§ 10.6-42. Definitions.

Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this division shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage.

Allied purposes means other related outdoor activities including, but not limited to, photography, painting, environmental education and nature study.

Designated road means any road, path, lane, or trail officially designated by name or number for public vehicular travel.

Entry point means a designated location or boundary for public access to an environmental lands management area.

Environmental lands means real property acquired or managed pursuant to Polk County Environmental Lands Acquisition Ordinance, Ordinance No. 94-40, as amended.

Facilities refers to any and all improvements or structures, either natural or artificial, including, but not limited to, buildings, shelters, benches, tables, fences, walkways, toilet facilities and signs located within a Management Area.

General public recreation means nature-based activities dependent on some particular element or combination of elements in the natural environment, including activities such as fishing, frogging, hunting, horseback riding, bicycling, swimming, camping, hiking, canoeing, boating, airboating, diving, wildlife viewing, sailing and jogging.

Law enforcement officer (LEO) is a sworn law enforcement officer pursuant to Florida Statutes.

Management area means designated real property, including facilities, acquired through the Polk County Environmental Lands Acquisition Program and all trees, shrubbery, flowers, leaves, grasses, plants, vegetation, fruit, mushrooms, toadstools, fossils, dirt and rocks located on said property.

Management plan means a plan adopted by the board of county commissioners governing the use and management of a particular management area.

Natural resources means water, soils, flora, and fauna.

Natural resources division is a branch within the Polk County government responsible for the operation, management, and care of environmental lands.

Primitive camping or camping means camping where no amenities are provided by the county.

Public use refers to any lawful utilization by members of the general public of environmental lands, and their facilities, not prohibited by any applicable regulation, ordinance or law, where such use does not harm native species or natural process, nor does such use interfere with or tend to interfere with the use of such lands.

Recreational trail means trails for horseback riding, hiking, canoeing, bicycling, or jogging by the public.

Repeat violation shall mean any violation of the same provision of this division by a person previously found to have violated the same provision within the preceding five (5) years.

Resource protection officer (RPO) means a person designated by the county manager or sheriff to assist with the daily operations of environmental lands, including, but not limited to, providing for the safety and welfare of persons using environmental lands and protecting the wildlife, habitat, natural vegetation and ecology of such lands. Resource protection officers may also perform interpretive and educational activities, as well as general maintenance, within their assigned area. A RPO is authorized to and may carry out and enforce county ordinances as they may apply within the scope of their duties to the same extent and in the same manner as authorized Polk County code enforcement officers. RPOs who are law enforcement officers, as defined herein, shall also provide supplemental law enforcement services on environmental lands including enforcing state law.

Service animal means an animal whose function is to assist a person with necessary functions. Examples of service animals are seeing-eye dogs and police dogs.

Special use permit means a permit issued by Polk County through the natural resources division to allow certain public use activities as designated on the permit.

(Ord. No. 08-003, § 1.3, 3-19-08)