The following words and phrases, whenever used in the ordinances of the city of Columbia, Illinois, 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 be used in such words or phrases:

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

    "City code" means this code of ordinances and all amendments thereto.

    "Council" means the mayor and aldermen of the city of Columbia, Illinois. "All its members" or "all council members" means the mayor and aldermen of the city holding office.

    "County" means the county of Monroe or the county of St. Clair, in the state of Illinois, as the context requires. The city is located in both counties.

    "Illinois Compiled Statutes" means the 1992 Compiled Statutes of the state of Illinois or the latest edition thereof.

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

    "May" is permissive.

    "Mayor" means the mayor of the city.

    "Month" means a calendar month.

    "Must" and "shall" are each mandatory.

    "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."

    "Owner" applied to a building or land, includes any owner or co-owner of record who is a part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.

    "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 and bodies politic and corporate.

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

    "Preceding" and "following" means next before and the next after, respectively.

    "Property" includes real and personal property.

    "Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

    "Shall" and "must" are each mandatory.

    "State" means the state of Illinois.

    "Street" includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs or other public ways in the 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.

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

    "Written" includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multigraphed or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form; but when the written signature of any city official is required, it shall be in the proper handwriting of such person or by his mark properly witnessed by two witnesses; except that, duplications or public documents or notices to be published in a newspaper may contain typewritten simulation of the signature.

    "Year" means a calendar year. (Ord. 1509 § 1, 1996)