HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-2018 Item 07 - Approving 2018 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards updateMeeting Date: 5/15/2018
FROM: Daryl Grigsby, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Brian Nelson, Acting Supervising Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: 2018 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS
UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION
1.Adopt a Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
approving revised Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards for Construction”,
Attachment A, approving revised Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards for
Construction; and
2.Adopt a Resolution entitled “A Resolut ion of the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
approving revised Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards for Construction”,
Attachment B, approving an appeal process for Standard Specifications and Engineering
Standards variance; and
3.Authorize the City Engineer to release projects currently in design or approved by Council
under the 2016 City Standard Specifications on a case by case basis.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City Engineer is responsible for maintaining the Public Works Department’s S tandard
Specifications and Engineering Standards (hereafter collectively referred to as “Standards”). The
Standards set forth general guidelines and requirements for design and construction of City
projects. In addition, they are also applicable to privat e development work within City right of
way or on City property. The Standards also set a level of quality and consistency for
infrastructure construction. These Standards, when combined with active inspection, ensure the
longevity and function of public improvements and reduce long-term maintenance costs. In
addition, the Standard Specifications provide contractual language to guide the relationship
between contractors and the City during construction activities.
The City Standard Specifications work in conjunction with the State of California Department of
Transportation Standard Specifications (“State Book”). The City references the State Book,
modified 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
Standard Specifications also focus on construction guidelines for work the State does not
typically handle such as water, wastewater, and park facilities. The Engineering Standar ds are
pictorial construction drawings and details showing how facilities are put together. These are
largely specific to City construction needs.
The Public Works Capital Improvement Program updates the City Standards on a periodic basis
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to reflect changes in construction practices, provide clarifications, and adopt new technologies.
The City Engineer keeps suggested improvements on file and the Standards are revised during
the next update.
2018 Revisions
The 2018 Standards largely implement the 2015 State Book which replaced the older 2010 State
Book. The 2015 State Book is the most current version in use by Caltrans and brings the City in
line with the State’s best practices.
Another notable modification is that the proposed 2018 Standards allow the use of reclaimed
asphalt pavement (RAP) on paving projects less than 20 tons per day or on a project -by-project
specific basis. While the older City Standards allowed for greater use of RAP, several quality
control failures have occurred that required contractors to remove and replace completed work.
City Staff recognize the benefits of using recycled materials and will continue to increase
implementation of recycled materials that decreases the use of virgin materials and increases
diversion of used materials from landfills.
Further updates include revisions to the planting standards and updates to the master list of street
trees and the list of street trees by street. For example, the 2018 Standards no longer require the
planting of 100% ficus trees o n Higuera, but now allow a mixture of five selected trees, with
ficus trees constituting 10% of the revised tree mixture. Updates have been made to the tree well
standard to reduce the likelihood of sidewalk uplift and tripping hazards caused by street tree
roots, including higher strength concrete, rebar reinforcement adjacent to tree wells, and concrete
root barriers around the tree well.
Engineering Standard Uniform Design Criteria have been updated to provide more guidance on
City processes, other agency regulatory oversight, and State and Federal Design manuals that are
commonly referenced during the design process. The new Uniform Design Criteria has also
been merged with the parking and driveway standards in order to reduce the possibility of
conflict between these two similar standards.
A handful of projects are substantially complete with design using the City’s 201 6 Engineering
Standards and Specifications. These projects are referenced to the Caltrans 2010 State Book, and
this reference is not changing. To minimize impacts to project delivery, staff anticipates
releasing these contracts for construction under the 201 6 standards on a case-by-case basis.
Wherever possible, those projects that are substantially complete will be converted to the 201 8
Standards.
Appeals Process
Prior to 1995, the City’s Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards were adopted by
Council and only Council could make changes to those details. In 1995, Council authorized the
City Engineer to make and allow deviations from these standards both on a case-by-case basis or
with revised details when that change only had a minor potential for affecting safety, liability, or
other sensitive issues. With the adoption of these Standard Specification and Engineering
Standards, staff is recommending that an appeal process be formalized. With this appeals
process, it still allows the City Engineer to making changes to standards that have a minor
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potential impact but allows the Public Works Director to be the appeal authority when the City
Engineer does not support a change to the Council adopted standards.
CONCURRENCES
The 2018 modifications were submitted by the Public Works and Utilities Department staff.
Both the Public Works and Utilities departments concur proposed mod ifications are reasonable
and appropriate. The City Engineer has approved all changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act as it is not a project under
CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
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 to construction or development.
ALTERNATIVES
This item can be referred back to staff for further consideration and modification on specific
items.
Attachments:
a - 2018 Resolution Adoption
b - 2018 Resolution Appeal
c - Reading File - 2018 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. ______ (2018 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.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. Resolution No. 10680 (2015 Series) approving previous editions of the
Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards is hereby superseded and the 2018
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. 2018 Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards dated and effective
May 31, 2018, copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, are hereby
approved.
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Resolution No. _____ (2018 Series) Page 2
R ______
SECTION 3. The City Manager is authorized to release for advertising under the previous
Standard Specifications, currently pending projects that are deemed by the City Engineer
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. 10680
(2015) as applicable to those projects.
Upon motion of ________________________, seconded by ________________________, and on
the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of ________, 2018.
Mayor Heidi Harmon
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, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. ____ (2018 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA APPROVING AN APPEAL PROCESS FOR
STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERING STANDARDS FOR
CONSTRUCTION CHANGES
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 are necessary to ensure
that Public Works facilities are designed and constructed to minimum acceptable standards to
protect the health, safety and welfare of the public; and
WHEREAS, legally adopted Standard Specifications are necessary to provide "design and
plan immunity" thereby protecting the City from possible liability; and
WHEREAS, City Council Resolution No. 8414 – 1995 Series authorized the City Engineer
to approve changes to the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council confirms that the City Engineer and Public Works Director
are expressly authorized and hereby have the discretionary authority to approve or reject
proposed changes to the Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards.
SECTION 2. The City Engineer’s determination regarding a request to approve changes to
Standard Specifications and Engineering Standards may be appealed to the Public Works
Director.
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Resolution No. ______ (2018 Series) Page 2
R ______
SECTION 3. The Public Works Director’s determination is final and not appealable.
Upon motion of ________________________, seconded by ________________________, and on
the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _______ day of _____________.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
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, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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