Rialto Municipal Code Ch. 1.04 General Provisions

The following words and phrases whenever used in the ordinances of the city of Rialto, California, mean as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:

A. "City" means the city of Rialto, California, or the area within the territorial limits of the city of Rialto, California, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.

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

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

D. "County" means the county of San Bernardino, California.

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

F. "May" is permissive.

G. "Month" means a calendar month.

H. "Must" and "shall"; each is mandatory.

I. "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 "swear" and "sworn" is equivalent to "affirm" and "affirmed."

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

K. "Ordinance" means a law of the city; provided, that a temporary or special law, administrative action, order or directive, may be in the form of a resolution.

L. "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.

M. "Person" means 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.

N. "Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.

O. "Preceding" and "following" mean next before, the next after, respectively.

P. "Property" includes real and personal property.

Q. "Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

R. "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

S. "State" means the state of California.

T. "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.

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

V. "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.

W. "Written" includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multigraphed, photocopied, microfilmed or facsimile, or other method of permanent recordation.

X. "Year" means a calendar year.

Y. All words and phrases mean and are understood 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 mean and are understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.

Z. When an act is required by an ordinance which may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement includes all such acts performed by an authorized agent.

(Ord. 1234 (part), 1995: Ord. 650 § 1, 1973)

The following grammatical rules apply in the ordinances of the city of Rialto, California:

A. Gender. Any gender includes the other genders.

B. Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.

C. Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable.

D. Use of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases not specifically defined are construed according to the context and approved usage of the language.

(Ord. 650 § 2, 1973)

Whenever in the ordinances of the city of Rialto, any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing the fact of such act or omission.

(Ord. 650 § 3, 1973)

The provisions of the ordinances of the city of Rialto, and all proceedings under them are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice.

(Ord. 650 § 4, 1973)

The repeal of an ordinance shall not repeal the repealing clause of such ordinance or revive any ordinance which has been repealed thereby.

(Ord. 650 § 5, 1973)

Whenever the following department and position titles appear in this code or other ordinance, regulation, rule, or policy adopted by the city, it shall be understood to mean the new names listed below:

A. All references to "city administrator" shall now mean "city manager."

B. All references to "development services department" shall now mean "community development department."

C. All references to "development services director" shall now mean "community development director."

D. All references to "recreation and community services department" shall now mean "parks, recreation and community services department."

E. All references to "deputy city administrator" shall now mean "deputy city manager."

F. All references to "city engineer" shall now mean "director of engineering services."

G. All references to "public works department" shall now mean "maintenance and facilities department."

(Ord. No. 1627, § 8, 12-10-19; Ord. No. 1669, § 2, 8-9-22)