Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/2009, C5 - 2009 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS council "ran 6,2009 j agenba RepoRt �mH . CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Jay D. Walter, Director of Public Works 9DW Prepared By: Daniel Van Beveren, Senior Civil Engineer SUBJECT: 2009 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution approving the 2009 City Standard Specifications and.Engineering Standards and rescind the previous resolution. DISCUSSION The Public Works Department maintains a set of Standard Specifications and a set of Engineering Standards. These two documents set forth the general guidelines and requirements for design and construction on City projects, including private development work within the City's right of way or within future City parks. City projects presented to the City Council for approval to advertise for construction are typically in the form of a set of plans along with a document called the "Special Provisions". The plans and Special Provisions identify for the specific project the specific conditions which must be met. These specific conditions are unique to the project and are not covered in the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards or are different from those two documents. The Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards are incorporated by reference in project plans and Special Provisions. The Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards apply to all items, conditions, or issues which are not otherwise specified in the project plans or Special Provisions. The City Standard Specifications work in conjunction with the State of California Department of Transportation Standard Specifications. The City references the State book with modifications and changes written where appropriate to meet City needs and concerns. The State book covers many standard contract issues and legal requirements such as labor laws, payment and liability. The City specifications focus on construction issues that the State does not typically handle such as municipal water and wastewater systems, and parks. The Engineering Division updates the City Standard Specifications and the Engineering Standards annually to reflect changes in construction law,practices, or materials, and to add clarifications. These two documents are frequently used in performing design and inspection of construction projects. Throughout the year, construction activities may reveal areas within the documents where improvements or modifications might be appropriate. As these issues arise, suggestions for improving the documents are solicited, received and kept on file. These suggested changes are generally intended to add clarification, close loop holes or update standards to be consistent with new technology, current construction practices and City-adopted policies. The Standards Review Committee, which includes the City Engineer as well as technical staff from Development Review and Engineering, has reviewed the suggested revisions. The revisions that the committee concurs with are reflected in the 2009 documents. C55- ) 2009 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards Page 2 Sample Revisions There are approximately twenty-five revisions in the 2009 version of the Standard Specifications and the Engineering Standards. These documents exceed 300 pages, and so are included in a single volume in the Council Reading File rather than duplicated in their entirety in the agenda packet, however;the more notable of these revisions are listed below: 1. Allowing the use of recycled asphalt for use as a structural base material under sidewalks 2. Adding a new standard for City benches for use in open spaces and City parks 3. Revising the City bus stop shelter to provide better wheelchair accessibility 4. Increasing the standard cover over recycled water mains to 5 feet 5. Adding structural soil reinforcing grid to be used under new paved bike trails 6. Modifying the standard color of downtown signal poles to dark forest green 7. Refining the Mission Sidewalk detail -detailed below Mission Style Sidewalk As part of the 2007-09 Financial Plan, staff was asked to review the Mission Style Sidewalk standard and recommend changes to the standard. Staff considered everything from a complete change in the standard to some minor modifications for improvement. It was determined that, given the amount of Mission Style sidewalk already installed, a complete new "look" would not be a practical approach. Staff then looked in more detail at the issues of concern, such as cracked tile and dirt collection. The result is a slightly modified Mission Style Sidewalk Engineering Standard. The new standard contains revised steel reinforcement requirements within the concrete to help reduce the occurrence of cracking in the ceramic tiles. Problem tile areas, such as those in driveway pans and running crossways in the sidewalk have been eliminated in prior years, although staff continues to have to deal with repairing tiles in those areas. The tile band that runs along the curb appears to be holding up reasonably well and staff believes the additional reinforcement will provide added support. The salt-finish requirement has been better defined which will result in a more consistent texture on the sidewalk surface and keep the indentations from being so numerous that the sidewalk collects considerable dirt. This option was suggested by the Downtown Association. The Council may direct a more comprehensive review of infrastructure and amenity standards in the downtown as a follow-up to the goal setting process. If so, our standards, such as Mission Style Sidewalk,may be further revised. CONCURRENCES Many of these Engineering Standards apply to Utilities facilities. The Utilities Department has been involved and concurs with revisions to Utilities standards. 2009 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT Most of the revisions are minor in nature, involve slight modifications or clarifications to existing specifications or standards, and will have either minor or insignificant impacts on the cost of construction or development. ATTACHMENT Resolution AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE A copy of the 2009 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards is 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. G:\Steff-Reports-Agendas-MinutesLCAR\2009\QPN2009 Standards\CAR Adopt 2009 Standards.doc C5-3 Attachment RESOLUTION NO. (2009 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. Resolution No. 9944 (2007 Series) approving previous editions of the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards is hereby rescinded. 2. Revised Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards dated January 2009, copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, are hereby approved. Upon motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing resolution was adopted this 6th day of January 2009. David F.Romero,Mayor ATTEST: Audrey Hooper City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Jo well City Attorney CS'