estates, or the area within the limits of the city of Palos Verdes Estates.
B. 
“Council”
means all the members of the city council of the city of Palos Verdes Estates. “All its members” or “all council members” means the total number of council members holding office.
C. 
“County”
means the county of Los Angeles.
D. 
“Development entitlement”
means any permit, or other approval of an application for development, issued or granted pursuant to the provisions of PVEMC Title 17 or 18.
E. 
“Law”
denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state of California, the ordinances of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
F. 
“May”
is permissive.
G. 
“Member”
means a member of a commission or committee of the city established pursuant to Chapter 2.24 PVEMC.
H. 
“Month”
means a calendar month.
J. 
“Oath”
includes an affirmation or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words “swear” and “sworn” shall be equivalent to the words “affirm” and “affirmed.”
K. 
“Owner”
applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant-in-common, joint tenant, or tenant-by-the-entirety of the whole or a part of such building or land.
L. 
“Person”
includes a natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, government entity other than the city of Palos Verdes Estates or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.
M. 
“Personal property”
includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
N. 
“Preceding” and “following”
mean next before and next after, respectively.
O. 
“Property”
includes real and personal property.
P. 
“Real property”
includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
Q. 
“Sidewalk”
means that portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
R. 
“State”
means the state of California.
S. 
“Street”
includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs or other public ways in this city which have been or may, after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
T. 
“Tenant” and “occupant”
applied to a building or land, include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
U. 
“Written”
includes printed, typewritten, electronic, or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form.
V. 
“Year”
means a calendar year.
(Ord. 454 § 1; Ord. 529 § 1, 1991; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the city.
(Ord. 454 § 2; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
All words and phrases shall be construed 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.
(Ord. 454 § 3; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, unless it is apparent from the context that a different construction is intended:
A. 
Gender. Each gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
B. 
Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
C. 
Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable.
(Ord. 454 § 4; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
(Ord. 454 § 5; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
Whenever in the ordinances of the city of Palos Verdes Estates any act or omission is made unlawful, it shall include causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such act or omission.
(Ord. 454 § 6; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
Except when otherwise provided, the time within which an act is required to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is a day in which City Hall is closed, in which case the deadline to act shall be extended to the next day that City Hall is open.
(Ord. 454 § 7; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)
The provisions of the ordinances of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, and all proceedings under them, are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice.
(Ord. 454 § 8; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)