For City Council Meeting May 13, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Title
Request the City Council to: 1) Provide Direction to Staff to Continue the use of City Standards and Other approved Standards, and 2) Allow Modifications to These Standards Where Applicable and Approved by the City Engineer.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Provide direction to staff to continue the use of City Standards and other approved Standards, and
2) Allow modifications to these Standards where applicable and approved by the City Engineer.
BACKGROUND:
Standard Plans provide a comprehensive and easy-to-follow approach for use in conjunction with the standard specifications for Public Works construction projects. Typically, Standard Plans are for repeated design, and utilizing these plans would save design, drafting, and plan checking time. Standard Plans referenced in notes on the plans and construction details eliminate the need for special details on the plans. Standard Plans also contain notes on methods and materials that the City approves for various aspects of improvements. The use of these plans are intended for City-constructed projects and projects constructed by developers related to street, storm drains, landscaping, sewer, street lighting, and water within the City right-of-way (ROW).
Prior to the City Council's adoption of the current Standards, the City utilized Standard Plans prepared between 1970 and 1975 and updated with notes as needed. Beginning in 2009, an effort began to update all City Standard Plans and place them on the City's website for use by the development community.
The Transportation Commission reviewed the Standard Plans in January 2013. However, errors were discovered, and the process stopped after this review. In September 2014, the effort restarted with a complete review and update of the Standards.
On January 20, 2015, the Utilities Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the Standard Plans for Water and Sanitary Sewer.
On February 4, 2015, the Transportation Commission reviewed and approved the Standard Plans for transportation-related items with a few suggested minor revisions. Those revisions are incorporated in the current Standard Plans.
In addition to the City of Rialto Public Works Standard Plans, the City recognized the latest edition of Standard Plans and Specifications for Public Works Construction by the American Public Works Association (APWA), the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Works and Flood Control Standards and Specifications, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Standard Plans.
On February 24, 2015, the City Council approved the Standards, as recommended by the Utilities Commission and Transportation Commission.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
During the City Council meeting on March 11, 2025, several questions were raised regarding the use of modified ADA ramps and rock treatments in City projects.
Public Works staff and design consultants will often incorporate minor changes into a detail form City, APWA, or other approved jurisdiction’s Standards based on the limitations of a project. This approach ensures that the appropriate design standards are applied to meet the specific design constraints and existing conditions. If design standard alternatives or modifications to existing design standards are not utilized to mitigate design constraints, such as existing utilities or insufficient ROW to construct the City Standard ramps, project delivery may be delayed. This could lead to the need for utility relocation and ROW acquisition, leading to increased costs and project timelines.
Many of the newly installed modified curb ramps are using City Standard No. LMD-PLT-663-Typical Rock Treatment Assembly. The ADA curb ramp standard may be a City Standard or a Caltrans Standard ramp modified to adjust to the unique restrictions at specific locations. Modified ramps were incorporated into the Sycamore Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project because of ROW constraints.
The design engineer's use of cobble on modified ADA ramps serves both aesthetic and maintenance purposes. The unique shapes created by the modified ramps do not lend themselves to easily maintained or landscaped areas. However, the use of cobble enhances the visual appeal and has been positively received by the public in residential areas. It also assists Public Works in managing long-term maintenance at the ramp locations.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The request is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A "Project" means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(5) a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action also complies with the City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 4-1: Provide transportation improvements to reduce traffic congestion associated with regional and local trip increases.
Policy 4-1.1: Establish and maintain standards for a variety of street classifications to serve both local and regional traffic, including Major Arterial Highways, Major Arterial Highways, Major Arterials, Secondary Arterials, Collector Streets, and Local Streets.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget
The requested action does not impact the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget
The requested action does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
The proposed action will not require payment of a business license tax.