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A. Terminology. All terminology used in this title, not defined in this chapter, shall be in conformance with the American National Standards Institute Standard ANSI S1.1-1971 Acoustical Terminology (attached by reference).

B. A-weighted sound level” means the sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(A) or dBA.

C. Ambient noise level” means the composite of noise from all sources near and far. In this context, the ambient noise level constitutes the normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location and time.

D. Enforcement office(r)” means the City employee and/or police officer having lead responsibility for enforcing this chapter, and the City employee having responsibility for making noise surveys, noise analyses, and noise investigations and for the administration of this chapter.

E. Construction” means any site preparation, assembly, substantial repair, alteration or similar action, for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities, or similar property or similar activity upon public or private structures or land.

F. Continuous sound” means sound which is of a steady and uninterrupted nature of a specified time period. For the purposes of this title, the minimum time period shall be one hour.

G. Cumulative period” means an additive period of time composed of individual time segments which may be continuous or interrupted.

H. Day/night average sound level (Ldn)” means a 24-hour average of the A-weighted sound level, with the level during the period 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. increased by 10 dBA before averaging. It is denoted “Ldn.”

I. Decibel” means a unit for measuring the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals.

J. Demolition” means any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces, or similar property.

K. Equivalent sound level (Leq)” means the average sound level measured over a stated time period.

L. Emergency work” means any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.

M. Environmental Noise. See “Noise disturbance – Environmental.”

N. Fixed noise source” means a stationary device which creates sounds while fixed or motionless, including, but not limited to, residential, agricultural, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, air conditioners, and refrigeration equipment.

O. Impulsive sound” means sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive sound include explosions, drop forge impacts, and the discharge of firearms.

P. Intermittent sound” means sound which is not continuous or which is of a cyclic or repetitive nature.

Q. Intrusive noise” means that noise which intrudes over and above the existing ambient noise at a given location. The relative intrusiveness of a sound depends upon its amplitude, duration, frequency and time of occurrence, and tonal or informational content as well as the prevailing ambient noise level.

R. Mobile noise source” means any noise source other than a fixed noise source.

S. Multiple dwelling” means a building or portions thereof designed for or used exclusively for residence purposes by three or more families or housekeeping units, living independently of one another.

T. Noise Disturbance. Any noise exceeding the noise level limits for a designated receiving land use category specified in Table III, or the prohibited actions as specified in CVMC 19.68.050, shall be deemed to be a “noise disturbance.”

1. Noise Disturbance – Environmental. Those noise disturbances resulting from land use activity normally permitted under the land use code, or permitted by a conditional use permit issued by the City, but which exceed the noise level limits set by this title for that particular land use. Environmental noise sources are specified in, but not limited by, the list in Appendix A.

2. Noise Disturbance – Nuisance. Those noise disturbances, other than environmental noise disturbances, which because of their unusual presence are considered harmful to health and well-being, annoying, obnoxious and unpleasant. Nuisance noise disturbances are specified in, but not limited to, the examples in Appendix A.

U. Noise sensitive zone” means any area designated by the Planning Commission for the purpose of ensuring exceptional quiet.

V. Public right-of-way” means any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, bikeway, sidewalk or alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a government entity.

W. Public space” means any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled by a governmental entity.

X. Pure tone” means any sound which can be judged as audible as a single pitch or a set of single pitches by the enforcement officer or police officer.

Y. Real property boundary” means an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person, but not including intrabuilding real property divisions.

Z. Sound amplifying equipment,” as used in this chapter, means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. “Sound amplifying equipment,” as used in this chapter, shall not be construed as including standard automobile radios when used and heard only by occupant(s) of the vehicle in which installed, or warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles, or horns or other warning devices on other vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes. This definition shall include remotely located loudspeakers attached to and/or operated from a vehicle.

AA. Sound level meter” means an instrument, including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels, which meets or exceeds the requirements pertinent for type S2A meters in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters, S1.4-1971.

BB. Vibration perception threshold” means the minimum ground-borne or structure-borne vibrational motion necessary to cause a normal person to be aware of the vibration by such direct means as, but not limited to, sensation by touch or visual observation of moving objects. The perception threshold shall be presumed to be a motion velocity of 0.01 inch/second over the range of 1 to 100 Hertz.

CC. Weekday” means any day, Monday through Friday, which is not a legal holiday. (Ord. 2642 § 3, 1995; Ord. 2101 § 3, 1985).