Corona Municipal Code Ch. 1.04 General Provisions

Unless the provisions or the context otherwise require, these general provisions, rules of construction and definitions shall govern the construction of this code. The provisions of this code and all proceedings under it are to be construed with a view to effect its objectives and to promote justice.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.101.)

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this code, shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:

(1) "Business" includes businesses, professions, trades and occupations, any, all and every kind of calling.

(2) "City" means the City of Corona or the area within the territorial city limits of the City of Corona and such territory outside of this city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or charter provisions or any law.

(3) "City Accountant" or "Accountant" means the accountant of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform for the city the duties ordinarily incident to the office of an official accountant.

(4) "City Assessor" or "Assessor" means the assessor of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform for the city the duties ordinarily incident to a tax assessor.

(5) "City Attorney" or "Attorney" means the attorney of this city or such other official as hereafter may, by law, be designated as the official legal advisor of this city.

(6) "City Auditor" or "Auditor" means the auditor of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform for the city the duties ordinarily incident to the office of an official auditor.

(7) "City Clerk" or "Clerk" means the clerk of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform the duties now being performed by that official.

(8) "City Manager" or "Manager" means the manager of this city or his or her successor as chief executive officer of the city.

(9) "City seal" or "seal" means the corporate seal of the City of Corona.

(10) "City Tax Collector" or "Tax Collector" means the tax collector of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform for the city the duties ordinarily incident to the office of an official collector of taxes and licenses.

(11) "City Treasurer" or "Treasurer" means the treasurer of this city or such person as hereafter may, by law, be authorized to perform for the city the duties ordinarily incident to the office of an official treasurer.

(12) "Council" means the City Council of this city.

(13) "County" means the County of Riverside.

(14) "Development Services Division" shall be substituted for each and all of the following phrases and words, wherever the words and phrases are used in the city's code, and any amendments thereto: "Building Department," "Planning Department" and "Building Division."

(15) "Fiscal year" means the year commencing with July 1 and ending the following June 30.

(16) "Engage in" includes commence, engage in, carry on, conduct, maintain, manage or operate.

(17) “Gender” includes both the masculine and feminine genders.

(18) "Goods" include wares or merchandise.

(19) "License fee" includes any charge imposed for a license, whether the object be regulation or revenue, or both regulation and revenue.

(20) "May" is permissive.

(21) "Mayor" shall have the meaning, duties and obligations provided for in the California Government Code.

(22) "Mayor Pro Tempore" shall have the meaning, duties and obligations provided for in the California Government Code, and may be used interchangeably with the term "Vice-Mayor."

(23) "Oath" includes affirmation.

(24) "Office" means the use of the title of any officer or employee, or "office" means such officer, employee or office of the City of Corona unless otherwise specifically designated.

(25) "Operate" includes carry on, keep, conduct or maintain.

(26) "Owner," applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant, tenant in common or joint tenant of the whole or part of such building or land.

(27) "Part," as used in reference to contents of this code, means chapter.

(28) "Person" means any natural person, firm, association, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, organization, club, company, corporation, business trust or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee or any of them, except as otherwise provided in this code or where the context clearly requires a different meaning.

(29) "Principal planning and building official" shall be substituted for each and all of the following words and phrases, wherever the words and phrases are used in the city's code and any amendments thereto: "Building Official," "Chief Building Inspector," "Building and Housing Director," "Director of Building and Safety," "Director of Building," "Planning Director," "City's Director of Building and Safety," "Director of City's Building Department," "Building Director," "Chief Electrical Inspector" and "Plumbing Inspector."

(30) "Sale" includes any sale, exchange, barter or offer for sale.

(31) "Shall" and "must" are each mandatory.

(32) "State" means the State of California.

(33) "Street" includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, sidewalks, parkways, 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.

(34) "Tenant or occupant" applied to a building or land includes any person who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.

(35) "Vice-Mayor" shall have the same meaning as the term "Mayor Pro Tempore" and the terms may be used interchangeably.

(36) "Vote, approval or consent," except as may be otherwise provided in connection therewith, the phrase "vote, approval or consent of the Council or other body" means the affirmative vote of a majority of those members present at a meeting having a quorum in attendance. Whenever the phrase refers to the members of the Council or other body rather than to the Council or body as such, the vote required shall be in relation to the total membership rather than to those members present at the meeting.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.020.) (Ord. 3133 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2052 § 1, 1991.)

The headings of titles, chapters, parts, sections, divisions and subdivisions contained in this code shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify or in any manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of the provisions of any title, chapter, part, section, division or subdivision.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.030.)

This code shall refer only to the omission or commission of acts within the territorial limits of the city and to that territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of the constitution or any law.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.040.)

Any reference to an ordinance in this code means such ordinance of this city unless otherwise specifically provided.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.050.)

Any reference in this code to an ordinance or provision of this code means such ordinance or provisions as now or hereafter amended. Reference to any section of this code shall be understood to refer to and include the penalty section relating thereto unless otherwise expressly provided. In case of the amendment of any section of this code containing provisions for which a penalty is provided in another section, the penalty so provided in such other section shall be held to relate to the section so amended whether reenacted in the amendatory ordinance or not, unless such penalty is specifically repealed therein.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.060.)

Whenever in this code any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing such act or omission.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.070.)

Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon a public officer or employee, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of such officer or employee or by a person otherwise duly authorized pursuant to law or ordinance, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.080.)

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

(`78 Code, § 1.04.090.)

Whenever a reference is made to any portion of this code, or to any ordinance of this city, the reference applies to all amendments and additions now or hereafter made.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.100.)

Whenever a date fixed by this code for the doing or performing of an act falls on Sunday or a holiday, the next succeeding business day shall be considered to be the date fixed by this code for the doing or performing of that act.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.110.)

Whenever a notice is required to be given under this code, unless different provisions are otherwise specifically made in this code, such notice may be given either by personal delivery thereof to the person to be notified or by deposit in the United States mail, in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to such person to be notified, at his or her last known business or residence address as the same appears in the public records of the city or other records pertaining to the matter to which the notice is directed. Service by mail shall be deemed to have been completed at the time of deposit in the post office or any United States mail box.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.120.)

Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of this city or by affidavit of any person over the age of 18 years which shows service in conformity with this code or other provisions of law applicable to the subject matter concerned.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.130.)

Ordinances relating to appropriations, budgets, tax levies, tax rates, bond issues, annexations, elections, special taxes, franchises, grants and dedications, acquisitions, sales and exchanges of land, condemnations, establishments or street and curb grades, confirmation, changes and establishment of street names, opening, closing and abandonment of streets, establishment of setback lines and other matters of a special nature only are excluded from this code and are unaffected by the provisions of this code.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.140.)

California Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.6 which defines the time period in which judicial review may be requested for certain final administrative decisions and orders under California Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.5 is adopted for the City of Corona. Pursuant to § 1094.6(f), the City Clerk shall provide notice to any party to a final decision indicating that the time within which judicial review must be sought is governed by California Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.6.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.150) (Ord. 1860 § 1, 1987.)

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 34501 of the Government Code Annotated, as the same presently provides, the City Council does hereby approve and adopt as and for the corporate seal of the city that certain impression and engraving which is generally described and depicted as follows:

(A) New corporate seal (effective November 17, 2023): a die of one and one-half inches in diameter and circular in shape. Around the upper outer edge shall be engraved the words "CITY OF CORONA," and around the lower outer edge shall be engraved the words "EST. 1886." At the top shall appear a clear blue sky with three mountain peaks representing Corona's Cleveland National Forest. At the bottom, five ripe lemons and two blossoms shall be depicted, representing Corona's history as the "Lemon Capital of the World." In the center of the seal shall appear line art depicting Grand Boulevard, a unique feature of the city with a one-mile circular street diameter and from which the city's name "Corona" and nickname "The Circle City" derived. The seal may be depicted in black and white, or any colors chosen by the city.

[Figure]

(B) Prior corporate seal (effective November 1, 2015, to November 17, 2023): a die of one and one-half inches, in diameter and circular in shape. Around the outer edge shall be engraved the words, "To Cherish Our Past - To Plan Our Future," and in the center, shall appear the inscription: "CORONA, The Circle City, Established May 4, 1886," which inscription shall run through the center of the seal. In the upper left-hand corner shall be depicted a ripe orange on a branch which is indicative of the past citrus industry in the City of Corona. The leaves of such orange shall extend past the edge of the circumference on the upper left corner. In the upper right corner of said seal shall be depicted a crown, which is derived from the Spanish word "Corona."

[Figure]

(C) Prior corporate seal (effective prior to November 1, 2015): a die of one and one-half inches in diameter and circular in shape. Around the outer edge shall be engraved the words, "To Cherish Our Past - To Plan Our Future," and in the center shall appear the inscription: "CORONA, The Circle City, Incorporated July 13, 1896," which inscription shall run through the center of the seal. In the upper left-hand corner shall be depicted a ripe orange on a branch which is indicative of the past citrus industry in the City of Corona. The leaves of such orange shall extend past the edge of the circumference on the upper left corner. In the upper right corner of said seal shall be depicted a crown, which is derived from the Spanish word "Corona." This prior corporate seal shall still be protected and enforced, as provided for in this chapter and applicable law, and may be maintained by the city wherever already in use (e.g., on uniforms, vehicles, buildings, and other things, as well as in publications or for other uses of any kind). City staff is authorized to replace the prior corporate seal with the new corporate seal provided for in subsection (A) above when deemed necessary by the City Manager.

[Figure]

(`78 Code, § 1.04.160.) (Ord. 3379 § 3, 2023; Ord. 3217 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2052 § 2, 1991.)

(A) City logos. The City Council hereby approves and adopts the following logos for the city, which may be depicted in any color chosen by the city:

[Figure]

(B) City wordmark. The City Council hereby approves and adopts the following wordmark for the city, which may be depicted in any color chosen by the city:

[Figure]

(Ord. 3415 § 3, 2025.)

(A) City seal. Unless expressly approved in advance by the City Council, it shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following for any purpose other than for an authorized city purpose:

(1) Make or use the city seal, either in its current or prior forms as described in § 1.04.160 above;

(2) Make or use any cut, facsimile or reproduction of the city seal; or

(3) Make or use any seal or any design which is an imitation of the city seal, or of the design thereof, or which may be mistaken for the city seal, or the design thereof.

(B) City logo and wordmark. Unless expressly approved in advance by the City Council, it shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following for any purpose other than for an authorized city purpose:

(1) Make or use one of the city logos or the city wordmark, as currently described in § 1.04.165 above or as may be amended or modified by the City Council;

(2) Make or use any cut, facsimile or reproduction of one of the city logos or the city wordmark; or

(3) Make or use any logo, wordmark or any design which is an imitation of one of the city logos or the city wordmark, or of the design thereof, or which may be mistaken for one of the city logos or the city wordmark, or the design thereof.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.170.) (Ord. 3415 § 4, 2025; Ord. 3379 § 4, 2023; Ord. 2052 § 3, 1991.)

The City Clerk shall have the official custody of the official seal of the city.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.180.) (Ord. 2052 § 4, 1991.)

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of §§ 1.04.160 through 1.04.180 of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(`78 Code, § 1.04.190.) (Ord. 2052 § 5, 1991.)