As used in this chapter:

(a)  “Abate” means to put an end to a public nuisance, or to reduce the degree or the intensity of a public nuisance.

(b)  “Board of trustees” means the legislative body of a district.

(c)  “City” means any city, whether general law or chartered, including a city and county, and including any city the name of which includes the word “town.”

(d)  “Control” means to prevent or reduce vectors.

(e)  “Department” means the State Department of Health Services.

(f)  “District” means any mosquito abatement and vector control district created pursuant to this chapter or any of its statutory predecessors.

(g)  “Principal county” means the county having all or the greater portion of the entire assessed value, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties, of all taxable property within a district at the time of formation.

(h)  “Property” means land and improvements, and includes water.

(i)  “Public agency” means any state agency, board, or commission, including the California State University and the University of California, any county, city and county, city, regional agency, school district, special district, redevelopment agency, or other political subdivision.

(j)  “Public nuisance” means any of the following:

(1)  Any property, excluding water, that has been artificially altered from its natural condition so that it now supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors. The presence of vectors in their developmental stages on a property is prima facie evidence that the property is a public nuisance.

(2)  Any water that is a breeding place for vectors. The presence of vectors in their developmental stages in the water is prima facie evidence that the water is a public nuisance.

(3)  Any activity that supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors, or that facilitates the introduction or spread of vectors.

(k)  “Vector” means any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease or capable of producing human discomfort or injury, including, but not limited to, mosquitoes, flies, mites, ticks, other arthropods, and rodents and other vertebrates.

( l)  “Voter” means a voter as defined by Section 359 of the Elections Code.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 395, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003.)