To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Transportation and Public Works
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend References to Applicable Design and Construction Standards - Adopt
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt an ordinance amending various sections of Chapter 25 of the Sonoma County Code to update and incorporate references to the revised County Road Construction Standards and other applicable improvement standards.
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Executive Summary:
In 1973, the County adopted a revision (the “1973 Revision”) to the Sonoma County Road Standards Code for design and construction standards applied to the roads in the unincorporated area of the County. The Sonoma County Code was amended to codify reference to the 1973 Revision, and currently the Sonoma County Code, along with numerous other County project and permitting materials, reference the 1973 Revision. The 1973 Revision now is in need of updating, notwithstanding periodic supplements and updates that have been made by the County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW). Having completed a project to comprehensively review, re-state, and refresh applicable plans, designs, and other conditions and requirements for construction standards, TPW is recommending that a revised, comprehensive set of standards, entitled Sonoma County Road Construction Standards (Standards) be adopted. Included with adoption of these Standards are various delegations to allow the Director of TPW to administer the Standards and impose project conditions consistent with the Standards, including to periodically update the Standards and to approve certain exceptions and alternatives.
With the adoption of the revised Standards, references to the 1973 Revision in the Sonoma County Code need to be amended. Additionally, outdated references to other design and construction standards for other roadway-related improvements and projects also need to be revised. Accordingly, an ordinance item is also being brought to the Board to amend the Sonoma County Code to, among other things, delete references to the 1973 Revision, refer to the new, revised Road Construction Standards, and make other changes to conform references to other existing, related standards.
The adopted Road Construction Standards will become effective thirty (30) days after the date of passage of the ordinance amending the County Code.
Discussion:
Road Construction Standards
There are over 1368 miles of roadway within the County-maintained system. Improvements and appurtenances are constructed periodically by the County or as conditioned on private development. Private and public utilities are commonly installed and maintained within the public roads pursuant to County-issued encroachment permits that direct the manner in which the trench and surface shall be repaired in order to mitigate the impact of such work and preserve the surface and roadway conditions.
Under the California Streets and Highways Code, including sections 942 and 2009, the Board is empowered to set policy for county highway matters and enact and enforce ordinances and regulations for the construction, improvement or maintenance of county highways, and for the protection, supervision, management, control, or use of such highways.
The 1973 Revision and all references thereto are in need of updating. Since the adoption of the 1973 Revision, the department has periodically published updated construction standards to, among other things, conform to Caltrans requirements and other industry best practices. Many of the current standards were vetted in a process that included input from local civil engineering professionals, the local chapter of the Engineering Contractors Association and County Fire and Emergency Services staff. These updates were implemented at the direction of former County Road Commissioners (Directors of TPW) under provisions of the Sonoma County Code and the California Streets and Highways Code. Each update was published in hardcopy form and made available to the public. Current construction standards went online early in 2015 and are available on TPW’s web page. TPW continues to evaluate and revise the standards as necessary and appropriate.
TPW has extensively studied impacts to roadways caused by trenching, including surface and sub-surface degradation caused by pavement cuts and excavations of roadbeds. Given a multitude of roadway function and preservation considerations, including the needs for safety, drivability, and surface and roadbed durability, standards are needed for all roadways and for the projects relating thereto, including for new roadways and for trenching activity within existing roadways.
TPW has reviewed existing standards and drafted a revised set of proposed Road Construction Standards. The updated standards are based on standards, specifications, and best-practices issued by the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and otherwise reflect the professional engineering opinions and recommendations of TPW. The proposed Road Construction Standards have been presented to various stakeholder groups, including water service districts who commonly install and maintain their infrastructure in County roadways. Input from working with said groups has been considered and the proposed Road Construction Standards have been drafted in light of said input.
For roadway trenching and other encroachment activity within existing County roadways, the Director of TPW has determined the proposed Road Construction Standards contain the conditions necessary for properly replacing and protecting the subject roadways and placing said roadways in as good as condition as before such roadway work. With the exception of Part 1 of the 1973 Revision (pertaining to certain design standards which have been reviewed and are recommended to be preserved), the Road Construction Standards will replace the 1973 Revision.
The proposed Road Construction Standards will inform and provide for plans, designs, and other project details for all construction and improvement of county roadways, highways, and related appurtenances. The Director of TPW, in order to best ensure safe, long-lasting, and quality roadways, recommends approval of the proposed Road Construction Standards to cover all roadway and related-project design, construction, and improvement-related work.
From time to time the Director of TPW, based on his or her responsibilities as Road Commissioner and based on input from TPW’s professional registered engineers, may deem it advisable or necessary to update or modify the County’s Road Construction Standards, including to reflect new engineering and materials developments and improved construction techniques, in order to ensure up-to-date Standards. In order to efficiently implement changes to the Standards, TPW requests the Director be delegated authority by the Board to make such changes as he or she deems necessary or appropriate. The Director will return to the Board for a review of the Standards as needed and at least at intervals not exceeding five years.
Ordinance to Amend Sonoma County Code Chapter 25 Provisions
In light of approval of the revised Road Construction Standards, references in the Sonoma County Code to the former standards (the 1973 Revision) need to be amended. These references are contained in the “Chapter 25-Subdivisions” of the Code. Chapter 25 also references other design and construction standards for improvements and projects related to roadway work, such as certain water, sewer, and stormwater facilities. Several of these standards have also, separately, been revised and/or renamed and references to such are in need of amendment. The proposed Ordinance will provide for all such amendments and also make other clarifying and non-substantive changes to conform Chapter 25, including to be consistent with the approved Construction Standards.
Prior Board Actions:
06/02/2020: Adoption of a resolution introducing, reading the title and waiving the reading of an ordinance amending various sections of Chapter 25 of the Sonoma County Code to update and incorporate references to the above Standards and other applicable improvement standards. Adoption of a resolution reviewing and approving revised County Road Construction Standards and delegating authority to the Director of Transportation and Public Works to maintain and update said Standards along with authority to make certain exceptions and alternatives.
Resolution No. 39383 (January 22, 1973): Adopting the Sonoma County Road Standards Code (1973 Revision) to update and replace the 1968 version of the Code.
Ordinance No. 1610 (February 26, 1973): Amending Section 25-57 of the Sonoma County Code to indicate subdivision improvements are subject to the 1973 Revision of the Sonoma County Road Standards Code.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 21-22 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact. The adoption of the road construction standards informs engineers, utility companies, contractors, and State and Federal agencies (as regulating and funding bodies) that work undertaken in the County rights-of-way is subject to standards determined by TPW to be appropriate, with the approval of the Board as provided for in the California Streets and Highways Code.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Road Construction Standards Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Proposed County Road Construction Standards
Resolution No. 39383