This part may be cited as the Street Lighting Act of 1931.

This part shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate its purposes.

This part provides an alternative system for making the improvements authorized by this part, and the provisions of this part shall not apply to or affect any other provisions of this code. When any proceedings are commenced under this part, the provisions of this part and no others shall apply to all such proceedings.

Unless the particular provision or the context otherwise requires, the definitions and general provisions contained in this chapter shall govern the construction of this part.

“Street lighting system” or “system” includes any or all appliances, poles, posts, electroliers, transformers, lighting units, lamps, cables, wires, pipes, conduits, and other suitable or necessary works or appliances for street lighting purposes. Any such street lighting system may include all or any portion of a city.

“Service,” and any of its variants, means the electrical current or energy or other illuminating agent used to light a street lighting system.

“Maintenance” means the repair, replacement, inspection, cleaning or painting of the posts and standards and the equipment attached to or used in connection with such posts and standards, and includes such incidental expenses incurred in connection therewith as may be necessary.

“Improvement,” and any of its variants, includes the maintenance or servicing, or both, of all or part of any one or more street lighting systems.

“Contract year” means a period of 12 months.

“Installment assessment” means the amount levied by the city council for the first or any subsequent contract year to create a fund with which to pay for the improvement for the next contract year.

“Clerk” or “city clerk” means any person or officer who is or acts as clerk of the city council.

“Street” includes alleys and other public places.

“City” includes all corporations organized and existing for municipal purposes.

“City council” includes any body which by law is the legislative department of the government of the city.