Chapter 1.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sections:

1.04.010    How code designated and cited.

1.04.020    Definitions and rules of construction.

1.04.030    Public offices open on certain state holidays.

1.04.010 How code designated and cited.

The ordinances embraced in this and the following sections and chapters shall constitute and be designated as “The St. Helena Municipal Code,” and may be so cited as the “municipal code” or the “code”. (Ord. 02-5 § 2: prior code § 1.1)

1.04.020 Definitions and rules of construction.

In the construction of this code and of all ordinances of the city, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council or the context clearly requires otherwise:

“And” may be read “or” if the sense requires it.

“City” is construed as if followed by the words “of St. Helena”.

“Code” means “the St. Helena Municipal Code” and includes any appendices thereto.

Computation of time. The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday and then it is also excluded.

“Council” is construed to mean the city council of the city of St. Helena.

“County” means the county of Napa.

“Day” is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following.

“Daytime” is the period of time between sunrise and sunset.

“Following” means next after.

Gender. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.

“In the city” means and includes all territory over which the city now has, or shall hereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police powers or other regulatory powers.

Joint Authority. 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 unless otherwise specified.

“May” is permissive.

“Month” means a calendar month.

“Nighttime” is the period of time between sunset and sunrise.

Number. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.

“Oath” includes affirmation.

Officer, Department, etc. Every officer, department, board, commission or similar body mentioned in this code means an officer, department, board, commission or similar body of the city of St. Helena, unless otherwise specified.

“Official Time” means Pacific Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time as may be in current use in the city.

“Or” may be read “and” if the sense requires it.

“Person” includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation or company.

“Personal property” includes every species of property, except real property, as herein defined.

“Preceding” means next before.

“Property” includes real and personal property.

“Real Property” includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

“Shall” is mandatory.

“Signature or subscription by mark” includes a mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their own names thereto.

“State” means the state of California.

“Tenant or occupant,” applied to a building or land, includes owners or any person holding a written or an oral lease of or who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, either alone or with others.

Tenses. The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.

“Week” consists of seven consecutive days.

“Writing” includes any form of a recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language, unless it is expressly provided otherwise.

“Year” means a calendar year, except where otherwise provided. (Prior code § 1.2)

1.04.030 Public offices open on certain state holidays.

The public offices of the city shall remain open on each Columbus Day and on every day on which an election is held throughout the state of California. (Prior code § 2.50)