§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances and resolutions passed by the city council, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council:

Generally. Words shall be construed in their common and usual significance unless the contrary is clearly indicated.

Charter. The word "Charter" shall mean the Charter of the City of Denton, Texas.

City. The word "city" shall mean the City of Denton in the County of Denton and State of Texas.

City manager, city secretary, chief of police or other city officers. The words "city manager," "city secretary," "chief of police" or other city officers or departments shall be construed to mean the city manager, city secretary, chief of police or such other municipal officers or departments, respectively, of the City of Denton, Texas.

Code. The word "Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances of the City of Denton, Texas, as such Code may be amended from time to time.

Computation of time. In computing any period of time mentioned in the provisions of this Code, the day of the act, event or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included, and the last day of the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday nor a holiday.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4.

Council. Whenever the words "council" or "this council" or "the council" are used, they shall mean the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas.

County. The words "county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Denton, Texas.

Delegation of authority. Whenever a provision of this Code requires or authorizes an officer or employee of the city to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize the officer or employee to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the act or duty, unless the terms of the provision designate otherwise.

Gender. A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships, associations and corporations, as well as to males.

Highway. The term "highway" shall include any street, alley, highway, avenue or public place or square and bridges, viaducts, tunnels, underpasses, overpasses and causeways in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.

Joint authority. Words purporting to give authority to three (3) or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise declared.

Month. The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.

Number. Any word importing the singular number shall include the plural, and any word importing the plural number shall include the singular.

Oath. The word "oath" shall be construed to include an affirmation 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."

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

Owner. The word "owner," applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or of a part of such building or land.

Person. The word "person" shall extend and be applied to associations, corporations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals.

Preceding, following. The words "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.

Shall. The word "shall" shall always be mandatory and never permissive.

Sidewalk. The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of the street between the curb or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.

Signature or subscription. The word "signature" or "subscription" shall include a mark when a person cannot write.

State. The word "state" shall be construed to mean the State of Texas.

Street. The word "street" shall include any highway, alley, street, avenue or public place or square and bridges, viaducts, underpasses, overpasses, tunnels and causeways in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.

Tense. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.

Vernon's Ann. Civ. St. The abbreviation "Vernon's Ann. Civ. St." shall mean the latest edition or supplement to Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes.

V.T.C.A. The abbreviation "V.T.C.A." shall mean and refer to the latest edition or supplement of Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated.

Written or in writing. The words "written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.

Year. The word "year" shall mean a calendar year.

(Code 1966, § 1-3)