Chapter 18.08 GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The exclusion of any topic, specification, detail, etc., does not relieve the designer, engineer, and/or contractor from the responsibility of following proper design and construction procedures. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 110, 2003)

18.08.010 General.

The purpose of this title is to set standards for the construction of public improvements to serve new and future developments and for the reconstruction of existing facilities to upgrade existing infrastructure. These standards shall apply to all improvements within the public right-of-way, to all improvements required within the proposed public right-of-way of new subdivisions, for all improvements intended for maintenance by the city, and for all other improvements for which the city code requires approval of the city engineer or designee. These include street, bikeway, drainage, water, and sanitary sewer improvements as required by the development review process, city ordinance, and other city policies adopted by the city council. Standards for site grading, erosion control, parking lot and driveway construction on private property are also contained in this title. Designs submitted shall be stamped by a registered professional engineer licensed to practice in the state of Oregon. At the discretion of the city engineer, registered architects licensed to practice in the state of Oregon may be approved to stamp site grading, erosion control, parking lot, sidewalk, and driveway construction plans. In this case, an architect’s Oregon registration number must appear on or next to their professional stamp on each page submitted.

The standards contained in this title are intended as guidelines for designers and developers in preparing their plans, and for city staff in reviewing plans. Where minimum values are stated, greater values should be used whenever practical; where maximum values are stated, lesser values should be used where practical. In some locations, due to existing development or unusual topography, conformance to these standards may impose an unusual hardship. In such locations, the city may approve modifications to the standards, or a variance from the standard, as allowed by law.

All public improvements and private streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities as per the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This includes providing curb ramps at intersections with pedestrian crosswalks to allow a smooth transition between street and sidewalk elevations. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 110.1, 2003)

18.08.020 Precedence of documents.

If there is a conflict between approval documents, the document highest in precedence shall control. The precedence shall be:

First: Permits from other agencies or jurisdictions, as may be required by law.

Second: Engineering review and planning commission conditions of approval.

Third: “City of St. Helens Engineering Design Manual” and standard drawings.

Fourth: City of St. Helens Development Code (SHMC Title 17, Ordinance 2875 and supplements).

Fifth: Plans and details prepared by the design engineer.

Sixth: ODOT/APWA Oregon Standard Specifications for Construction.

Seventh: Reference specifications.

Supplemental written agreements and approved revisions to plans and specifications by the appropriate jurisdictions will take precedence over documents listed above. Detailed plans shall have precedence over general plans. In any event, the determination of the city engineer shall be final. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 110.2, 2003)

Article II. Submittal Requirements

18.08.030 General.

(1)(a) Submittal requirements consist of design plans, grading plans (where required), erosion control plans (where required), drainage calculations, and other information as required. An engineer’s estimate shall be included with the plan submittal.

(b) The Oregon Standard Specifications and Standard Drawings for Construction are hereby adopted and incorporated as part of this title by reference except as modified herein.

(2) Phased Development Submittal. Submittal for a phased development shall include all items under subsection (1) of this section for each phase of the development. No multiple phase submittals will be accepted for review of a single phase. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.1, 2003)

18.08.040 Design plan format.

(1)(a) The plans shall be submitted on 24-inch by 36-inch sheets.

(b) Vicinity maps shall be located on the first sheet of all plans and shall show the location of the project in respect to the nearest major street intersection.

(c) A north arrow shall be shown on each plan view sheet of the plans and adjacent to any other drawing that is not oriented the same as other drawings on the sheet.

(d) Site development plans shall be organized as follows:

(i) Title sheet to include project name, vicinity map, name and mailing address of developer/owner and engineering firm, general notes, notice to excavators, index, space for city approval stamp (five-inch by five-inch) in the lower right quadrant, the city of St. Helens project numbers in the very bottom of the lower right-hand corner, and a summary of quantities of all public infrastructure.

(ii) Composite utility plan: include existing public and private utilities, and proposed public improvements.

(iii) Street and storm sewer plan and profiles, showing existing and finished contours at two-foot intervals. Profile views shall include shaded locations of all other proposed and existing utilities to verify potential conflicts.

(iv) Sanitary sewer and water plan and profiles. Profile views shall include shaded locations of all other proposed and existing utilities to verify potential conflicts.

(v) Grading and erosion control plan showing existing and finished contours with maximum contour intervals of two feet. Contours shall extend off site a minimum of 50 feet. This sheet shall also note the source of information, date of fieldwork, and location of original document.

(vi) Details may be listed by calling out the city of St. Helens standard detail number and title. If the detail drawings are to be included on the plan sheets, all city standard details shall be full size, 75 percent or 66 percent of original size. Any modifications to a city standard drawing or detail must be clearly marked and initialed by the engineer, along with the date of approval for modifications. Preapproval is required for modifications to city standard drawings and details.

(vii) Copy of the approved tentative plat.

(viii) Street lighting plan.

(e) The scale shall be one inch equals two feet, three feet, four feet, five feet, or 10 feet vertically and shall be one inch equals 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet, or 50 feet horizontally for all drawings except structural details. Scale shall be shown with north arrow and/or within a title block.

(f) Letter size shall not be smaller than one-tenth of an inch high.

(g) The location and elevation of a National Geodetic Survey, United States Geological Survey, Oregon State Highway, Columbia County, or city of St. Helens benchmark shall be shown. No other datum shall be used without permission of the city engineer. Temporary control benchmarks and elevations shall also be shown on the plans.

(h) A title block shall appear on each sheet of the plan set and shall be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the sheet, across the bottom edge of the sheet, or across the right-hand edge of the sheet. The title block shall include the names of the project, the engineering firm, the owner, the sheet title, and the sheet number.

(i) Below title block in bold text shall be the city of St. Helens project number on each sheet.

(j) The signed seal of the registered Oregon professional engineer (or architect as noted in SHMC 18.08.010) responsible for preparation of the plans shall appear on each sheet.

(k) The description and date of all revisions to the plans shall be shown on each sheet affected, and shall be approved and dated by the registered professional engineer of record as evidenced by an original signature or initial.

(l) Through use of standard drafting symbols, indicate the location and direction of view for all sections.

(2) Plan View. Plan views shall show the following:

(a) Right-of-way, property, tract, and easement lines (existing and proposed).

(b) Subdivision name, lot numbers, street names, and other identifying labels. Subdivision and street names are subject to the approval of the city planning department, and the county surveyor.

(d) Horizontal alignment and curve data of street centerlines and curb returns.

(e) Existing underground utilities and vegetation within the construction limits.

(f) Location of existing buildings, wells, septic tanks, drain fields, fuel tanks, and any other buried structures.

(g) Location, stationing, and size of all mains and service lines for storm drainage, sanitary sewer and water. Stationing shall be located in relationship to the street stationing at all manholes or other key locations.

(h) Match lines with sheet number references.

(i) Provisions for cross-connection control must be clearly shown on the plans, including any retrofitting of existing water service connections and existing auxiliary water supplies, conversions to city of St. Helens water service that are required as a condition of development approval, upgrading of existing service connections by replacement of same, and any other cross-connection control required by state and local rules and codes.

(j) Street stationing to be noted at a minimum of 100-foot intervals.

(k) Top of curb elevations along curb returns at quarter-deltas, and at 100-foot stations. Top of curb elevations can also be shown at each property corner to aid in preparation of lot drainage plans.

(l) Location of the low points of street grades and curb returns.

(m) Sidewalk locations. This shall include ramps, transitions in location or width, and relationship with driveways.

(n) Crown lines along portions of streets transitional from one typical section to another.

(o) Centerline stationing of all intersecting streets.

(p) Location and description of existing survey monuments, including but not limited to: section corners, quarter corners, donation land claim corners, and city benchmarks.

(q) Location of proposed street intersection monument boxes.

(r) FEMA-designated 100-year floodplains and floodways, or areas of flooding during a 100-year storm event.

(s) Wetland areas and storm water quality undisturbed corridors (buffer strips).

(t) Legend.

(u) Developer’s name, address and phone number.

(v) Any additional information that the city deems necessary.

(3) Profile View. Profile views shall show the following:

(a) Stationing, elevations, vertical curve data (including curve k factors), and slopes for center of streets or top of curbs. For offset or superelevation cross-sections, both curbs shall be profiled. Where curbs are not to be constructed, centerline of street and ditch inverts shall be shown. Where curb lines (left and right of centerline) have vertical grades not conforming to the standard street detail on plans, both curb lines and centerline profiles shall be drawn.

(b) Original ground along the centerline and if necessary at the edges of the right-of-way if grade differences are significant.

(c) Centerline, top of curb, and gutter flow lines of existing streets for a distance of at least 300 feet each way at intersections with proposed streets. For stub streets that may be extended in the future, the vertical alignment shall be designed for at least 300 feet beyond the scope of the proposed construction. At the discretion of the city engineer, additional design information concerning the vertical and horizontal alignment of future street extensions may be required.

(d) Vertical alignment of streets, including existing centerline monumentation.

(e) The top of curb for all cul-de-sacs, eyebrows and curb returns.

(f) All proposed drainage facilities, all invert and top elevations, slopes, materials, bedding, and backfill.

(g) Existing drainage facilities, including off-site facilities, upstream and downstream that affect the design (i.e., downstream restrictions that back water on to project site). In addition, base flood elevations shall be shown on the profile.

(h) Profiles for ditch and creek flow lines shall extend a minimum of 200 feet beyond the project, both upstream and downstream. Typical cross-sections at 50-foot intervals shall also be submitted.

(i) Designate structures using alpha or numeric labels on profiles to correspond to plan view notation.

(j) Profile for all existing and proposed storm drain, sanitary sewer, water mains, and other utilities.

(k) All existing and proposed sanitary, water, storm lines and other utilities crossing the profile shall be shown on each profile. The utilities not being emphasized on a particular profile shall be shown in a shaded manner. For example, on a profile view emphasizing water and sanitary sewer lines and grade, the storm drain, street finished grade, natural gas, and any other existing or proposed utility within the cross-section shall be shown at its proper depth and grade in a shaded or faded manner on the profile. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.2, 2003)

18.08.050 Site grading plan.

The city of St. Helens code requires a site grading plan as part of the application for any development that involves the excavation or fill of greater than 50 cubic yards of material. Grading contours (existing and proposed) shall be at no more than two-foot intervals, and shall extend off site a minimum of 50 feet. The site grading plan shall show how each lot in the development will be graded to avoid nuisance drainage on to adjacent properties. This sheet shall also note source of information, date of fieldwork, and location of original document.

The grading plan shall include notation depicting the intended discharge points and general drainage of each lot. A general note shall describe the intended discharge points for roof, foundation, and low point drains.

All soil-disturbing construction activity must adhere to the requirements of OAR 340-41-455. A detailed erosion control plan shall be shown in conjunction with the site grading plan. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.3, 2003)

18.08.060 Drainage calculations.

Drainage calculations shall be presented in a clear, concise and complete manner. These calculations shall address all runoff into the drainage system. The drainage calculations shall be included with the plan submitted for plan review.

Initial time of concentration calculation with assumptions listed and charts or nomographs used shall be included with drainage calculations. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.4, 2003)

18.08.070 Other requirements.

Other information to be shown on the construction drawings or the other submittals include:

(1) The design assumptions for each street (example: traffic coefficient, R-value).

(2) The design elements such as:

(a) Street classification;

(b) Design speed;

(d) Average daily traffic (ADT) or design hourly volume (DHV).

(3) Structural construction plans and the necessary calculations shall be submitted for proposed structures (example: walls, box culverts, bridges).

(4) Septic tank and/or septic field abandonment location(s). All septic tank and septic field abandonment shall follow the Uniform Building Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code as applicable.

(5) Any additional information that the city engineer deems necessary to review the plans and assure compliance with design standards. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.5, 2003)

18.08.080 Standard details.

The standard details required for the project shall be called out and identified by title and drawing number on the cover sheet of the submitted plans, or on another sheet if they are logically placed and easily located. The contractor will be responsible for assuring that a copy of the most recent “City of St. Helens Engineering Department Public Facilities Construction Standards Manual” is on site at all times.

Any modifications to a city standard drawing or detail must be preapproved by the city engineer; see Article VI of this chapter. Modified drawings must be shown on the construction drawings along with the date of approval for the modification. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.6, 2003)

18.08.090 Review procedure.

Three sets, or as directed by the city engineer, of complete plans shall be submitted for review. Supporting information and documentation, such as drainage and water system calculations, shall also be submitted.

Upon completion of the detailed review by the city, the city will return one set of plans with “red line” comments. After the private engineer has completed all revisions, three revised plans and the original “red line” plans shall be returned to the city.

Plan review priority will be given to plans submitted for final review. This plan review and approval is valid for one year.

“Plan approval” means that the plans have been reviewed for reasonableness and compliance with minimum city specifications and standards. This approval does not supersede those standards and specifications, unless specifically varied by the city. Plan approval does not relieve the developer and/or engineer from responsibility for errors, omissions, or deficiencies in the plans. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.7, 2003)

18.08.100 As-built drawings.

Following completion of construction, the engineer shall submit one complete set of mylar as-built drawings. As-built drawings shall contain any and all revisions to the previously approved construction plans, and shall be accompanied by a stamped and signed completion certification letter from the engineer. If specialists were required in the design of the project (soils engineer, surveyor, arborist, wetland scientist, engineering hydrologist, etc.), then a stamped and signed completion certification from those individuals shall be required relating to their specialty. In addition, upon acceptance by the city, the site must either have all vegetation/landscaping established or all erosion control measures as needed and in good working order. Each sheet of the as-constructed drawings shall be stamped “As-Built,” and signed and dated by the engineer. This signature constitutes a certification that the public improvements, grading, and other elements of the engineered drawings have been completed in accordance with the city-approved plans and to the standards of the city. As-builts shall be black ink on originals, fixed-line, four-mil opaque mylar, 24 inches by 36 inches in size and to engineering scale. Each sheet included in the construction plan shall be as-built. Sepia mylars or vellums will not be accepted.

(1) All public utility easements will be shown and identified on the as-built.

(2) Distance between main lines in shared easements will be shown.

(3) Type of main line, size, and material will be shown.

(4) All laterals shall include length, plan stationing, size, material, and depths.

(5) A summary of quantities of all public infrastructure shall be included on the cover sheet.

(6) The city also shall receive a copy of all as-built drawings and documents as printed in AutoCAD dwg R14 or higher format, on disk.

The city shall receive a copy of the surveyed plat, as recorded, on paper and on disk in AutoCAD dwg R14 or higher format. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 120.8, 2003)

Article III. Street Design

18.08.110 Functional classification.

The functional classification of existing and proposed roads is established by the transportation master plan. Where the functional classification of a street is not defined by the transportation master plan, the existing land use and existing operational characteristics shall be used by the city to determine the functional classification of the street in question.

Transportation master plan classifies roads and streets as follows:

(1) Principal Routes. This system provides the backbone for the roadway network. It serves through trips entering and leaving the urban area, as well as the majority of movements bypassing the central city. This system includes interstates, freeways, expressways and other principal arterials.

(2) Major Arterials. These facilities are the supporting elements of both the principal routes and collector systems. Major arterials, in combination with principal routes, are intended to provide a high level of mobility for travel within the region. All trips from one subarea through an adjacent subarea traveling to other points in the region should occur on a major arterial or principal route. Access to major port facilities should be provided by major arterials.

(3) Minor Arterials. The minor arterial system complements and supports the principal and major systems, but is primarily oriented toward travel within and between adjacent subareas. An adequate minor arterial system is needed to ensure that these movements do not occur on principal routes or major arterials. These facilities provide connections to major activity centers and provide access from the principal and major arterial systems into each subarea.

(4) Collectors. The collector system is deployed nearly entirely within subregions to provide mobility between communities and neighborhoods or from neighborhoods to the minor and major arterial systems. An adequate collector system is needed to ensure these movements do not occur on principal routes or major arterials. Land is directly accessible with emphasis on collection and distribution of trips within an arterial grid.

(5) Local Streets. The local street system is used throughout developed areas to provide for local circulation and direct land access. It provides mobility within neighborhoods and other homogenous land uses, and comprises the largest percentage of total street mileage. In general, local traffic should not occur on major arterials and principal routes. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.1, 2003)

18.08.120 Access.

Access to public streets shall conform to the requirements of the city of St. Helens transportation master plan and the Development Code. The city engineer shall have the authority to limit access and designate access locations on public streets under the jurisdiction of the city. Access to streets and highways under Columbia County or state of Oregon jurisdiction must be formally approved by those entities at the applicant’s initiative and expense. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.2, 2003)

18.08.130 Width.

The city of St. Helens Community Development Code contains a summary of road width standards by the functional classification of the road. It should be noted that public utility easements beyond the right-of-way are typically required. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.3, 2003)

18.08.140 Number of lanes.

The number of lanes for each class of road is defined by the city of St. Helens transportation master plan. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.4, 2003)

18.08.150 Easements.

(1) The minimum public utility and drainage easements for residential subdivisions shall be as follows:

(a) A six-foot public utility easement along all front lot lines and adjacent to all public rights-of-way.

(2) Public water, sanitary sewer, and storm drainage lines on private property shall be centered within a permanent easement granted to the city, with a minimum width of 15 feet along its entire length. Such easements, when directed by the city, shall be accompanied by temporary easements granted to the city of adequate width to allow construction of water and sewer. The engineer of record or developer’s surveyor shall provide the city with documents necessary to record the easements. The width of combination easements is evaluated at the site development permit stage on a case-by-case basis, but is generally required to be seven and one-half feet from the center or the furthest outside utility. It is within the authority of the city engineer and/or city planner to refuse to approve or sign any land partition, partition plat, or subdivision plat for a development that has not installed or completed the construction of the necessary public infrastructure to serve the proposed and affected existing lots. Such approval may be withheld until it can be verified that the location and width of proposed rights-of-way and easements are adequate for the completed infrastructure.

(3) Easements are subject to the approval of the city attorney prior to recording. Variation from the city standard form of conveyance shall be allowed only when extraordinary circumstances warrant, as determined by the city engineer and city attorney.

(4) All recording costs for easements created by private development shall be borne by the developer unless specifically agreed to by the city.

(5) Easements for the purpose of any public utility shall allow the city reasonable access to construct, reconstruct, maintain, and repair the facility. No building or structure shall be constructed or maintained on or within the easement that would interfere with the right of reasonable access.

(6) The engineer should check building code requirements for required setbacks from buried utilities. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.5, 2003)

18.08.160 City maps/plans not guaranteed.

From time to time the city may provide property owners, engineers, contractors, and other members of the public with information from the city’s archives. The city cannot guarantee and makes no representation that it has verified the accuracy of the measurements, locations, or other information on such maps and plans. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 130.6, 2003)

Article IV. Surveying

18.08.170 General.

All boundary surveys shall be tied to two GPS monuments and rotated around their basis of bearing.

This title, Part 100 of the Oregon Standard Specifications, and ORS 209.140 through 209.150 define the requirements for protection of existing survey monuments during any construction and setting new survey monuments following construction of new streets, sewers, water and related works.

The city engineer may not approve or sign any land partition, partition plat, or subdivision plat until the necessary public infrastructure to serve the proposed and affected existing lots has been installed or has been guaranteed by a security acceptable to the city attorney. It is within the authority of the city engineer to refuse to approve or sign any land partition, partition plat, or subdivision plat for a development that has not installed or completed the construction of the necessary public infrastructure to serve the proposed and affected existing lots. Such approval may be withheld until it can be verified that the location and width of proposed rights-of-way and easements are adequate for the completed infrastructure. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 140.1, 2003)

18.08.180 Existing survey monuments.

Whenever an existing section corner, one-quarter section corner, or donation land claim corner monument or accessory, appears to be in danger of damage or destruction by any construction, the county surveyor shall be notified in writing, not less than 10 working days prior to construction. The county surveyor shall reference the monument prior to construction and replace it following construction. The county surveyor shall be reimbursed for all expenses from said replacement by the party responsible for the construction.

As per ORS 209.150, no person shall willfully or negligently remove, destroy, or deface any existing survey monument. If damage cannot be avoided, the monument shall be referenced and replaced, under the direction of a registered professional land surveyor, according to state law. A copy of the field notes referencing such monuments shall be provided to the city engineer. Failure to comply with this provision is subject to penalty according to ORS 209.990. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 140.2, 2003)

18.08.190 New survey monuments.

All monuments within and adjacent to the public right-of-way shall not be offset unless prior approval from the city engineer is received in writing. Centerline monuments, as shown on Standard Drawing 266, shall be installed as required by Oregon Revised Statutes. The monuments shall be set by an Oregon-registered professional land surveyor. When monuments are set by a registered professional land surveyor, a record of survey shall be filed complying with ORS 209.250 and any additional requirements set forth by the city. If a monument box is used, or required to be used by the city, it shall not be less than eight inches inside diameter and shall be approved by the city engineer before its installation.

Other centerline monumentation shall be installed in accordance with current survey practices, and if within a hard-surfaced area shall have metallic caps stamped with the registered business name or the letters “L.S.” followed by the registration number of the surveyor in charge. Public street intersections or private street/public street intersections shall be monumented in a city standard monument box.

See SHMC 18.12.040(2) for monumentation for new streets. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 140.3, 2003)

18.08.200 Global positioning system (GPS) specifications.

The following are the minimum requirements for work done utilizing global positioning system (GPS) surveying techniques:

All work shall conform to ORS 93.320, 93.330(1)(c) and 93.350 and to the use intended in ORS 92.050(9).

All work shall be performed under the direct supervision of a surveyor registered to practice in the state of Oregon.

All work shall conform to the guidelines set forth in the latest version of the “Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques,” Federal Geodetic Control Committee.

All values shall be based on the North American Datum of 1983 (1991 Adjustment) (NAD 83(91)) and expressed both as geodetic coordinates and state plane coordinates and both in meters and international feet.

The minimum relative positional accuracy between all monuments established and the city of St. Helens horizontal control network, after the constrained adjustment, shall be what is generally referred to as second order, Class I; more specifically, a maximum of 20 parts per million (20 ppm). (First order accuracy requires a maximum of 10 ppm.)

All horizontal values shall be based on National Geodetic Survey (NGS) first order (or better) control monuments, equivalent monuments accepted by and recorded with the Columbia County surveyor. All vertical values shall be based on control points supplied by the city. A minimum of two horizontal and two vertical control monuments shall be used.

All monuments shall be a standard city of St. Helens “GPS monument” (Standard Drawing 265), unless an existing monument is specified at a certain location or an exception is granted by the city engineer. If the proposed location of a monument is in the same position as a monument that is to be set as a part of another aspect of the project, the work shall be coordinated so that the “standard GPS monument” is the physical monument used at that location. All monuments shall have a name designation provided by the city. All monuments are to be set by the contracting surveyor unless otherwise specified or arranged with the city.

Prior to commencement of fieldwork, the GPS surveyor shall visit each proposed monument location and perform those field and office checks required to ensure the acceptability of the monument locations. If any adverse conditions exist that might compromise the quality of the fieldwork, they shall be reported to the city engineer and corrective action discussed. These locations must be accepted by the city engineer.

The GPS surveyor shall file with the Columbia County surveyor a survey, separate from any others required on the project, showing the following minimum information:

(1) Description of the monuments set or utilized on the project.

(2) Location descriptions of the monuments set or utilized on the project.

(3) A network diagram.

(4) Values of all monuments established or utilized on the project.

(5) A statement of relative positional accuracy (in relation to the city of St. Helens horizontal control network) for each monument established, expressed in parts per million (ppm).

(6) All information that might be required by future work to conform to this specification.

(7) City of St. Helens standard eight-and-one-half-inch by 11-inch GPS point detail sheet.

(8) Any additional information that might affirm the integrity of the survey.

(9) Any additional information required or requested by the county surveyor.

The city engineer shall be provided with a digital and paper copy of the document filed and its assigned Columbia County survey number. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 140.4, 2003)

Article V. Structural Design

18.08.210 General.

Structures not included in the standard drawings of this title shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Structural Design Section of the Oregon State Highway Division or ODOT. These standards are referenced in ODOT’s “Bridge Design Manual and Accompanying Standard Drawing,” “Standard Specifications for Highway Construction,” and “Standard Drawings for Design and Construction.”

The project special provisions shall specify the Oregon Standard Specifications for Construction requirements for bridges and other structures that apply to the specific project. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) and/or the American Concrete Institute Codes, Specifications, and Guidelines (ACI) shall govern those structures not addressed by the above. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 150.1, 2003)

Article VI. Design Modifications

18.08.220 Modification process.

(1) Submittal. Requests to modify city standards shall be submitted in writing by the engineer to the city engineer. This written request shall state the desired modification(s), the reason(s) for the request(s) and a comparison between the specification(s), standard(s), and the modification(s).

Any request for modification or variance of city standards should be documented with reference to nationally accepted specifications/standards.

(2) Review. The request to modify shall be reviewed by the city engineer, who shall consult the appropriate review authorities and make one of the following decisions:

(a) Approve as is;

(b) Approve with changes; or

The modification, if approved, is for project specific use. Approval of a request shall not constitute a precedent.

(3) Appeal. The applicant may appeal the city engineer’s decision to the city council.

(4) Criteria for Modification of Specification Standards. The city engineer may grant a modification to the adopted specifications or standards when any one of the following conditions are met:

(a) The specification or standard does not apply in the particular application.

(b) Topography, right-of-way, or other geographic conditions impose an economic hardship on the applicant and an equivalent alternative which can accomplish the same design is available that does not compromise public safety or accessibility for the disabled.

(c) A change to a specification or standard is required to address a specific design or construction problem which if not enacted will result in an undue hardship.

(5) Amendments to This Title.

(a) Minor Modifications. Additions, deletions, or minor modifications to the details and/or engineering specifications may be made with the written approval of the engineering manager or designee. The justification will be attached to the back of the master manual and kept on file at the city engineering department. Changes made by the engineering manager can be appealed to the city council in writing. No notice of change is required for engineering manager changes or exceptions. The city council can rule on an appeal of the engineering manager’s decisions in a regular meeting at their discretion with or without cause. All decisions of the engineering manager have a 14-day maximum appeal time limit from the date the written decision or change is made.

(b) Major Modifications. Substantive changes to this title shall be made as with all amendments to the code. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 160.1, 2003)

Article VII. Construction Specifications

18.08.230 General.

All public improvements shall be inspected by an Oregon-registered professional engineer or a qualified individual under the supervision of an Oregon-registered professional engineer (exceptions to this are as noted in SHMC 18.08.010). The city will not authorize work to begin on public improvements, site grading, or parking lot construction without designation of an engineer’s inspector at the city’s preconstruction conference. All inspection costs, including required testing, shall be paid by the owner or developer.

Engineering firms, and all employees of such firms, must be financially independent of the owner or developer and have no actual or perceived financial interest that is contingent on the outcome of its work. The engineer’s relationship to the project must be solely that of an independent, professional service nature.

It shall be the policy of the city of St. Helens engineering and public works departments to provide “spot check only” inspection services for privately funded public improvements.

One set of plans shall be kept on site at all times during construction. Any changes or modifications to the approved plans shall be noted and kept as “red line” drawings to be submitted to the city at the completion of the project.

(1) Work Hours. The work hours for all items covered by the site development permit shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The city engineer may allow longer or require shorter work hours depending on site-specific conditions. The city shall observe the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

(2) Substitution of Materials. It is not the intent of this title to exclude other equipment or materials of equal value, quality, or merit. Whenever a product is designated, or manufacturer’s name, brand, or item designation is given or described, it shall be understood that the words “or approved equal” follows such name, designation, or description, whether in fact they do so or not. Determination of quality in reference to the project design requirement will be made by the city engineer. A contractor shall not use an “equal” product without prior written approval of the city engineer. A similar process as outlined in Article VI of this chapter will need to be followed. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.1, 2003)

18.08.240 City inspector’s activities.

Inspecting services provided by the city shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) Acting as a liaison between the inspecting engineer and the city.

(2) Monitoring both work progress and performance testing results.

(3) The performance of administrative and coordination activities as required to support the processing and completion of the project.

(4) The issuance of a stop work order by notice to the engineer’s inspector to stop the work at the direction of the building official, the city attorney, or the planning administrator. If the engineer’s inspector is not available, the city’s project inspector, at the discretion of the city engineer, may post a stop work order.

(5) Maintaining a completion file containing the following:

(a) The original of the project completion certification;

(b) A complete copy of the log book initialed by the engineer’s inspector;

(6) Inform the city engineer of all proposed plan changes, material changes, stop work orders, or errors or omissions in the approved plans or specifications as soon as practical. Any revision to approved plans must be under the direction of the engineer. It shall be at the discretion of the city’s project inspector as to whether the revision is significant enough to warrant review by the city engineering plan review/permits unit. If so, the engineer shall submit three copies of the proposed revision; no work affected by the revision shall be done until approval by the city engineer. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.2, 2003)

18.08.250 Inspecting engineer’s activities.

The following minimum activities are required of the designated inspecting engineer:

(1) Maintain a project log book of daily inspection reports which contain the following information:

(a) Job number and name of engineer and designees.

(b) Date and time (arrival and departure) of site visits.

(d) A description of construction activities.

(e) Statements of directions to change plans, specifications, stop work, reject materials, or other work quality actions.

(f) Public agency contacts which result in plan changes or other significant actions.

(g) Perceived problems and action taken.

(h) Final and staged inspections.

(i) Record all material and soil types and conditions.

(j) Test results.

(k) Record all pavement grade and depth measurements by street stationing.

(l) General remarks including citizen contact or complaints.

(m) Maintain an on-site red line set of plans noting changes to plan for as-builts. This shall include rock depths.

All active site development projects will be required to turn in daily inspection reports to the city on a weekly basis containing information as outlined above. If the compiled reports become more than two weeks in arrears, or are significantly deficient as determined by the city engineer, a stop work order may be posted on the project site.

(2) Obtain and use a copy of city-approved construction plans, specifications, and a copy of this title.

(3) Review and approve all pipe, aggregate, Portland cement concrete, asphaltic concrete, and other materials to ensure their compliance with city standards.

(4) Approve all plan or specification changes in writing and obtain city approval (see SHMC 18.08.240, City inspector’s activities). All changes to the approved plans or specifications must be with the approval of the city engineer, or his representative, prior to the commencement of work affected by the revision.

(5) Monitor construction activities to ensure end products meet city specifications.

(6) Perform (or have performed) material, composition, and other tests required to ensure city specifications are met.

(7) For pavement construction, perform the following stage inspections and record date of each:

(a) Curbs are built to line and grade.

(b) Subgrade meets grade and compaction specifications.

(d) Leveling course meets depth/thickness, grade, and compaction specifications.

(e) Wearing course meets depth/thickness, grade, and compaction specifications.

(f) Provide the city with 24-hour notice of impending stage inspections.

(g) Complete a prepaving meeting with the contractor and the city.

(8) Prior to requesting any building occupancy, the engineer shall certify that all necessary public improvements have been installed and accepted in compliance with the city-approved site development plan. The engineer shall indicate what items, if any, have been bonded for in lieu of completion (i.e., sidewalks, wearing course of asphalt, etc.). This certification shall also indicate that all items required (at or before occupancy of the first building) through the land use process have been completed, including the recording of all easements. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.3, 2003)

18.08.260 Safety requirements.

The contractor is responsible for observing the safety of the work and of all persons and property coming into contact with the work. The contractor shall conduct his work in such a manner as to comply with all the requirements prescribed by OSHA. Traffic control in work zones shall conform to the MUTCD. At the city’s discretion, a traffic control plan shall be submitted and approved prior to construction.

The city project inspector’s role is not one of supervision or safety management, but is one of observation only. Nothing contained in this section or elsewhere in this title shall be interpreted to obligate the city to act in any situation, nor shift the owner’s responsibility for safety compliance to the city. No responsibility for the safety of the work or for construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, or procedures shall attach to the city by virtue of its action or inaction under this section. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.4, 2003)

18.08.270 Scheduling.

(1) Sequence of Operations. The contractor shall plan construction work and execute his operations with a minimum of interference with the operation of the existing public facilities. It may be necessary to do certain parts of the construction work outside normal working hours in order to avoid undesirable conditions, and it shall be the obligation of the contractor to do this work at such times. This scheduling, however, is subject to the city’s approval and does not relieve the contractor from making work available for inspection.

The contractor shall notify the city at least 48 hours (two full working days) prior to any city inspection. Connections between existing work and new work shall not be made until necessary inspection and tests have been completed on the new work and it is found to conform in all respects to the requirements of the plans and specifications.

(2) Progress of Construction. Construction shall proceed in a systematic manner that will result in a minimum of inconvenience to the public.

In the case of a pipe-laying job for sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and water improvements the trenching equipment at no time shall be greater than 300 feet ahead of the pipe-laying crew, unless given permission by the city engineer. The trench shall be backfilled so that no section of the trench or pipe is left open longer than 24 hours. Trenches located in a right-of-way or public street shall be completely backfilled or plated before the contractor leaves the site each day. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.5, 2003)

18.08.280 Testing.

It is the responsibility of the contractor to complete all testing required throughout construction. The contractor shall provide all necessary equipment and materials to perform such tests properly. If testing is provided by a subcontractor, the subcontractor shall be licensed and qualified to certify the test results for the services provided. The inspecting engineer or their designee shall be witness to all required testing and provide copies of all test results to the city. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.6, 2003)

18.08.290 Preservation, restoration, and cleanup.

(1) Site Restoration and Cleanup. The contractor shall keep the premises clean and orderly at all times during the work and leave the project free of rubbish or excess materials of any kind upon completion of the work. During construction, the contractor shall stockpile excavated materials so as to do the least damage to adjacent lawns, grassed areas, gardens, shrubbery, trees, or fences, regardless of the ownership of these areas. All excavated materials shall be removed from these areas, and these surfaces shall be left in a condition equivalent to their original condition and free from all rocks, gravel, boulders, or other foreign material. Stockpiling of construction materials shall not be allowed on existing sidewalks or the driving surface of existing streets.

All existing storm systems shall be cleaned and flushed, and original drainage restored. Sediment, rock, and other debris shall be collected and disposed of in a proper manner. In no case shall debris be flushed down a storm or sanitary sewer for disposal. All damaged irrigation and house drainage pipe, drain tiles, sewer lateral, and culverts shall be repaired expeditiously.

All areas disturbed by the contractor’s operations inside dedicated rights-of-way or easements shall be restored to original condition. Areas outside of the easements or rights-of-way which are disturbed by the contractor’s operations shall be graded and reseeded in a method acceptable to the property owner. The contractor shall obtain a written release from such property owners for any claims of injury or property damage prior to final acceptance of the work by the city.

(2) Street Cleanup. The contractor shall clean all spilled dirt, gravel, or other foreign material caused by the construction operations from all streets and roads at the conclusion of each day’s operation. Cleaning shall be by grader and front-end loader, supplemented by power brushing, and hand labor, unless otherwise approved by the city. The contractor shall follow the city’s control procedures.

As soon as practical after completion of all paving and gravel shoulder resurfacing, the contractor shall remove all dirt, mud, rock, gravel, and other foreign material from the paved surface and storm drainage system.

(3) Dust Prevention. During all phases of the work, the contractor shall take precautions to abate any dust nuisance by cleaning up, sweeping, sprinkling with water, or other means as necessary to accomplish results satisfactory to the city. Dust prevention measures shall be continuous until final acceptance by the city. Obtaining water from a hydrant will require specific authorization from the public works department.

(4) Stream and Creek Crossings. The contractor shall comply with all provisions of the permits required by the Oregon Division of State Lands, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Before any work may be performed in any stream, the method of operation and the schedule of such work shall be approved in writing by the engineer. Work within major streams shall be scheduled to take place as specified in the applicable permits for such work and, once started, shall be completed without interruption of the work. Mechanized equipment shall enter streams only when necessary and only within the immediate work area as approved by agencies having jurisdiction. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.7, 2003)

18.08.300 Interferences and obstructions.

(1) General. Various obstructions may be encountered during the course of the work. Although maps and information regarding underground utilities should be obtained from the utility owning and operating such utilities, the location of such utilities is not guaranteed. A minimum of 48 hours’ notice shall be given to all utility operators which may be affected by the construction operation. Should services of any utility be interrupted due to the construction operation, the proper authority shall be notified immediately.

(2) Protection. The contractor shall exercise all due care in protecting property along the route of the improvement. This protection shall include, but not be limited to, trees, yards, fences, drainage lines, mailboxes, driveways, shrubs, lawns, and survey monuments. If any of the above have been disturbed, they shall be restored to as near their original condition as possible.

(3) Survey Monuments. Any property corner, right-of-way monument, centerline monument, or other legal corner disturbed by the contractor (moved from its original position) shall be reset by a licensed surveyor in the state of Oregon at the contractor’s expense. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.8, 2003)

18.08.310 Railroad crossings.

(1) General. Crossings of railroad rights-of-way shall be done in a manner which conforms with the requirements of the railroad having jurisdiction. If any bonds and/or certificates of insurance protection are required, they shall be furnished by the contractor or owner to the railroad company with the city as an additionally named insured.

(2) Permits or Easements. Crossing agreements, permits, and/or easements for such crossings will be obtained by the applicant and all the terms of such permits or easements shall be met by the owner and contractor. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.9, 2003)

18.08.320 Building permits.

The minimum requirements of public improvements in a new development to be completed before a building permit can be issued are, but may not be limited to:

(1) Public utilities are installed, tested as required, and accepted by the city.

(2) Curb and gutter is installed.

(3) Minimum street section has been constructed, including a hard surface.

(4) All improvements must be approved by the city.

(5) Any uncompleted public improvements must be protected by a surety to ensure completion of items, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, street lights, and/or the second lift of asphalt pavement. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 170.10, 2003)

Article VIII. Environmental Protection During Construction

18.08.330 General policy and requirements.

(1) It is the policy of the city of St. Helens to require temporary and permanent measures for all construction projects to lessen the adverse effects of construction on the environment.

The contractor shall properly install, operate, and maintain both temporary and permanent works as provided in this section or in an approved plan, to protect the environment during the term of the project.

The city may, in addition, require that a construction project be scheduled so as to minimize erosion or other environmental harm.

Nothing in this section shall relieve any person from the obligation to comply with the regulations or permits of any federal, state, or other local authority.

(2) For any project having slopes equal to or greater than 10 percent, or where any portion of the work will occur within 200 feet of a lake, stream, river, or riparian area, an environmental protection plan shall be required. The plan shall be submitted together with construction plans.

(3) The plan shall describe all areas of the subject property affected by the project, and shall include all measures to be taken by the contractor to prevent or minimize erosion, loss of vegetation, water pollution, loss of fish or wildlife habitat, or other damage to the environment. The plan shall include all schedules, construction methods, structures, revegetation, and other actions affecting environmental quality, and shall address the criteria of SHMC 18.08.350 through 18.08.410.

(4) For all projects, whether or not an environmental protection plan is required, the prohibitions and regulations of this section shall apply. Notwithstanding the terms of any approved environmental project plan, the city may temporarily suspend the work or require additional protection measures if it appears, based upon observed conditions of the project, that the approved plan is insufficient to prevent environmental harm, and that such suspension or additional measures will prevent or minimize such harm. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.1, 2003)

18.08.340 Air pollution control.

(1) Dust. Dust shall be minimized to the extent practicable, utilizing all measures necessary, including, but not limited to:

(a) Sprinkling haul and access roads and other exposed dust-producing areas with water. Obtaining water from a hydrant will require specific authorization from the public works department.

(b) Applying DEQ-approved dust palliatives on access and haul roads.

(d) Placing wood chips or other effective mulches on vehicle and pedestrian use areas.

(e) Maintaining the proper moisture condition on all fill surfaces.

(f) Prewetting cut and borrow area surfaces.

(g) Use of covered haul equipment.

(2) Fumes, Smoke, and Odors.

(a) Tires, oils, paints, asphalts, coated metals, or other such materials will not be permitted in combustible waste piles, and will not be burned at the construction site.

(b) Open burning shall not be permitted unless approved by the Department of Environmental Quality and the city fire marshal’s office.

(c) Open burning shall not be permitted within 1,000 feet of a structure or within 250 feet of the drip line of any standing timber or flammable growth.

(d) Open burning shall not be permitted during a local air inversion or other climatic conditions that may result in a smoke pall hanging over a built-up area or community.

(e) Open burning shall not be permitted when climatic and moisture conditions are contributing to high danger of forest or range fires as determined by city, state, or federal authorities.

(f) All open burning shall be constantly attended by a crew with a supply of fire fighting tools and equipment. The number and size of fires shall be limited such that the burning crew can adequately control them. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.2, 2003)

18.08.350 Erosion control.

(1) Measures to prevent erosion at construction sites shall be incorporated into the construction drawings and specifications.

(2) All earth and soft or broken rock areas that have been disturbed by construction operations such as during stripping, excavation, and by traffic shall be protected from erosion by the action of concentrated runoff, by the impact of falling rain, by wind action, by vehicular tracking, or a combination of actions.

(3) The concentration of runoff on or across slopes shall be prevented.

(4) Sections of bare earth and the length of time of their exposure to potential erosion shall be minimized by proper scheduling, limiting the work areas, and placement of appropriate cover.

(5) Precautions shall be taken in the use of construction equipment to prevent operations that increase the potential for erosion. Wheel tracks or ruts, particularly down slopes, that permit concentration of surface flows, shall be avoided. Fording of live streams that accelerate erosion and damage aquatic animal habitat shall be avoided. Where frequent stream crossings are necessary, temporary bridges shall be installed.

(6) Areas for borrow pits and waste disposal shall be selected with full consideration of erosion control needs during and after borrow operations. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.3, 2003)

18.08.360 Maintaining surface water quality.

(1) Construction between stream banks shall be kept to a minimum.

(2) Pollutants such as fuels, lubricants, bitumens, raw sewage, and other harmful materials shall not be discharged into or near rivers, streams, or impoundments. Sterilizing water from water line construction activities shall not be directly discharged into the public storm drainage system. Activities and construction practices must comply with all Oregon DEQ rules and regulations regarding discharge of chlorinated water.

(3) The use of water from a stream or impoundment shall not result in altering the temperature of the water body enough to affect aquatic life. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.4, 2003)

18.08.370 Fish and wildlife habitat preservation.

(1) The construction shall be done in a manner to minimize the adverse effects on wildlife and fishery resources.

(2) The requirements of local, state, and federal agencies charged with wildlife and fish protection shall be adhered to by the entire construction work force. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.5, 2003)

18.08.380 Control of noise levels.

Noise levels shall conform to the current city of St. Helens nuisance ordinance regarding noise.

Construction noise shall be minimized by the use of proper engine mufflers, protective sound-reducing enclosures, and other sound barriers as necessary. Construction activities producing excessive noise that cannot be reduced by mechanical means shall be restricted to locations where their sound impact is reduced to a minimum at the edge of the work area. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.6, 2003)

18.08.390 Natural vegetation.

(1) As far as is practicable, the natural vegetation shall be protected and left in place. Work areas shall be carefully located and marked to reduce potential damage. Trees shall not be used as anchors for stabilizing working equipment.

(2) During clearing operations, trees shall not be permitted to fall outside the work area. In areas designated for selective cutting or clearing, care in falling and removing trees and brush shall be taken to avoid injuring trees and shrubs to be left in place. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.7, 2003)

18.08.400 Historical and archaeological areas.

When burial sites, buried camp areas, village sites, and other distinctive archaeological or historical items are uncovered, or other items suspected of being of historical or archaeological significance are encountered, the contractor shall report the matter to the city and the State Liaison Officer. Construction operations shall be stopped until the appropriate authorities can examine the area and give clearance to proceed with the work.

Under the Natural Historical Preservation Act, State Liaison Officers shall be notified when historical or archaeological items are unearthed.

The Oregon Criminal Code prohibits disinterment of a corpse without permission of the appropriate authorities. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.8, 2003)

18.08.410 Use of pesticides.

(1) The use of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, defoliants, soil sterilants, and so forth, must strictly adhere to federal, state, county, and local restrictions. Time, area, method, and rate of application must be approved by all relevant authorities and their requirements followed.

(2) All materials delivered to the job site shall be covered and protected from the weather. None of the materials shall be exposed during storage. Waste material, rinsing fluids, and other such material shall be disposed of in such a manner that pollution of ground water, surface water, or the air does not occur. In no case shall toxic materials be dumped into drainageways.

(3) All personnel shall stay out of sprayed areas for the prescribed time. All such areas should be fenced, appropriately signed, or otherwise protected to restrict entry. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 180.9, 2003)

Article IX. Revisions

18.08.420 Revisions.

Any revisions to the city-approved plans shall come from the engineer of record. The submittal shall include three copies of the 24-inch by 36-inch revised pages with the revisions clearly identified, along with a copy of any revised calculations. Applicants are cautioned that revisions must be reviewed for coordination with the entire plan set and that such review will be conducted in the order they are received, on a first-come, first-served basis. (Ord. 2875 Appx. § 190, 2003)