18600. This part may be cited as the Municipal Lighting Maintenance District Act of 1927.

18601. This part shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate its purposes.

18602. This part provides an alternative system for the maintenance and operation of a street lighting system within cities, and the provisions of this part shall not apply to nor 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.

18603. 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.

18604. "City" includes all corporations organized and existing for municipal purposes.

18605. "Street lighting system" or "system" includes any or all appliances, poles, posts, pipes, conduits, lamps and other necessary works or appliances used for street lighting purposes.

18606. "Maintaining and operating" or any of its variants, when used with relation to a street lighting system, includes the cost of necessary repairs, replacements, fuel, power and all other items necessary for the proper maintenance and operation of a street lighting system, or the expense of any one or more of those items.

18607. "City council" includes any body which by law is the legislative department of the government of the city.

18608. "Clerk" or "city clerk" means any person or officer who is or acts as clerk of the city council.

18609. "Public way" includes all public highways, roads, streets, avenues, boulevards, alleys, parkways and other rights of way of the public, or any portion thereof, within a city.