As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings set forth in this section, unless the context in which any such word or phrase is used clearly requires another meaning:
A. Bicycle. “Bicycle” means a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one or more wheels.
B. dB. “dB” means decibel as herein defined.
C. dBA. “dBA” means decibels measures on an A-weighted scale, as herein defined in the subsection entitled “Noise level.”
D. Decibel. “Decibel” or “dB” means a unit measure of sound (noise) level relative to a standard reference sound on a logarithmic scale. The decibel level of a given sound is determined as twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure in micronewtons per square meter of the sound being measured to the standard reference sound pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (0.0002 microbar).
E. Emergency response activities. “Emergency response activities” means activities necessary to restore, preserve, protect or save lives or property from imminent danger of loss or harm.
F. Highway. “Highway” means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street.
G. Noise level. “Noise level” means the level of noise measured in decibels on the A-weighted scale with a sound level meter satisfying at least the applicable requirements for Type 1 or Type 2 sound-level-meters as defined in the most recent American National Standard Specifications. The meter shall be set for slow response speed, except that for impulse noises or rapidly varying sound levels, fast response speed may be used.
For outside measurements the microphone shall not be less than four feet above the ground, at least four and one-half feet distant from walls or similar large reflecting surfaces, and shall be protected from the effects of wind noises and other extraneous sounds by the use of screens, shields or other appropriate devices; for inside measurements, the microphone shall be at least three feet distant from any wall, and the average measurement of at least three microphone positions throughout the room shall be determined.
H. Noise, Unreasonable. “Unreasonable noise” means noise produced by human voice, machine, animal, or device, or any combination thereof, that is so loud, unnecessary, excessive, or unusual that it unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, unreasonably impinges upon the quiet enjoyment of property, or unreasonably causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing or working in the area.
I. Property Plane. “Property plane” means a vertical plane including the property line which determines the property boundaries in space.
J. Vehicle. “Vehicle” means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Prior code §28.2 (Ord. 1106 (part); Ord. 2195, Ord. 2414)