HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Supp. No. 13
See. 1-1.
See. 1.2.
See. 1.3.
Sec. 1-4.
See. 1.5.
See. 1.6.
See. 1.7.
See. 1.8.
See. 1.9.
Sec. 1-10.
PARTll
CODE OF LAWS
Chapter 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
How Code designated and cited.
Definitions and rules of construction.
Catchlines, history notes, etc.; references to Code.
Severability.
General penalty.
Issuance of summons or complaint to violators; continuing viola-
tions.
Provisions considered as continuations of existing ordinances.
Ordinances not affected by Code.
Code does not affect prior offenses, rights, etc.
Semiannual supplementation and readoption of Code.
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Sec. 1-1. How Code designated and cited.
The ordinances in this and the following chap-
ters and sections shall constitute and be desig-
nated "Code of Laws of the Code of Wheat Ridge,
Colorado," and may be so cited. Such ordinances
may also be cited as "Wheat Ridge City Code" or
the "Code of Laws."
(Code 1977, ~ 1-2)
Charter reference-Ordinance codification, ~ 5.15.
State law reference-Ordinance codification, CRS. ~
31-16-201 et seq.
See. 1-2. Definitions and rules of construc-
tion.
In the construction of this Code and of all
ordinances and regulations of the city, the follow-
ing definitions and rules of construction shall be
observed, unless it shall be otherwise expressly
provided in any section, ordinance or regulation,
or unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of
the city council, or unless the context clearly
requires otherwise:
City. The words "the city" or "this city" shall
mean the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
City council. The words "city council" or "the
council" shall mean the city council of Wheat
Ridge, Colorado.
Code or Code of Laws. "Code" or "Code of Laws"
mean the Code of Laws of the City of Wheat
Ridge, Colorado, as designated in section 1-l.
Computation of time. In computing a period of
days, the first day is excluded and the last day is
included. If the last day of any period is a Satur-
day, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period is ex-
tended to include the day which is not a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday. If a number of months is
to be computed by counting the months from a
particular day, the period ends on the same nu-
merical day in the concluding month as the day of
the month from which the computation is begun,
unless there are not that many days in the
concluding month, in which case the period ends
on the last day of that month.
State law reference-Similar provisions, C.RS. ~ 24-
108.
County: The words "the county" or "county"
shall mean Jefferson County, Colorado.
Supp. No. 21
C.R.S. The abbreviations "C.R.S." or "Colo.
Rev. Stat." refer to the Colorado Revised Statutes,
as amended.
Day. A day is the period of time between 12:00
midnight and the 12:00 midnight following.
Daytime, nighttime. "Daytime" is the period of
time between sunrise and sunset. "Nighttime" is
the period of time between sunset and sunrise.
Gender. Any word importing the masculine
gender only shall also include and mean the
feminine and neuter.
In the city. The words "in the city" shall mean
and include all territory over which the city now
has, or shall hereafter acquire, the jurisdiction for
the exercise .of its police powers or other regula-
tory powers.
Joint authority. All words giving ajoint author-
ity to three (3) or more persons shall be construed
as giving such authority to a majority of such
persons.
May. The word "may" is to be construed as
being permissive.
Month. The word "month" shall mean a calen-
dar month.
Must. The word "must" is to be interpreted as
being mandatory.
Number. Any word importing the singular num-
ber only shall also include and mean the plural.
Oath. The word "oath" shall be construed to
include an affirmation in all cases in which, by
law, an affirmation 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
"affinned.1I
Officers, departments, etc. Officers, depart-
ments, boards, commissions and employees re-
ferred to in this Code shall mean officers, depart-
ments, boards, commissions and employees of the
City of Wheat Ridge, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
Owner. The word "owner," applied to a building
or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner,
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WHEAT RIDGE CITY CODE
tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the
entirety, ofthe whole or a part of such building or
land.
Person. The word "tenant" shall mean and
include any firm, association, club or other orga-
nized group, partnership, corporation and govern-
mental agency, as well as a natural person.
Preceding; following. The words "preceding"
and "following" shall mean next before and next
after, respectively.
Property. The word "property" shall include
real, tangible and intangible personal property.
Real property. The terms "real property," "prem-
ises," "real estate" or "lands" shall be deemed to
be coextensive-with lands, tenements and here-
ditaments.
Shall. The word "shall" is to be construed as
being mandatory.
Sidewalks. The word "sidewalk" shall mean
that portion of the public right-of-way intended
for the use of pedestrians.
Signature. Where the written signature of any
person is required, the proper handwritiD.g of
such person or his mark. shall be intended.
State. The words lithe state, II "state, II or "this
state" shall mean the State of Colorado.
Street. The word "street" shall mean and in-
clude any public way, highway, street, avenue,
boulevard, parkway, alley or other public thor-
oughfare, and each of such words shall include all
of them.
Tenant. The word "tenant" or "occupant," ap-
plied to a building or land, shall include any
person who occupies the whole or a part of such
building or land, whether alone or with others.
Writing. The words "writing" and "written"
shall include printing, lithographing or any other
mode of representing words and letters. When-
ever 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.
Supp. No. 21
Thar. The word "year" shall mean a calendar
year, unless otherwise expressed.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-1)
Sec. 1-3. Catchlines, history notes, etc.; ref-
erences to Code.
(a) Catchllnes, headings and titles of sections,
divisions, subdivisions, articles and chapters of
this Code or in changes made in the Code are
inserted for the convenience of users of the Code
and shall have no legal effect.
(b) The history or source notes appearing in
parentheses after sections in this Code are not
intended to have any legal effect but are merely
intended to indicate the source of matter con-
tained in the section. Cross references and state
law references which appear after sections or
subsections of this Code or which otherwise ap-
pear in footnote form are provided for the conve-
nience of the user of this Code and have no legal
effect.
(c) All references to chapters, articles, or sec-
tions are to the chapters, articles, and sections of
this Code unless otherwise specified.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-4)
Sec. 1-4. Severability.
The city council hereby declares that it would
have passed each sentence, section, part or chap-
ter of this Code independently of each and every
other sentence, section, part or chapter, and the
fact that any section, sentence, part or chapter, or
any part thereof may be found to be invalid shall
not affect the validity of any other portion of this
Code.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-5)
Charter reference-Severability, ~ 5.17.
Sec. 1-5. General penalty.
Uuless otherwise specifically provided, when-
ever in this Code or any other ordinance of the
city or any section or an order, rule or regulation
promulgated under the provisions of this Code or
other ordinance of the city any act is prohibited,
made or declared to be unlawful, an offense,
nuisance or misdemeanor, where no specific pen-
alty is provided therefor, any person who shall be
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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convicted of the violation of any such provision of
this Code or other ordinance of the city or of such
orders, rules or regulations shall be punished by a
fine of not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for a period not
exceeding one year, or both such fine and impris-
onment; provided, however, that no person under
the age of eighteen (18) years shall be subjected to
imprisonment for violation of any provision of this
Code.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-6; Ord. No. 1998--1120, n, 6-8-98)
State law reference--Authority of city to impose penalty
for violation of city ordinances, C.R.S. ~ 31-16-101.
Sec. 1-6. Issuance of summons or complaint
to violators; continuing violations.
Any person who is alleged to have violated any
provision of this Code or other ordinances of the
city shall be issued a summons and complaint
charging the nature of the violation and shall be
ordered to appear before the municipal court at a
stated date, time, and place, or in the office of the
court clerk of the municipal court at a stated date
and time ot within a stated period of time after
service of such summons and complaint. Each day
that a violation of this Code or any other ordi-
nance of the city shall continue shall constitute a
separate offense.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-7)
Sec. 1-7. Provisions considered as continu-
ations of existing ordinances.
The provisions appearing in this and the fol-
lowing chapters, so far as they are in substance
the same as those of ordinances existing at the
time of the adoption of "The Code of the City of
Wheat Ridge, Colorado," shall be considered as
continuations thereof and not as new enactments.
(Code 1977, ~ 1-3)
Sec. 1-8. Ordinances not affected by Code.
Nothing in this Code or the ordinance adopting
this Code shall affect any ordinance:
(1) Promising or guaranteeing the payment
of money.
(2) Authorizing the issuance of bonds or any
evidence of indebtedness.
Supp. No. 21
(3) Authorizing or approving a contract.
(4) Granting a franchise.
(5) Dedicating, naming, establishing, locat-
ing, relocating, opening, closing, paving or
widening any street or public way.
(6) Establishing or altering the grades of any
street.
(7) Approving a budget.
(8) Levying or imposing taxes that is not
codified in this Code.
(9) Establishing salaries or other benefits for
officers or employees of the city.
(10) Dealing with special assessments.
(11) Annexing property into the city.
(12) Dealing with zoning of specific property.
(13) Whose purpose has been accomplished.
(14) Which is special although permanent in
effect.
(15) Which is temporary although general in
effect.
Sec. 1-9. Code does not affect prior offenses,
rights, etc.
(a) Nothing in this Code or the ordinance adopt-
ing this Code shall affect any offense or act
committed or done, or any penalty or forfeiture
incurred, or any contract or right established or
occurring before the effective date of this Code.
(b) The adoption of this Code shall not be
interpreted as authorizing or allowing any use or
the continuance of any use of a structure or
premises in violation of any ordinance of the city
in effect on the date of adoption of this Code.
Sec. 1-10. Semiannual supplementation and
readoption of Code.
(a) Purpose; Legislative Findings. This section
is enacted for the purpose of providing for the
expeditious administrative codification of ordi-
nances of and within the city, and as such, the city
council determines that this' .section is in further-
ance of the public health, safety and welfare.
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WHEAT RIDGE CITY CODE
(b) Delegation of Duty and Authority to City
Clerk. The city council does hereby expressly
delegate to the duly elected and serving city clerk,
or to the city clerk's designee, the duty and
authority to cause to be codified all ordinances
enacted by the city council subsequent to October
26, 1987, pursuant to the procedure hereafter set
forth.
(c) Administrative Procedure; Duties of City
Clerk. In providing for the codification of ordi-
nances, the city clerk shall substantially adhere
to the following procedure:
(1) Submission of ordinances for publication.
On or before the last business day during
the months of May and November of each
year, the city clerk shall cause to be cer-
tified and forwarded to the codifier of
ordinances duly selected by or having
contracted with the city all ordinances
enacted by the city council since the most
recent codification of ordinances.
(2) Review of publication. Promptly upon re-
cei pt by the city clerk of such codified
ordinances from the codifier, the city clerk
shall review such codified ordinances for
accuracy of codification. If an error in
codification is found by the city clerk, the
proposed codification shall immediately
be retumed to the codifier for correction.
(3) Submission of publication for review by
city council, department heads. In the
event no errors are found by the city clerk,
the city clerk shall forthwith distribute
copies of the proposed codification to the
members of the city council and all depart-
ment heads within the city administra-
tion for review as to accuracy of codifica-
tion. In the event any error in the accuracy
of the codification is discovered by such
councilmembers or department heads, they
shall be presented to the city clerk within
seven (7) days of the date of distribution
by the clerk, and the city clerk shall
immediately return the proposed codifica-
tion to the codifier for correction.
(4) Posting, publishing of notice of codifica-
tion. Upon the fulfillment by the city clerk
Supp. No. 21
of the duties imposed in a preceding para-
graph of this section, which duties are
designed to ensure the accuracy of the
proposed codification of ordinances, and
upon the city clerk's satisfaction that there
are no errors in codification, the city clerk
shall prepare a notice of codification, set-
ting forth the designated numbers as-
signed to the ordinances codified and the
effective date of the codification, and shall
cause said notice of codification to be
posted in a conspicuous place within the
Wheat Ridge Municipal Building, and shall
further cause the notice of codification to
be published once in a newspaper of gen-
eral circulation within the city.
(d) Official Status; Effective Date. Upon the
completion of each of the steps in the procedure
specified in subsection (a) above, the codification
shall become official and shall take effect five (5)
days after notice of codification is published in the
newspaper of general circulation within the city.
(e) Effect on Code, Ordinances Not Codified.
(1) Upon the codification of ordinances as
above described, the provisions of this
Code shall be considered to be amended
and, as so amended in full force and effect
at the time provided in subsection (d)
above. Except as otherwise provided in
paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection,
all ordinances adopted on final reading
and passage on or before the date of notice
of codification and not contained in such
Code are considered repealed from and
after the effective date of the codification
of ordinances as described in subsection
(d) above.
(2) The repeal provided for in paragraph (1)
of the subsection shall not affect any of-
fense or act committed or done or any
penalty or forfeiture incurred or any con-
tract or right established or accruing be-
fore the effective date of the ordinance
codification; nor shall it affect any prose-
cution, suit or proceeding pending or any
judgment rendered prior to the effective
date of the ordinance . codification; nor
shall such repeal affect any ordinance or
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resolution promising or guaranteeing the
payment of money for the city or autho-
rizing the issue of any bonds of the city or
any evidence of the city's indebtedness or
any contract or obligation assumed by the
city; nor shall it affect any annual tax
levy; nor shall it affect any right or fran-
chise conferred by ordinance or resolution
of the city council on any person or corpo-
ration; nor shall it affect any ordinance
adopted for any purposes which have been
consummated; nor shall it affect any or-
dinance which is temporary, although gen-
eral in effect, or special, although perma-
nent in effect; nor shall it affect any
ordinance relating to the salaries of the
city officers or employees; nor shall it
affect any ordinances annexing territory
to the city; nor shall it affect any ordi-
nance naming, renaming, opening, accept-
ing, or vacating streets or alleys in the
city; nor shall it affect any ordinance
relating to zoning not codified; nor shall it
affect any ordinance adopted on final read-
ing and passage after the date of the
enactment of the last ordinance in the
series currently being codified.
(3) The codification of ordinances provided
for herein shall not affect any ordinances
enacted after the date of the enactment of
the last ordinance in the series currently
being codified at any time under the pro-
visions of this section. It is further recog-
nized that some ordinances so enacted
may have an affect on the ordinances
being codified hereunder, and may in ef-
fect modify this Code to some extent.
(Code 1977, ~~ 2-61-2-65; Ord. No. 954, ~~ 1,2,
2-28-94)
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