For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and terms used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
(a) "Exotic invasive plant species" means a plant species that is not originally native to the area and has no natural controls and is able to out-compete and gradually displace native plants.
(b) "Lawn grass" shall mean any type and variety of grass which is typically used to establish a lawn, turf or ground cover for any occupied or unoccupied premises.
(c) "Native plant" means a plant species that has naturally evolved in the local region over thousands of years under certain soil, hydrologic and other site conditions.
(d) "Natural landscaped area" means premises that are landscaped so as to exhibit the deliberate and conscious decision to plant, cultivate and maintain those native plant species identified as wildflower, grass, shrub or tree. This landscaping tries to capture the character and spirit of nature in a designed landscape by arranging plants in a community context, similar to their arrangement in nature.
(e) "Noxious Weeds" shall include Canada thistle (Circium arvense), dodders (any species of Cuscuta), mustards (charlock, black mustard and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis), wild carrot (Daucus carota), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), ragweed (ambrosia elatior 1) and poison ivy (rhus toxicodendron), poison sumac (toxicodendron vernix), all types of exotic invasive plant species, and all types and varieties of turf, grass and weeds which exceed the height of eight inches above ground level.
(f) "Owner" means any person, partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, organization, agent or entity to which the law attributes rights and responsibilities, including lessees or occupants holding any possessory interest in the premises upon which there is noxious weed or lawn grass growth.
(Ord. 2007-04. Passed 7-9-07.)