HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5l. 2025 Update to City Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards Item 5l
Department: Public Works
Cost Center: 5009
For Agenda of: 12/2/2025
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Aaron Floyd, Public Works & Utlities Director
Prepared By: Morgan Edmunson, Engineer I
SUBJECT: 2025 UPDATE TO CITY STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Draft Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo, California, approving 2025 Standard Specifications and Engineering
Standards for Construction” (Attachment A); and
2. Authorize the City Engineer to allow projects currently in design or approved by
Council for construction under the 2020 City Standard Specifications to continue
referencing the 2020 City Standard Specifications on a case -by-case basis.
POLICY CONTEXT
The adoption of City Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards (Standards) for
construction projects in the City of San Luis Obispo is governed by City Council resolution.
The Public Works Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Engineering Division periodically
updates the Standards to reflect changes in construction practices, provide clarifications,
and adopt new technologies and code requirements. Staff maintains a list of suggested
improvements, which are incorporated into the Standards during update s. The City
Engineer provides oversight and approves all proposed updates to ensure consistency,
quality, and compliance with current regulations. These Standards set forth general
guidelines and requirements for design and construction of infrastructure p rojects
throughout the city. Additionally, adopted Standards provide design and plan immunity
under Government Code Section 830.6, thereby protecting the City from possible liability.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the City’s Standards. The
Standards set forth general guidelines and requirements for design and construction of City
projects. In addition, the Standards also apply to private development work within City right-
of-way or on City property, and some sections apply to private development work on private
property. They establish a level of quality and consistency for infrastructure construction and
provide an objective standard for public improvements. When combined with inspection, the
Standards help ensure the longevity and functionality of public improvements while reducing
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long-term maintenance costs. In addition, the Standards provide contractual language to
guide the relationship between contractors and the City during construction activities. In
unique situations, licensed judgement by the City Engineer may be required to best apply
intent of the Standards.
The City’s Standards work in conjunction with the State of California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) Standard Specifications, State Book. The City Standards
reference the State Book and modify the State Book where appropriate to satisfy City needs.
The State Book covers many standard contract issues and legal requirements such as labor
laws, bidding, payment, and liability. The City Standards also focus on construction
guidelines for work that Caltrans does not typically handle such as water, wastewater, and
park facilities. Both the City and Caltrans Standards include pictorial construction drawings
and details illustrating how facilities are constructed, tailored to their respective needs.
The 2025 update aligns the City Standards with the 2024 State Book, reflecting recent
changes in construction regulations, materials, and industry best practices. Incorporating
these updates now ensures projects comply with current codes and reduces inconsistencies
between City and statewide construction requirements.
2025 Revisions
The 2020 City Standards implement the 2015 State Book. The updated 2025 Standards
now implement the 2024 State Book, which is publicly available online to all. The 2024 State
Book reflects the most current construction regulations and codes, ensuring greater
consistency with statewide practices. All sections present in the 2024 State Book were
reviewed prior to incorporation into the City’s 2025 Standards. Major section revisions
include those applicable to roadway paving and traffic signal equipment, such as Section
39, “Asphalt Concrete”, and Sections 86 and 87, “Electrical Systems”.
This 2025 update also includes clarifications and revisions to several existing Standard
details, including the street tree species standards, tree wells, trash containers, pathway
lighting, and downtown pedestrian lighting. The Tree Committee approved the proposed
edits to the tree species standards. Further, new standards have been developed, including
standards for installation of communication utilities by microtrenching, landscaped medians,
and a hydration station. Miscellaneous edits were made to the Uniform Design Criteria,
Standard 1010, including reference to the California Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code
for fire lane access road requirements. These additions establish clear expectations of
infrastructure improvements that will enhance community cohesiveness, promote design
development consistency, and reduce future City review times for similar projects.
To minimize project delivery impacts, staff anticipate projects that are substantially complete
with design or were approved by Council for construction bid advertisement using the City’s
2020 Standards to proceed to construction under the 2020 City Standards. All other projects
will be converted to the 2025 Standards prior to construction, provided the conversion does
not create design conflicts or introduce significant schedule delays or cost impacts (these
types of issues are expected to be the exception).
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Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On August 18, 2020, Council approved the adoption of the previous City Standard
Specifications and Engineering Standards update.
The Tree Committee approved the proposed edits to the tree species standards on
April 28, 2025.
The City’s Fire Department held a study session for the new Wildland -Urban
Interface (WUI) Code on October 7, 2025.
Public Engagement
Public Works staff coordinate with local developers, engineers, and contractors to ensure
compliance with the City’s Standards. When deficiencies or opportunities for
improvements are identified, staff work with these external partners to make the
necessary design or field adjustments. Where appropriate, those revisions are
incorporated into the next Standards update. With the recommended action, this update
reflects those incremental improvements identified through ongoing coordination with the
development and construction community.
The Developer’s Roundtable group was notified of the 2025 Standards update at the
October 2025 meeting in conjunction with a detailed discussion about the WUI Code
requirements, which are scheduled for introduction by Council on November 18th.
Additional email notification to the Developer’s Roundtable, including an overview of the
expected Standards revisions and updates, was provided requesting input and questions
regarding specific information of interest. Furthermore, at the November 13, 2025
Developer’s Roundtable meeting, staff provided an informational presentation about the
update and an opportunity for discussion. No concerns or requests were raised by
participants regarding the 2025 Standards update.
Finally, staff engaged with consultants to revise the standards to ensure full compliance
with current industry best practices, including those for paving, electrical, and traffic
signals. This also included coordination with consultant attorneys most familiar with Public
Contract Code requirements, further ensuring that the City is in full compliance with
applicable State and Federal Laws, and that the City’s construction contract documents
clearly communicate contractual obligations, to the benefit of both the Cit y and
contractors that perform work with the City.
CONCURRENCE
The proposed modifications to the Standards were developed collaboratively by staff from
the Public Works, Utilities, and Community Development Departments. All participating
departments concur that the updates are reasonable and appropriate. The City Engineer
has reviewed and approved all proposed changes.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of the updated City Standards and Specifications can be found exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the “common sense exemption”
defined by State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). The updated Standards and
Specifications would not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the
environment, because this document solely identifies requirements and provides
guidance for design and construction of future projects, and does not commit the City to
the construction or implementation of any identified project. Future projects would be
subject to the requirements of CEQA, unless otherwise found exempt subject to findings
specific to the future project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: N/A
Funding Identified: No
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund N/A
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $N/A $0 $0 $0
The recommended Standards changes are either minor or will have an insignificant
impact on the cost of City or private development projects. This is because most of the
changes involve improvements to current construction standards or City infrastructure
needs. The changes are not anticipated to result in significant cost impacts on
construction or development, including to those projects that will be updated to the 2025
Standards. The recommended Standards update does not obligate funding and there are
no direct Capital expenditures associated with the update.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the 2025 Standards at this time. Under this alternative, projects would
continue under the 2020 Standards based on the 2015 State Book. This could result
in inconsistencies with current statewide construction practices and regulations and
may increase review times for new projects.
2. Direct staff to make further revisions prior to adoption. Council may direct staff to
return to Council with requested additions or changes to the proposed design
standards. This action would delay implementation and potentially affect upcoming
projects that rely on current guidance.
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Item 5l
ATTACHMENTS
A - Draft Resolution Adopting Revised Standard Specifications and Engineering
Standards for Construction
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2025 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING 2025 STANDARD
SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR
CONSTRUCTION
WHEREAS, the Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining Standard
Specifications and Engineering Standards establishing quality requirements and contract
conditions for construction; and
WHEREAS, the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards must be
periodically updated to allow for changes in construction practices and contract law; and
WHEREAS, legally adopted Standard Specifications are necessary to provide
design and plan immunity thereby protecting the City from possible liability; and,
WHEREAS, adoption of the updated City Standards and Specifications can be
found exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the
“common sense exemption” defined by State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Resolution No. 11151 (2020 Series) approving previous editions of
the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards is hereby superseded and the
2025 Standard Specifications and Engineering Specifications approved herein shall be
applicable to all projects advertised and approved following the approval of these
standards, except as expressly provided below.
SECTION 2. 2025 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards dated
December 2, 2025, and effective December 12, 2025, are hereby approved.
SECTION 3. The City Engineer is authorized to release for advertising under the
previous Standard Specifications, currently pending projects that are deemed
substantially complete with design at the time of this adoption. The Council expressly
affirms its prior approval of the Standard Specifications approved by resolution No. 11151
(2020) as applicable to those projects.
Upon motion of Council Member ___________, seconded by Council Member
___________, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _______________ 2025.
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R ______
___________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal
of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
___________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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