Turlock Municipal Code Art. 1 Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a)

"Abate"

shall mean to repair, replace, remove, destroy, or otherwise remedy the condition in question by such means and in such manner and to such an extent as the Enforcement Officer or Weed Abatement Officer in his judgment shall determine is necessary in the interests of the general health, safety, and welfare of the community.

(b)

"Weed Abatement Officer"

shall mean the Fire Marshal and shall include any official or employee in the Fire Department duly appointed by the Fire Chief to administer the provisions of this chapter.

(c)

"Weed Abatement Hearing Officer"

shall mean the Fire Chief or any officer or employee appointed by him who is not serving as Weed Abatement Officer.

(d)

"Hearing Officer"

shall mean the City Manager or any officer or employee appointed by the City Manager to act as Hearing Officer who is not the Enforcing Officer for the nuisance being appealed.

(e)

"Enforcement Officer"

shall mean the City Manager or any person designated by the City Manager.

(f)

"Premises"

shall mean any building, lot, parcel, real estate, land, or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks, parking strips, streets, and alleys.

(g)

"Responsible Person"

shall mean the owner of any premises, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the County, and any agent, lessee, or other person occupying or having charge or control of the premises at the time the abatement notice referred to in Section 5-5-301 of Article 3 of this chapter is mailed, and the owner, agent, lessee, or other person occupying or having charge or control of the premises at the time of abatement by the City.

(h)

"Weeds"

shall mean all weeds growing upon streets, alleys, sidewalks, or private property in the City and shall include any of the following:

(1)

Weeds which bear or may bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature;

(2)

Weeds and indigenous grasses which may attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace;

(3)

Weeds which are otherwise noxious or dangerous;

(4)

Weeds which are a public nuisance of seasonal or recurring nature;

(5)

Poison oak and poison ivy when the conditions of growth are such as to constitute a menace to the public health;

(6)

Accumulations of garden refuse, cuttings, dirt, or trash;

(7)

Mistletoe, viscum album, or other parasitic growths; and

(8)

Sandburs and puncture vines.