The ordinances embraced in this and the following chapters and sections shall constitute and be designated the "Code of Ordinances, City of Alamo Heights, Texas" and may be so cited.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-1)
The catchlines of the several sections of this Code printed in boldface type are intended as mere catchwords to indicate the contents of the section and shall not be deemed or taken to be titles of such sections, nor as any part of the section, nor, unless expressly so provided, shall they be so deemed when any of such sections, including the catchlines, are amended or reenacted.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-2)
In the construction of this Code, and of all ordinances and resolutions passed by the city council, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the council:
Generally.
Words shall be construed in their common and usual significance unless the contrary is clearly indicated.
Alderman.
The word "alderman" shall mean a member of the city council, other than the mayor, and shall include the term "councilman."
City.
The words "the city" or "this city" shall mean the City of Alamo Heights, in the County of Bexar and State of Texas.
City secretary, chief of police or other city officers.
The words "city secretary," "chief of police" or other city officers or departments shall be construed to mean the city secretary, chief of police or such other municipal officers or departments, respectively, of the city.
Code.
The word "Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, City of Alamo Heights, Texas printed as Part II of this volume.
Computation of time.
Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be done a certain length of time before any proceeding shall be had, the day on which such notice is given or such act is done shall be counted in computing the time, but the day on which such proceeding is to be had shall not be counted.
Council.
Whenever the words "council" or "this council" or "the council" are used, they shall mean the city council of the City of Alamo Heights, Texas.
County.
The term "county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Bexar, Texas.
Gender.
A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships, associations and corporations as well as to males.
Highway.
The term "highway," when used in this Code, shall include any street, alley, highway, avenue or public place or square, bridge, viaduct, tunnel, underpass, overpass and causeway in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
Joint authority.
Words purporting to give authority to three (3) or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise declared.
Month.
The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.
Number.
Any word importing the singular number shall include the plural and any word importing the plural number shall include the singular.
Oath.
The word "oath" shall be construed to include 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 "affirmed."
Or, and.
"Or" may be read "and," and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
Owner.
The word "owner," applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of a part of such building or land.
Person.
The word "person" shall extend and be applied to associations, corporations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.
Preceding, following.
The words "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.
Roadway.
The word "roadway" shall mean that portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.
Shall, will.
The word "shall" is mandatory, the word "will" is permissive.
Sidewalk.
The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of the street between the curb, or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
Signature or subscription.
The words "signature" or "subscription" shall include a mark when a person cannot write.
State.
The words "the state" or "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of Texas.
Street.
The term "street," when used in this Code, shall include any highway, alley, street, avenue or public place or square, bridge, viaduct, underpass, overpass, tunnel and causeway in the city, dedicated or devoted to public use.
Time.
Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
Written or in writing.
The words "written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
Year.
The word "year" shall mean a calendar year.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-3)
(a) 
All ordinances passed subsequent to this Code which amend, repeal or in any way affect this Code may be numbered in accordance with the numbering system of this Code and printed for inclusion therein. When subsequent ordinances repeal any chapter, section or subsection or any portion thereof, such repealed portions may be excluded from the Code by omission from reprinted pages. The subsequent ordinances as numbered and printed, or omitted in the case of repeal, shall be prima facie evidence of such subsequent ordinances until such time that this Code and subsequent ordinances numbered or omitted are readopted as a new Code by the city council.
(b) 
Amendments to any of the provisions of this Code shall be made by amending such provisions by specific reference to the section number of this Code in the following language: "That section _____ of the Code of Ordinances, City of Alamo Heights, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: …." The new provisions shall then be set out in full as desired.
(c) 
In the event a new section not heretofore existing in the Code is to be added, the following language shall be used: "That the Code of Ordinances, City of Alamo Heights, Texas, is hereby amended by adding a section, to be numbered _____, which said section reads as follows: …." The new section shall then be set out in full as desired.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-4)
(a) 
A person who commits an offense under this Code, or under any rule or police regulation of the city, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine. If the offense is a violation of any ordinance, rule, or police regulation governing fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse, the fine shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00); in all other cases, the fine shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(b) 
In all criminal cases arising under the criminal laws of the state in which concurrent jurisdiction has been vested in the municipal court under the Code of Criminal Procedure article 4.14, a person who commits an offense under any of such laws shall, upon conviction, be fined an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(c) 
Each day that a violation of this Code continues is a separate offense.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-6)
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the city council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this Code are severable and, if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this Code shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this Code, since the same would have been enacted by the city council without the incorporation in this Code of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
(1965 Code, sec. 1-6)
Nothing in this Code or the ordinance adopting this Code shall affect any ordinance:
(1) 
Promising or guaranteeing the payment of money for the city, or authorizing the issuance of any bonds of the city or any evidence of the city's indebtedness, or any contract or obligation assumed by the city;
(2) 
Granting any right or franchise and establishing any rates therefor;
(3) 
Dedicating, naming, establishing, locating, relocating, opening, paving, widening, vacating, etc., any street or public way in the city;
(4) 
Making any appropriation;
(5) 
Levying or imposing taxes, not inconsistent with this Code;
(6) 
Establishing or prescribing grades in the city;
(7) 
Providing for local improvements and assessing taxes therefor;
(8) 
Dedicating or accepting any plat or subdivision in the city;
(9) 
Adopting, extending or contracting the boundaries of the city;
(10) 
Prescribing the number, classification, or compensation of any city officers or employees, not inconsistent herewith;
(11) 
Prescribing traffic regulations for specific locations or streets, or portions thereof, not inconsistent with this Code;
(12) 
Pertaining to zoning;
(13) 
Any other ordinance, or part thereof, which is not of a general and permanent nature; and all such ordinances are hereby recognized as continuing in full force and effect to the same extent as if set out at length in this Code. Such ordinances are on file in the city secretary's office.
(1965 Code, sec. 2-1; Ordinance 2109 adopted 9/24/2018)