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As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply. For purposes of this chapter, these definitions shall supersede any other definitions of the same terms in this code. A.
"Administrator" shall mean a person at the local agency who has the authority to approve a permit, plan check, and design review for a project.
B.
"Amendments" shall mean any material added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration and drainage.
C.
"Anti-drain check valve" shall mean a valve located under a sprinkler head to hold water in the system to prevent drainage from the lower elevation sprinkler heads when the system is off.
D.
"Applicant" shall mean any person required to submit a landscape design application. Applicant may include the property owner or an agent of the owner.
E.
"Application rate" shall mean the depth of water applied to a given area, measured in inches per minute or inches per hour or gallons per hour.
F.
"Applied water" shall mean the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
G.
"Automatic rain shut-off feature" shall mean a system with a component that automatically suspends the irrigation system when it rains.
H.
"Botanical gardens and arboretums" shall mean gardens in which a variety of plants are grown for scientific and educational purposes.
I.
"Certified landscape irrigation auditor" shall mean a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits by an accredited educational institution or a professional trade organization.
J.
"Control valve" shall mean a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system. It may also mean all of the sprinklers or emitters in a line controlled by the valve.
K.
"Controller" shall mean an automatic timing device used to remotely control valves or heads to set an irrigation schedule. A weather-based controller uses evapotranspiration or weather data. A self-adjusting irrigation controller uses sensor data (i.e., soil moisture sensor).
L.
"Developer" shall mean a landowner or owner's agent responsible for the development of land. Does not include homeowners or landlords of single-family homes.
M.
"Discretionary permit" shall mean any permit requiring a decision-making body to exercise judgment prior to its approval, conditional approval or disapproval.
N.
"Ecological restoration project" shall mean a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
O.
"Estimated annual applied water use" or "EAWU" shall mean the portion of the estimated total water use that is derived from applied water. The estimated applied water use shall not exceed the maximum applied water allowance.
P.
"Hydrozone" shall mean a section or zone of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs that are served by a valve or set of valves with the same schedule. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
Q.
"Infiltration rate" shall mean the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (i.e., inches per hour).
R.
"Installation application" shall mean an application to the local jurisdiction for new landscaping or re-landscaping which may include a landscape concept plan and/or landscape construction drawings. The portion of the application submitted with a discretionary permit application will include a landscape concept plan. The ministerial portion of the application will include landscape construction drawings.
S.
"Invasive species" shall mean non-indigenous species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically.
T.
"Irrigation efficiency" shall mean the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The minimum irrigation efficiency for purposes of this Chapter is 0.71.
U.
"Irrigation system" shall mean the network of piping, valves and irrigation heads.
V.
"Landscape architect" shall mean a person licensed to practice landscape architecture in this state pursuant to Chapter 3.5 commencing with Section 5615 of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.
W.
"Landscape concept plan" shall mean the portion of a landscape documentation packet that includes a design statement, irrigation notes, planting notes, the plant palette that and conforms to the requirements of this chapter.
X.
"Landscape construction drawings" shall mean the portion of a landscape documentation packet that includes the irrigation plan, plant and soils plan, water management plan that conforms with the requirements of this chapter.
Y.
"Landscape documentation packet" shall mean the complete packet of documents required under Sections 19.24.050, 19.24.060 and 19.24.070 of this chapter to be submitted to the local agency. Documentation packets include the landscape concept plan and landscape construction drawings (irrigation plan, plant and soils plan, and water management plan).
Z.
"Landscape water audit" shall mean an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. Audits include, but are not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity and verification of minimal overspray or run-off that causes overland flow and preparation of an irrigation schedule.
AA.
"Local agency" shall mean the City of Commerce, which is the local agency responsible for the approval of a permit, plan check and design review for a project.
BB.
"Low-head drainage" shall mean drainage from a sprinkler that is caused by water flowing down an irrigation system from a higher level of elevation.
CC.
"Mulch" shall mean any organic material such as leaves, bark or inorganic material such as pebbles, stones, gravel, decorative sand or decomposed granite left loose and applied to the soil surface to reduce evaporation.
DD.
"Operating pressure" shall mean the pressure at which an irrigation system of sprinklers is designed by the manufacturer to operate, usually indicated at the base of a sprinkler.
EE.
"Overspray" shall mean the water that is delivered beyond the landscaped areas by the irrigation system onto pavements, walks, structures or other nonlandscaped areas.
FF.
"Planting plan" shall mean the plan submitted with the construction drawings indicating a list and quantity of plants.
GG.
"Potable water" shall mean water meant for human consumption that is treated to legal standards for human consumption.
HH.
"Pressure regulator" shall mean a device used in sprinkler systems for radius and high pressure control.
II.
"Project net landscape area or landscaped area" shall mean all of the planting areas, turf areas and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance calculation. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (i.e., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
JJ.
"Rain sensor" shall mean a system component which detects rainfall and automatically overrides the irrigation system during rain events.
KK.
"Recycled water" shall mean water which, as a result of treating waste, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is therefore considered a valuable resource.
LL.
"Rehabilitation landscapes" shall mean any re-landscaped project that requires a permit, plan check or design review and meets the requirements of Section 19.24.050.
MM.
"Runoff" shall mean water that is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the area.
NN.
"Smart irrigation controller" shall mean weather-based or soil moisture-based irrigation controller that monitors and uses information about the environmental conditions at a specific location and landscape to automatically adjust watering schedules.
OO.
"Soil management plan" shall mean a plan submitted with the construction drawings indicating results from soil tests and recommended soil amendments.
PP.
"Soil test" shall mean a test done by a soil test lab that indicates at minimum soil texture, water holding capacity, pH, and soluble salts.
QQ.
"Soil type" shall mean the classification of soil based on the percentage of its composition of sand, silt and clay.
RR.
"Special landscape area" shall mean an area of the landscape dedicated to edible plants, areas irrigated with Recycled Water, and areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, where Turf provides a playing surface.
SS.
"Sprinkler head" shall mean a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
TT.
"Static water pressure" shall mean the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not flowing.
UU.
"Turf" shall mean a surface layer of earth containing mowed grass or grass-like sedge with its roots. A groundcover surface of mowed grass or grass-like sedge. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are common cool-season Turf. Bermuda grass, Kikuyu grass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustine grass, Zoysia grass, Carex pansa, and Buffalo grass are common warm-season Turf.
VV.
"Water efficient landscape worksheet" shall mean a worksheet which calculates a site's water budget.
WW.
"Water feature" shall mean any water applied to the landscape for non-irrigation, decorative purposes. Fountains, streams, ponds, lakes and swimming pools are considered Water Features.
XX.
"Water management plan" shall mean a plan submitted with the construction drawings as part of the Landscape Documentation Packet.
YY.
"Water schedules" shall mean a schedule or irrigation times throughout a given year.
ZZ.
"Water-conserving landscape design" shall mean a landscape design developed to conserve water.
(Ord. No. 627, § 1, 9-21-2010)