§ 1.04.010. Definitions.

The following words and phrases whenever used in the El Cerrito Municipal Code, shall be construed as defined in this section unless a different meaning is intended from the context 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 El Cerrito, California, or the area within the territorial limits of the city of El Cerrito, California, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision. The term "city" may also be construed from the context to mean its governing body.

B.

"Computation of time" means the time within which an act is to be done. It shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day; and if the last day be Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.

C.

"Council" means the city council. "All its members" or "all council members" means the total number of council members provided by the general laws of the state of California.

D.

"County" means the county of Contra Costa, California.

E.

"Law" denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state, the ordinances of the city, and any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.

F.

"May" is permissive.

G.

"Month" or "monthly" means a calendar month.

H.

"Must" and "shall": each is mandatory.

I.

"Oath" shall include 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."

J.

"Ordinance" means a law of the city, including all sections of this municipal code. A law may be in the form of a resolution.

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" means natural person, association, business, club, company, corporation, estate, firm, joint stock company, joint venture, organization, partnership, receiver, or trust; or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer, trustee, or employee of any of them.

M.

"Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels, rights of action and evidences of debt.

N.

"Property" includes real and personal property.

O.

"Real property" includes hereditaments, lands, and all appurtenances to lands as buildings, plants, mineral rights, and tenements.

P.

"Resolution" means a statement of policy by the council.

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 hereafter 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, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.

U.

"Title of Office." Use of the title of any officer, employee, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the city, unless otherwise designated.

V.

"Written" includes handwritten or machine printed information.

W.

"Year" means a calendar year.

(Ord. 89-4 (part), 1989: Ord. 345 N.S. § 1, 1974: prior code §§ 1303 and 1304.)