Noise disturbance means any sound which violates the standards of this ordinance. Noise control officer means the Police Chief of the City of Arcata, or his or her designee. Public space means any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled by a governmental entity. Real property boundary means an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person. Sound amplifying equipment means any device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, excluding standard automobile radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the radio is installed, and, as used in this Chapter, warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes.
Sound level means the level of sound measured in decibels.
Sound level meter means a sound measuring instrument meeting American National Standard Institute's Standard S1.41971 or the most recent revision thereof for Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meters or an instrument and the associated recording and analyzing equipment which provide equivalent data. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, and in addition thereto, it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or negligently make or continue, or cause to be made or continue, any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of the Downtown Plaza Area, or which causes any discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing, working, shopping or otherwise using or visiting in the Downtown Plaza Area. Exterior Noise In General. If possible, the ambient noise level shall be measured at a location along the real property boundary on the property adjoining the parcel which is the location of the alleged offending noise source. If the intruding noise source is continuous and cannot be reasonably discontinued or stopped for a time period whereby the ambient noise level can be measured, the ambient noise level shall be determined by traveling away from the noise source to a point where a steady state decibel reading is achieved.