The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Approval means a written engineering or geological opinion concerning the progress and completion of the work.

As graded means the surface elevation on completion of grading.

Backfill materials means materials from an approved source. They are installed in specified layers and adequate compaction equipment is used. Relative density of backfill is checked.

Bedrock means in-place solid rock, a more or less continuous body of rock which underlies the overburden soils.

Bench means a relatively level step.

Borrow means earth material acquired from an off-site location for use in grading on-site.

Civil engineer means a professional engineer registered in the state to practice in the field of civil works.

Civil engineering means the application of the knowledge of the forces of nature, principles of mechanics and the properties of materials to the evaluation, design and construction of civil works for the beneficial uses of mankind.

Compaction means the densification of a fill by mechanical means.

Earth material means any rock, natural soil or fill or any combination thereof.

Engineering geologist means a geologist experienced and knowledgeable in engineering geology.

Engineering geology means the application of geologic knowledge and principles in the investigation and evaluation of naturally occurring rock and soil for use in the design of civil works.

Erosion means the wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water and ice.

Excavation means the mechanical removal of earth material.

Existing grade means the grade prior to grading.

Fill means the deposit of earth material placed by artificial means.

Fine grading means the grading operation which is used to obtain the finished grade.

Finish grade means the final grade of the site which conforms to the approved plan.

Grade means the vertical elevation of the ground surface.

Grade inspector means the civil engineer designated as the representative of the city engineer in matters of grading.

Grading means any excavating or filling or combination thereof. The term shall not include mining or mineral extraction as defined in section 146-2 of this Code.

Key means a designated compacted fill placed in a trench excavated in earth material beneath the toe of a proposed fill slope.

Professional engineer means a person authorized to practice as a professional engineer by the State of in Colorado.

Roadway Design and Construction Specifications shall be as defined in section 126-1 of this Code.

Rough grade means the stage at which the grade approximately conforms to the approved plan.

Site means any lot or parcel of land or contiguous combination thereof under the same ownership, where grading is performed or permitted.

Slope means an inclined ground surface the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

Soil engineer means a civil engineer experienced and knowledgeable in the practice of soil engineering.

Soil engineering means the application of the principles of soil mechanics in the investigation, evaluation and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and the inspection and testing of the construction thereof.

Soils means naturally occurring surficial deposits overlying bedrock composed of sediments or other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles produced by the physical and chemical disintegration of rocks, and which may not contain organic matter.

Terrace means a relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope surface for drainage and maintenance purposes. (Ord. No. 2014-12, § 1, 5-12-2014; Ord. No. 2006-78, § 1(Exh. A), 1-8-2007)