HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/07/2004, C3 - STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION council Dec 7, 2004
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Jay Walter, Acting Director of Public Works
Prepared By: Barbara Lynch, Supervising Ci I Engineer'J&
SUBJECT: STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS
FOR CONSTRUCTION
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution approving the revised City Standard Specifications and Engineering
Standards for Construction Projects and rescind the previous resolution.
DISCUSSION
For many years the City has maintained a set of Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards.
These two documents outline the "how-to" of the majority of construction both on City projects and
in private development. When City projects come to the City Council for approval to advertise for
construction, the City Council sees a document called the "Special Provisions" along with the plans.
The Special Provisions and plans identify the conditions which must be met for the specific project
which are either not covered in the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards or differ
from the standard practice for some reason. The Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards
are referenced for all other information regarding the construction. The construction of new streets
and parks in developments also conform to these standards.
The City Standard Specifications are based on the State of California Department of Transportation
Standard Specifications. The City references the State book with modifications and changes written
in where appropriate to meet City needs and wants. The State book covers many standard contract
issues and legal requirements such as labor laws, payment, and liability. The City specifications
focus on construction the State does not normally handle such as municipal water and wastewater
systems, and parks. The Engineering Division updates these documents annually to reflect changes
in construction law,practices, or materials, or to add clarifications.
Staff continually monitors the workability of these documents and generates suggested revisions.
These suggestions come from all areas of the organization, although are primarily generated by the
Public Works and Utility Departments. The requested changes are reviewed by engineering and
development review staff and recommended for approval to the City Engineer and ultimately to the
City Council. The majority of changes are minor in nature, to add clarification, close loop holes or
update standards to current practices and materials.
One noteworthy change to the Standard Specifications this .year is the incorporation of
encroachment permit conditions into this document. Past practice has been to give individuals who
obtain a permit at the counter to do work in a public street a multi-sheet handout of requirements
which are in addition to the requirements of the Standard Specifications. By incorporating the
handout into the Standard Specifications, there will be only a single document and conditions will
then be consistent between contractors working under an encroachment permit and those working
2004 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards Page 2
on City paid for projects. The encroachment permit will now simply provide a summary list of
important sections to be reviewed and what information they cover. Staff has also determined.that it
would be prudent to adopt the California Department of Transportation standard for construction of
curb ramps. These standards were issued this year and have been approved by the Division of the
State Architect and the Federal Highway Administration.
The Engineering Standards have.also undergone some revisions in an effort to consolidate design
guidelines in one place. Community Development's rewriting of the subdivision ordinance has
removed the design standards that were contained within the ordinance. These design standards
will move to the Engineering Standards unchanged. The old drainage design section of the
Engineering Standards has essentially been removed and a reference to the newly adopted Drainage
Design Manual made in its place. Landscape design guidelines from the City's ordinance on water
conservation have also been pulled into. the Engineering Standards with some additions made to
address problem areas encountered on recent projects. A new section to provide guidelines on
acceptable bridge design is also now included.
This edition includes some new standards as well. Of note are a series of traffic control plans to
assist contractors in installing traffic control during construction. It is hoped this will improve
traffic control on the street as well as reduce staff review time of contractor plans. The tree well
cover has also been revised. Maintenance of the current concrete covers,primarily downtown, has
prompted staff to look for alternatives. On November. 15`h the ARC reviewed and unanimously
approved the change to a metal tree grate such as those installed as part of the Downtown Transfer
Center at City Hall.
Staff has completed the needed revisions to the City Standard Specifications and Engineering
Standards and the changes are now ready for formal Council adoption..
CONCURRENCES
Affected departments have submitted changes for inclusion in the Standard Specifications and
Engineering Standards.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact anticipated.
Attachments
Attachment 1 -Resolution
A copy of the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards are available in the Council
Office for review. (Changes to the Standard Specifications are identified by a bar in the margin.
Changes to the Engineering Standards are noted in the bottom footer.)
iAlcowcil agenda reportst2004 agenda reporWangineering and maintenance services(walter)4apital projects design(lynch)M05 adopt specs&stds.doc
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Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. (2004 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
APPROVING REVISED 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,
BE IT RESOLVED,by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows:
1. Approve the revised City Standard Specifications and.Engineering Standards.
2. Rescind Resolution No. 9510 (2003 Series) approving the previous editions of the
Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards. ,
Upon motion of , seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2004.
David F. Romero,Mayor
ATTEST:
Audrey Hooper,City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Lowell,City Attorney
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