Title
Engineering Design and Development Standards Update (EDDS)
Issue:
The last comprehensive update of the EDDS was in 2009. The City Engineer initiated a comprehensive review in 2011, seeking input from City staff, developers, consulting engineers, Intercity Transit, and interest groups.
Committee Recommendation:
Briefing Only.
City Manager Recommendation:
Briefing Only.
Staff Contact:
Fran Eide, P.E., City Engineer, Public Works Technical Services, 360.753.8422
Background and Analysis:
The Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS) are the technical standards used by the City and private developers to design and construct drinking water, reclaimed water, sewer, street, storm water, and solid waste collection systems. The EDDS are the technical interpretation of the City's Comprehensive Plan and the various Master Plans. The City Engineer is responsible for approving and administering the standards.
The City Engineer routinely reviews and updates the EDDS to ensure the City's infrastructure can be designed and constructed effectively and in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and Master Plans. Some reasons for updating the EDDS include:
· changes in equipment and materials,
· clarifying text and standard drawings, and
· incorporating new study results and policy changes.
Attachment #1 summarizes the proposed changes. The substantive changes recommended by the City Engineer include updates to the Transportation and Waste ReSources chapters, summarized below.
Administration, Chapter 2
· Establishing criteria for in-fill sidewalks on single family residences on local access streets
Transportation, Chapter 4
· Clarifying trail standards
· Establishing pavement restoration standards for Septic to Sewer projects
· Adding LED street lights to illumination standards
Waste ReSources, Chapter 8
· Adding design and construction criteria for refuse and recycling enclosures
The changes have been formatted and submitted to the Department of Commerce (DOC). The Growth Management Act requires the City submit proposed changes to the EDDS to the DOC, who serves as a clearinghouse for other State Agency reviews. Once this review is complete, a Public Hearing will be scheduled before the City Council and an ordinance prepared for Council approval.
When the EDDS are formally adopted by Council, staff will notify stakeholders of the changes through email, website updates, and staff briefings.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City Engineer received over 150 comments from staff, Olympia Safe Streets, Intercity Transit, Olympia School District and engineering consultants. The majority of comments related to clarifying text, fixing broken web links, and updating manufacturers who were no longer in business.
The EDDS provide predictability and consistency in how the City's infrastructure is built. Stakeholders can request an exception to the standards (deviation) through the City Engineer when there are unique circumstances. The EDDS outline a prescribed process along with set criteria that are used by the City Engineer to determine if a deviation can be considered.
Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impact:
The proposed changes should not result in significant increased project costs to private development or public work projects.