§ 1.03.010. General rules of interpretation.

"Liberal construction" means all general provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this Code shall be liberally construed in order that the true intent and meaning of the mayor and council may be fully carried out.

"Minimum requirements." In the interpretation and application of any provision of this Code, it shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare.

"Computation of time" means the time in 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 holiday, and then it is also excluded. In cases in which notice of a decision by the city must be given to a petitioner and in which the petitioner must file a notice of appeal of such decision within a time certain of less than ten days, such time shall be computed starting with the day after the day during which the notice of decision is received by the petitioner by personal service or registered or certified mail.

"Delegation of authority" means whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department or some other city officer to do some act or perform some duty, it is to be construed to authorize the head of the department or other officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or perform the duty unless the terms of the provision or section specify otherwise.

"Gender" means 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.

"In the city, within the city" means all territory over which the city now has or shall thereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police powers or other regulatory powers.

"Joint authority" means all words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.

"May" is to be construed as being permissive.

"May not" states a prohibition.

"Must" is to be construed as being mandatory.

"Nontechnical and technical words" mean 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 law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.

"Number" means words used in the singular include the plural. Words in the plural include the singular.

"Oath" includes an affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath. In such cases the words "swear" and "sworn" are equivalent to the words "affirm" and "affirmed."

"Officers and employees generally" means whenever any officer or employee is referred to by title only, such reference shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the City of Willcox."

"Or" and "or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.

"Ordinance." The word "ordinance" contained in the ordinances of the city has been changed in the content of this City Code to "title," "chapter," "section" and/or "subsection" or words of like import for organizational and clarification purposes only. Such change to the city's ordinances is not meant to amend passage and effective dates of such original ordinances.

"Tense" means words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.

(Ord. NS283, § 1(1-3-1), 2008)

State law reference

Similar provisions, A.R.S. 1-214; extraterritorial jurisdiction, A.R.S. 9-240(B)(21); 9-276(A)(18); application of municipal ordinances to municipality owned, leased property, A.R.S. 9-401; 9-402.