Chapter 1.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
1.04.030 Interpretation of language.
1.04.040 Grammatical interpretation.
1.04.060 Prohibited acts include causing and permitting.
1.04.090 Repeal shall not revive any ordinances.
1.04.010 Definitions.
The following words and phrases, whenever used in the ordinances of the city, 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 and phrases:
(1) “City” and “town” each mean the city of St. Helens, Oregon, or the area within the territorial limits of the city, and such territory outside St. Helens over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provisions.
(2) “Council” means the city council of the city. “All its members” or “all councilors” means the total number of councilors holding office.
(3) “County” means the county of Columbia.
(4) “Day” means a calendar day.
(5) “Law” denotes applicable federal law, the Constitution and statutes of the state of Oregon, the ordinances of the city of St. Helens, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
(6) “May” is permissive.
(7) “Month” means a calendar month.
(8) “Must” and “shall” are each mandatory.
(9) “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.”
(10) “Owner,” applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenants, or tenant by the entirety of the whole or a part of such building or land.
(11) “Person” includes a 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.
(12) “Personal property” includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
(13) “Preceding” and “following” means next before and next after, respectively.
(14) “Property” means and includes real and personal property.
(15) “Real property” includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(16) “Sidewalk” means that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
(17) “State” means the state of Oregon.
(18) “Street” means a public or private way that is created to provide ingress or egress for vehicles to one or more lots, parcels, areas, or tracts of land, and includes the terms “road,” “highway,” “lane,” “avenue,” “alley,” “place,” “court,” “way,” “circle,” “drive,” “parkway,” or other designations.
(19) “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.
(20) “Written” means and includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multigraphed, or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form.
(21) “Year” means a calendar year. (Ord. 3145 § 1, 2011; Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.020 Title of office.
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the city. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.030 Interpretation of language.
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. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.040 Grammatical interpretation.
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of the city, unless it is apparent from the context that a different construction is intended:
(1) Gender. Each gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
(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, unless manifestly inapplicable. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.050 Acts by agents.
When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well as by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.060 Prohibited acts include causing and permitting.
Whenever in the ordinances of the city 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. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.070 Computation of time.
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 Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which case it shall also be excluded, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.080 Construction.
The provisions of the ordinances of the city and all proceedings under them are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)
1.04.090 Repeal shall not revive any ordinances.
The repeal of an ordinance shall not repeal the repealing clause of an ordinance or revive any ordinance which has been repealed thereby. (Ord. 3037 § 2, 2007)