§ 10-31. Definitions.

Ambient noise. The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds from many sources.

A-weighted sound level. The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dBA.

Construction. Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, but excluding demolition, for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.

Decibel (Db). A unit for describing the amplitude of sound, equal to twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base ten (10) of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter.

Emergency. Any occurrence or set of occurrences involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.

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

Microbar. A unit of pressure commonly used in acoustics and equal to one (1) dyne per square centimeter.

Motor vehicle. As defined in the motor vehicle code of the state, any vehicle which is propelled or drawn on land by a motor, such as, but not limited to, passenger cars, trucks, truck-trailers, semitrailers, campers, go-carts, all-terrain vehicles, amphibious craft on land, dune buggies, or racing vehicles, but not including motorcycles.

Motorcycle. As defined in the motor vehicle code of the state, an unenclosed motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the operator and two (2) or three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including, but not limited to, motor scooters and minibikes.

Noise. Any sound which annoys or disturbs humans of reasonable sensitivities or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans of reasonable sensitivities.

Noise disturbance. Any sound which:

(a)

Endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or

(b)

Annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or

(c)

Endangers or injures personal or real property.

Person. Any person, person's firm, association, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation or any entity public or private in nature, which is either the owner or tenant of property. Both the owner and tenant are responsible for noise violations.

Plainly audible. Clearly loud enough to be heard through perception of the human ear. In such cases, the location of the source of the noise and the type of the noise being generated can be readily described.

Public right-of-way. Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk or alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.

Real property boundary. Any imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one (1) person from that owned by another person, but not including intra-building real property divisions.

RMS sound pressure. The square root of the time averaged square of the sound pressure, denoted Prms.

Sound. An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.

Sound level. The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network A as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI S1.4-1971 or its successor publications).

Sound level meter. An instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time averager, an output meter and frequency weighting networks used to measure sound pressure levels. The output meter reads sound pressure levels when properly calibrated, and the instrument is of type 2 or better, as specified in the American National Standards Institute Publication Section 1.4-1971, or its successor publications.

Sound pressure. The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space, as provided by sound energy.

Sound pressure level. Twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base ten (10) of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure level to the reference of twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter.

Zoning district. Any of the categories of land use designated in the zoning regulations of the city which can broadly be divided into four (4) distinct uses being residential, commercial or business, industrial or manufacturing, and public.

(Ord. No. 94-23, § 2, 1-10-95; Ord. No. 18-11 , § 1, 7-10-18)