HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2417r
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ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. 2417
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING CHAPI'ER 16.28 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL
CODE CONCERNI~G EXCAVATIONS, GRADING AND FILLS.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 16.28 of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code presently entitled ~'Excavations, Grading and Fills", is
hereby amended to read as set forth in EXHIBIT A attached
hereto and,madea part hereof by reference.
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'J.'JMVl. .:...Vl."\ ~ti Thi~ pi:<li~~~ii.C£ ·5!'&&11---b~-cv~~-e(fective
thirty days from the date of its passage. )
INTRODUCED: March 11, 1968
PASSED: March 25, 1968
AYES: Arnold, Berwald, Clark, Comstock. Cooley, Dias, Gallagher, Pearson,
_ ~ ....... ~. ~.p_~<:_th, Wheatley
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;\ ABSENT: Beahrs
•AT?T: {!?ck.~APPROVED: J. . •. . <
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TO FORM:
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CH~P'l'ER 16. 2B
·BXCAVATIONS, GRADING AND l?ILLS
16.28.010 PURPOSE; LEGISLATIVB INTENT
~he Council of the City of Palo Alto finds and d~clares
that· it is necessary t.v .adopt this chapter to promote the pub ...
lie health, safety and general w .. ?lfa.re by accomplishing the
purposes set forth in this suction,· and it· is intended that
this chapter be administered in accordance with such purposes.
Specifically, this chilpter i.s ·intended to: ·
(a}· tnsure, insofar a·s practicable in permitting
reasonable development of land and minimizing
fire hazard, the maximum retention of ground
6over _t6 ~id in protection a~ains~ flooding,
~rosiqn, earth ciovement, siltation, and other
slmila~~h~zards.
(b) Protect property values by insuring·the maximum
preservation of the natural scenic character of
the Foothills area consistent with the reason
able economic enjoyment of such ·property.
(c} Insure that the development of each parcel of
land, as well as water courses, streets and
other public lands and places, occurs in a
manner harmonious with adjacent lands so as to
minimize problems of flooding, drainage, erosion,
earth moveni.ent and similar hazards, and to main
tain the Nisual continuity of hill and valley
without unsight.ly continuous ,benching of building
sites ..
16.28.020 DEFINITIONS
The following woras and phrases, whenever usea in this
Chapter. I Shall be. Construed aS defined in this . se'ctiOO ~
EXCAVATION. The term "excavation" shall mean any act by
which earth; sand, gravel, rock or any Other similar material is
cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, re-·
located or bulldozed, and shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
FILL... The term ''fill 11 shall ·mean any '1Ct by which earth,
sand, gravel, rock or a~y other similar material is· d~posi tea._,
placed; pu~led or tran,sp9rted, and shall .include. the conditions
resulting .therefrom. · ·
GRADING •. ·The terin "grading" shall mean excavation or fill
or any combination thereof and shall include the conditions re
sulting fr6iUany excavation or fill.
PERCENT COMPACTION. The: term · ·~perce'nt compaction" shall
mean the ratio, ,expressed in percentage, between the field 'dry
density Of a :f?Oil ahd its maximum labqratorv dry density as de-.: ·~.
termined Ly the current ASTM .Dl557. test.
QUARRY. The term ''quarry" shall mean any ~ite or ·p;;trcel
of land used for obtaining, extrai::ting or proqucing rock, ·crushed.
·,stone, building stone, slate, limesto:11e or similar material pro
ducts on either a commercial basis or for private use~
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SITE. The tern.· "site 0 shall Mean n lot o:r. parcel of .i_<tii'~
or a scries of lots or parcels of lvnd jnin~d toqcther un<1er one
ownership where qra<ling is to he pcrforne~ ~nrl ~s bcin? pnr-
formed.
SUPERVISED GP1'DING. The term "su:)crviscc~ grading" sha 11
mccm grch1111g done under. the supervision of :i. Soi 1 s Engineer.
SOILS I::NGU!EEP. The tc~:r.m "soils cng inccr" shall mean a
civil cng11rccr i1ccnsec1 by the state antl c:~pericnccr1 in soil
mech.tt.ni9s ahd slope stabilities who.se qu('!li f.ications shaJ.1 be
acceptable to the city engineer.
CNGINEEP:I!--!G GEOI.Or:IST. -The term !ictigiheeri!1g gc:::ologisfh -
sh0_l l mean · u j)et'son-'·!h<~ trainG<l in the a_pp 1 icatior1 of geo
logical data an<l principlcK of engineering problems deAling
with naturally occurring rock and nb~l fo~ tho ~~r?ose of
assuring that geological factors are adcq0atcly considerea in
_ cnginw~d.ng practice. .
No person shall grade, excavate or fill without a permit
therefor. fro;n the city engineer if such gr.at:~ing, exc!.\vating
or filling \·dll result in any of the following:
(a) lm excavation, fill or combilrn_tion thcre0f, in
excess of one hundre~ cubic yards;
. (b) An cxcavc.tion three feet or more belo•:1 an
imaginary two (horizontal) to on~ (verticc:il)
descending slope from any property line, or a
fill three feet or more abov~ ~1 hnagiriiry two
{horizontal) to one (vertical) ascending slope
fro~ any property line.
(c) A.n excavation or fill within .:\ public· set·1er,
water m,:i.in, st.nrm drain or p0,'1<~r line easement.
(d) An excavation or fill which will encroach on or
alter a natural·d-ta.i.nage channel or wc:i.tcr course.
(e) . :Re1noval of .the natu:r.a.1 . vegetation or ground cover
fro:TI an· a.r,~.:-t in e~.:cess of fi vc thousanr:T square
feet. The Pi:r:-e Marshal may, when required for
preservation of llfe or property, order.in
writing the denudation o~ ~ l~~ger area, speci
fying ii1 the on1~r such ero~ion control nea':=rnres
as the city engine.er !11<~.y demn necessa.ry.
tf) The construction, recoP.strt1ction 1 alteration,
repair, or installation of any stiucture in any
natural wa~cr course.
· 16. 2n. 040 , SBPAI?.l~TE PF.ru.1.:i'I.'s _ nEQUIRED.
A sepai~te:permit·may .be required for ~ach separate non~
contiguous site. One permit~may c0\1er both an excav~tion and
e> .. Fil:t cm tho ::;;ume si tc made with excavated inaterial~.
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16. 28. 050 PERftIT EXE~,PTIONS.
No permit shall he required by virtue of this chapter for
any of the following:
(a) Grading pursuant to a permit for excavation
in public streets.
(b) Grading in cortneetion with a public imp~ove~
ment or public work for which inspection is
provided by the City or other public agency
as:approved by the city engineer.
(c) Any reclamation or rubbish disposal site
Operated by the City.
(d) ~rading by a public utility or a mutual water
company in private eas<:ments. ,
(e) An excavation below finished grade for basements
and footinas of a b11il<li11a. swimmi nn nool or underg~ound. stru~tu~e-~~th~riz~d by J a._. ~~lid--
building permit. where the cost of such excavo.tio1i'
is included in the 15uild1ng~permit valu2tion.
This exception shall not affect the applicability
of this chapter to, nor the requirement of a
grading permit for, any fill made with the.ma
terial from such exca\1 ation.
{f) Tilli~g of the soil ~.or agricultural purposes.
16.28.060 PERMIT ISSUANCE BY BUILDING OFFICIAL IN CONNECTION
WITH BUILOING PERMITD.
Whenever grading is performed on a lot or· parcel of land
in connection ~ith the construction of a building or structu~e
on such lot or parcel of land for which a perrnl.t.has been
issued by the Building Official, the Building Official sh~ll
perform all the duties specified by this chapter to. be per
formed by the city engineer, except supervision and inspection
of work perfortried on !JUblic property or work on· drains, dams
or revetments, which·shall be performed by_ the'city Engineer
All walls or other similar structures on. private property
required by the 'City Engineer in.connection·with permits.issued
by him shall be constructed under a, permit from and inspected
by the Building Official. Tne Building Official shall file a
copy of each excavation permit issued by him with the City
Engineer.
16.28.070 PERMIT APPLICATION.
. . To obtain. a ·permit required by thi~ chapter I the appiicant
shall first file an application. therefc:r in writing, i.n tri
plicate, and upon forms furnished by the City Engin~er. The
application shai'l be signed by the owner of the property where
the work: is to be 'pf nf ormed , or by his duly author.i zed agent ..
An agent's authority must be snown·in writing.
Every such application shall contain the followipq,_
information: · -,< •
(tl) ' The purpose of the work,. and a sta:tem_ei1t as . to· ..
whether the~, purpose of the excavation. is to
p~epai;e the site for subdivisiol'i" under the State
subdivision Map Act.
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(b) The amount of rnute!'ial proposed to Le excavated
and the amount -of f i 11 in cubic yards.
(c) The legal descripticn of the property on which
the work is to.be performed.
(d) The street address at the point of accass to the
property where the work is to be performed.
(e) The-name ~.nd ~ddress _o~ the owner of the property
on which the work is to be performed •
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-(f) A description of the equipment and methods to be
used i.n performing the work.
(g) The name ~f any person who will haul;excavated
'material to or from the property where the ~.,rork is
to be perforn1ec1..
(h) The name, address and pho:1e number of the pcxson
to have effective control of the work.
(i) The name, address and phone number of all persons,
if any, who will receive excavated materials or
have ~ny interest i~ the proceeds from the sale or
disposal of such mat~rials.
(j) The route or routes proposed to be followed within
the City of Palo Alto.in coming to and going from
the site by the equipment used to haul the .excava
tion or fill equipment.
(k) The estimated dates for starting and completing
the work to be done.·
( 1) An engineering 9e6log.ical investigation i based on
· · the plan for the work. proposed under the permit.
The engineering geological report shall include an
~dequate description -Of the geology of the site,
and conclusions and recommendations regarding the
effecf of geologic conditions, including 6onsidera
tion of sei,sm,:i.c hazards and slope stability in
natural JT\aterials-on the proposed development.
All reports shall be.,subject to approval by the
City Engineer and supplemental reports.and data
may be required as he may deem necessary. ,gecommen
dations included in the report and approved by the
City Engineer shall be incorporated in the grading
·plan. This requirement may be waived by the City
. Engineer when it appears from the condition of the
property, that such a report is not necessary.
(m) A soils engineering investigation, based-on the plan
·for the work proposed under the permit. Such reports
shall include data re~arding the n•ture, distributidn
-and strength of exi:::.ting soils, conclusions and
·reconunendations for. grading procedures, and design
cri feria for correcti""e measures. Recommendations
in·ciuded in the':' report and approved by the City
Engineer shall be incorporated in the--grad.ing plan ·
or specifications. This requirement m:ay be waived
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by the City Engineer when it appears from the
condition cif the property that such a report is
not necessary.
such further applicable information as the City
Engineer may require in order to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
16.28.0SO REQUIREMENTS FOR SCALE PLANS AND DRl\WINGS.
The anplication required by Section 16.28.070 shall be
accompanied by scale plans or drav-~,ngs, in ~r~plica~'3 prepared
and signed as appropriate by a registered civil engineer,
architect, or landscape architect showing the follot·ling:
(a) Property lines of the-property on which the work
is to be performed.
(b) Loca'tiort ·of any buildings or structures on the
property where the work is to be performed, and the
location of any building or structure on land of
adjacent property owers which is within fifteen
feet of the property on which the W()rk is to be
performed.
( c) Elevations, dimensions, locci.tion, extent and the
slopes of all work proposed to be done, shown on a
contour map; and an estimate of the qua"!tity of
excavation an0. fill involved. Such contour map
shall show the existing contours of the l~nd and
the proposed contours of the land after completion
of the proposed work. Contours shall he shown at
such intervals as may be required by the City
Engineer. ·
(d) Detailed plans of all walls, cribs, dr.;ins, dams-,
erosion control planting or other protective de
vices to be constructed in connection with or as a
part of the pro~osed work, togefher vlth a mAp
showing the dra>:,nage area and est:Uri:.ted cubic feet
·per second ru:nc):f of the area served }:)_Y any dr~in.
-(e) A map or photo showing the rr1ajor plant materials.
(f) Landscape and planting plans and specifications.
(g) Such further applicable plans or drawirtgs·as.the
City Engineer may require in order·to carry out
the purposes of this chapter.
The City Engineer may waive any of the above recruiremertts
if he finds ·that the information on the application 'is suffi
c:Hent to show that the work will conform to the requirements
of: this chapter.
16 • 28. 090 APPLICA'l'-ION RHFERRED, TO l?LANN!NG OFFICER.
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When the grading is to be'd<;:>ne 6n a site wh.ich is intend~d
to be subdivided into two or more·parcels or which involves more
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":han twenty thousand cubic yards of exca,1ntion or fill, the:
application shall be referred to· the Clty. Planning Off ic:er for
:3tudy. The City Planning Officer shall report on any aspect of
the proposed grading,· excavation or fill.that relates to or
af f.ects the master plan or any other zoning plan or zoning
regulations of the City •.. The City Planning Officer upon com-
9letion of investigation shall transmit his report and findings
~nd reo.::l"f'\lJ\endations ·to the City·· Enqineer and no permit shall be
t·ssued until such report has been received. Failure of the City
Planning Officer to act within ten days after the referral Of
the application to him shall be deemed to be an approval and the
permit may thereafter be issued.
16.28.100 PERMIT FEES.
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Each-application for a grading permit filed with -the
City Engineer shall be accompanied by a. fee, the amount of which
shall be as shown in the following table:
Five hundred cubic yards or less
Five huridred to on~ thous~nd cubic yards
More than one, thousand cubic yards_
a.oo
10.00
10.00 plus
For each additional one tho~sand cubic
yards or major portion thereof
Bofia fide quarry opera~ions
3.00
100.00 per year in
lieu of all other fees.
Each application for a grading permit which involves con
struction, reconstruction, altering, repairinq or.instal,ling any
structure in any natural watercourse shall be accompanied by an
additional fee of one dollar for each One hundr~d dollars, or
fraction thereof of.estimated value up to one thousand dollars.
If the estimated value of the work exceeds one thousand dollars,
there shall be 'an additional fee of fifty cents for each one
hundred dollars or fraction thereof of estimated value in ex
cess of one thousand dollars.
·-· The fee for a grading permit authorizing additional work
to that under a valid permit shall be the difference be.tween the
f~e·paid for the original permit and the fee ·shown for the en-·
·tL:e project.
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. For excavation and fill on the same site, the fee shall
be based upon the vo.i.wne of-the excavation or the.fill,.which-·
ever is gte~ter. {\
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16.28.110 PERM!T ISSUANCE OR DENIAL -CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE.
(a)° GROQNDS FOR DENIAL. Whenever in th~: judgment of the
City Engineer the proposed work would directly or indirectly
create a hazard to hwnan life or endanger .a,djoining proper1;:y
or property ata higher or lower level, or any public sewer,
storm. drain, ·watercourse; ·street, street in\pr()vement or any
other public propet-ty, the application shall b¢denied. tf, in
'_)the opinio'i1 of the City Engineer, the .r.langer. of hazard can be
eliminated by the erection or installati¢n'of walls, cribs, or
other devi_ces, or by a specified metl1?_d of performing the work,
the City Engineer may grant the permit upon conditi<;>n tha~. the
specified protection and precautionary wor~_shall be done to his
satisfaction, or upon condition''that a specified method of per-
for'P.'!ing the work shall be used. -
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(b) CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE. In qrantinq any permit
under this chapter ,-·fiu{ CityEngineer may attac'h such condition
thereto as may be reason~bly necessary to prevent dan~er to
public or private property or to prevent the pperation frcm
being conducted in a manner haza:r:do\ls to life or property or in
a manner.·likely.to create a nuisance. No person shall.vf.olate
.1ny conditions so imposed by the City Engineer. Such conditions
rnay include / but shall not be limited to: ..
(l) Limitations on the ho~r~ of operation or th~
period of year in which work may be performed.
(2) Restrictions as to the size and type 0£
equipment.
(3) Designation of routes upon which m'aterial:5 may
be transported. ·
(4) The place and manner of disposal of excavated
materials.
{5) Requirements as to the laying of dµst and
tracking of dirt, the pr~vention of noises and
other results offensive or injurious to the
neighborhood, the general public or any portion
thereof. \
(6) Designation of maximum or minimum slopes to_be
used if they vary from those prescribed in thi.3
chapter.
(7) Regulations as to the use of .public streets and
places in the course of the work. . .
(8) Regulations· as to the degree of compaction of
fill material.
(9). Requirements as to paving private driveways
and ro~ds cqnstructed under the permit. ·
(10) Requirements for safe and adequate drainage
of the site.
(11) A requirement: that· approval of the City En
gineer be se~ured before any work which has
been commenced may be' discontinued.
(12) A-requirement.that men ·and equipment be
provided at the site during storms to prevent
incompiete work from endangering life or
property. ·
(13)-Requirements.for fencing of· excavation or
fills which wmild be hazardous without such
fencj,ng ~, .. ·•·
16. 28 .120 OE·S-IGNATION of· ROtn1ES.
· .. ~he City Engineer shali attach as a c6naiti6n ·to any
permit.-1-:ssue¢l under_ Sect1on 16. 28 .110 hereof ·a re.qui i:-ement
~hat all, eqUipi".lent __ °-sed to haul: exciavation o.r fill material
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from or to the site shall follo\·1 a designated ·route or routes
'N'ithin the City of Palo Alto in qoing from ana coming to the
site.
The route or routes to be followed shall be ~esiqnated
by the City Engineer.
An applicant shall be entitled to the des"iqnation of a
route providing access to a snecified place other than the site,
when he has shown to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that
such specified plac~ i~ a place where excavation material may
be reasonably deposited or fill material may be obtained, as
the case may be.
Any determination under this Section may be appealed to
the City Council as hereinafter provided.
16.28.130 PERFORMANCE BONDS.
(a) BOND REQUIRED. If, in the opinion of the City
Engineer, the nature of the work regulated by this chapter is
such that if left incomplete it will create a hazard to hu.man
life or endanger adjoining property or property at.a higher or
lower level, or any street or street improvement, or any other
public property, the City Engineer may, before issuing the per
mit, require a cash bond or surety bond in a form sati'sfactory
to him and approved by the Ci~y Attorney, in the swn of one
hundred per cent of the estimated cost of the work conditioned
upon the faithful performance of the work specified in the per
mit within the time speci.fiedby the City Engineer. Such bond
shall obligate the principal, his exec:utors, administrators,
,suc:r::essors and assigns, jointly and severally, with .the surety,
and shall inure to the benefit of the City, its officers, em
ployees, and to.any person aggrieved by the principal 1 ~
failure to comply~ii.h the conditions thereof. Such bond shall
fU:t::::ther provide that it will f].Ot be cancelled Or terminated un
tii at l~ast ten days' notice therebf has been filed with the.
C:i.ty Clerk.
. (b) NOTICE OF DEPAULT. -Whenever the .·City Engineer shall
'find that a default has occurred ;in· the perf<:>rmance nf al)y tern
or condition, of a_ny permit 1 writt~n notj_ce thereof shall be
given to the prirtc.ipal and to "the surety· of the bond. such
notic~ shall stat;e the work to be done, the estimated cpst
thereof, and the period of time deern·ea by the City Engineer to
be reasonably necessary. ·for the completion ·of the work.
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(c) DUTY. OF SURETY. After receipt o_f. such notice the
surety ~ust, within the time therein specified, either cause
the required work to be performed or, failinq therein, pay over
to the City Engineer the estimated cost of d.olng th:e work as
set forth in the notice, plus an. ·addi t.ional :~\\m eq~al ·to ten .
per cent of the estiinat·ea cost, but not to exceed the pr·lncipal
sum of the .bond. Upon the receipt of such moi).ies, the City
Engineer shall pr9ceed by such mode as he deemi:; convenient to
cause the required work to be performed and completed, blJt no
liability shall be incurred therein other than for the ex
penditure of the sum in hand there for. The balance , . if ·any, .
of· such. bond funds shal. l,. upon . completion of the woi·k ~ be ,fe.:.. .
turned to the surety, after.deducting the cost of the work· plus
ten per cent thereof.
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' (d) DISPOSITION OF CASH nOND. If a cash bond has been
posted, notice of d 0efault as provided by the preceding para
graph shall be qiven to th~ p~incipal, and if compliance is not
had within the time specified, the City Engines~ shall proceed
without delay and without further notice or proceedinqs what~o
ever to use the cash deposited, or any portion 6f such deposit,
to cause the required work to be done by contract or otherwise
in the discretion of the City Engineer. The balance, if any,
of such cash deposit shall, upon the completion of the work, be
returned to the depositor, or to his successors or assigns,
after deducting the cqst of th~ work plus ten per cent thereof.
(e) RIGHT OF ENTRY. In the event of anv default in the
performance of any -term or condition of the pci:-mi t for the work,
the surety or any p~rson employed o~ engaged on his behalf,
shall have the right to go upon the premises to complete the
required work or make it safe.
{f) INTERFERENCE PROHIBITED. No person shall interfere
with or obstruct the ingress or egr.ess to or from any such pre
mises by an authoz.~zed representative or agent of any surety or
of the City engaged in completing the work required to be per
formed under thc-~ermit o:. in complying with the terms or condi
tions thereof.
(g) TERM OF BOND, CCMPLETION. The term of each bond
po~ted sh~ll begin upon the date of the posting thereof and shEll
end upon the completion to the satisfaction of the City Engineer
of all of the terms and conditions of the permit for the work.
Such completion shall be ·evid_enced by a statement thereof signed
by the principal upon request. When a cash bond has been poste·d,
the cash shall be returned to the depositor or to his successo~s
or assigns upon the· termination of the bond, except any' port.ior1
thereof that raay have been used.
16.28.140 LIABILITY INSURANCE
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If, in the opinion of the City Engineer, the nature of
the wo'rk regul&tedby this cJ;\apte:C is such that it might create
a hazard to· hwnan life or enda,nger ·adjoining property or pro-·
.Perty at a higher' 6'r lower level, ox any street or strect·im
provement, or any other public property, then the City Engineer
may, before issuj,.ng the permit, require that the applicant for
a permit file a certificate $howing that· he is insured against
claims for· damages for per~cinal injury as well _as· claims for ·
property damage·, .including damage to the City by 'deposit or··
washing of·material-onto city streets or other public improve
ments, which rii:ay arise from or-out of the performance of the
work, whethe·r ·such performance be by himself, his subcontractor
or any person directly or indirectly employed by him, and the
amount of sµch insurance shall be prescribed by the City En
gineer in accordanc(;! with t.he. nature of -t]J.e. risks involvE;id.
Any . such insurance shall ._include protection '_Against liability .
arising from completed operations. Any such insurance shall he.~
written by a company which meets with the approval of the City ..
and shall· in.sure the city, its officer, ·agents and employees.
against los.$ qr liability which may arise .during the performance of, or .. which may result from,· any work herein required to
be-done.
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l6. 28 .150 'rRANSFERAJJILITY
No permit required by 16.28.030 shall be transferable
without the written cortse.nt of the City Engineer.
16.28.160 REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF PERMIT
(a) REVOCATION. Any permit, issued under this chapter,
:nay be revoked by the City Engineer after notice and hearing for:
1. Violation of any condition of the permit.
2. Violation of any provision of this chapter or
any other applicable ordinance or law relating
to the work.
3. The existence of any condition or the doing of
any act constituting or creating a nuisance or
endangering the lives or property of others.
Written notice of the time and place of such hearing shall
be served upon the person to whom the permit was granted, or his
agent or employee engaged in the work, at least three days prii:,r
to the date set for such .h~aring. Such notice shall also con
tain a brief statement of the grounds to be relied. upon for
revoking such permit. Notice may be given either by personal
delivery thereof to the person to be notified or by deposit in:,.
the United States mail in a sealed envelope with postage prepa.id,
addressed to such person to be notified at the address appearing
in his application. In the event any appeal is taken from the
decision of the City Engineer in the manner prescribed by the
following section, all work shall be stopped while the appeal
is pending.. ·
(b) SUSPENSION. Any permit issued under this chapter
may be suspended '°bYthe City Engineer without hearing and for
a period not exceeding ten days, whenever the City Engineer has
issued a notice of hearing for revocation of permit. Any snch
suspension shall .terminate upon its expiration date or upon the
rendering of a decision.on the question of revocation, whichever
shall first oc~ur. No work shall be authorized or performed
tmder any permit during such time as it. may be suspended.
16. 23 .170 ··APPEALS FROM DENIAL OR REVOCA'l'ION
Any applicant for.a permit or permitteeaggrieved by any
action or decision of· .the .City Engineer' may' appeal to the
Council by fil.i,ng with· t;he City Clerk a· writt·en·notice thereof
within five .days· from the date. of mailing or receipt of nc.tice
·of stfch action. by the .City Engineer, whichever first occurs.
The aggrieyed person shall be. given a. hearing before the ..
···Council, after which the council shall have discretion t6 grant
or d.eny, :;the appeal or modify the decision of the City Engineer,
<'and it~ decis:i.on shall be final. -. _-. ..: . .
16.28.180 EXPIRATION; RENEWAL
. Every permit is.sued under .the provisions· of this chapter·
shall expire· at the end of the per{od,·,of. time .set out in th~
pe:tmi t. I£ th'a permit tee sha 11 be uha!:>1e . to COI11plete the' work
withir1 thP. specified time, he shall, prior t.o·.~xpir~tiqn of .
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the permit, present in writinq to the City Engineer a request
for an extension of tirne,settinq forth therein the reasons for
the requested ext~nsion. If, in the opinion of the City En
gineer, such an extension is necessary, he may grant additional
time for the completion of the work.
16.2B.190 INSPECTION BY CITY
The holder of ·any permit issued hereunder shall notify
the City Engineer as fellows:
(a) Initial Inspection. Whenever work on the grading,
excavations, or fill is ready to be commenced, noti
fication shall be given forty-eight hours before aPy
work is done.
(bl Rough Gradir:5I_. When all roughgrading has been
completed.
{c) Completion of Grading. When all work including
IiiStallation of all drainage structures and other
protective devices h~s been cbmpl~ted.
(d) !;>lanting. When erosion c.ontrol planting shows
active growth.
Upon receiving such notice the City Engineer shall
promptly inspect the work and shall either approve the same or
notify the permittee in what respects there has been failure
to comply with the requirements of this chap~er. Any portion
of the work which does not coil1ply shall be proJT1ptly corrected
by the permittee.
16.28.200 GRADING CERTIFICATIONS
In addition to the inspection of any grading made by the
City Engineer, the City.Engineer may, before he approves the
work or any part tlwreof, require a report· certifying that
grading haS bee.n. inspected I tested and approved by a SOilS
engineer or engineering geologH~t that the site· was prepared
and the grading or any part thereof performed as specified.
16.28.210 EXCAVATIONS
(a) SLOPE STANDAROS GENERALt.Y. No·permanent.excavation
shall be made with•a fabe steeper in slope than one and ·
one-half horizontal to orie vertical, unless a retaining wall
6r other approved support is provided to support the· face. of
the excavation. ·
(b) DEVIATION ,FROM 0 :SLOPE STPu~DARO. 'rhe Citv Engineer
may upon requesi=: pernu t devTati:ons from the·, above ·s:tanda.:rd which
do not conflict with the purposes.of t;.his chaptet; provided,
that the, owner shall f :j..r'st ·:~furnish the City Engineer with
a written opinion of a soils eng.ineer 1 certifyirig that he has
investigated the site and.that the proposed deviations will
not endanger· any property. ·
(c) F'iaATTER EXCl\VATJ;ON FACB; WHEN ~QUIRE:p., Th~ City
Engineer· niay require the excavation to be made wfth an· excava
tion :face flattP.r. in slope tha.n one and O'ne-half horLzontal ·
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to one verticnl if he :: indf> the Material in \·J:1 ic:h th0 excavc.t i_r r1
is to ·be mate unusually subject tc erosion or. if othor ccnc!i
tions mc-ike sucL flatter excavt:ltion necessary fer stabili "ty a.1~,-~
snfcty.
(<l) LEOSirn-7 C0NTP<iL. All .exposec~ excavation $lODes sh."lJ.]
~ebeive erosion control treat3cnt.
{e} DtSTl\i·JCE FHCii PROPEP.TY LDJE. The bcqinnin'? of D:n~·
· C!xcavation shall be loc::lte-:.1-one-half its vertical height but -not
less than ten feet f-ror11 an adjoining property lir.e • Pequest for
Ha:iver of this requirem~nt r'lay be _r.la<1c to the Cit.y Engineer by
presentation of detailed plans alonq-with appropriate suhst<-1n
tir,ting evidence in the for!ll -t)f a written opinion of a soils .
-engineer or engineering geologist to support justification for
such a waiver. The City Engineer ~hall have ~uttt6rity to grant
·such_ a ~aiver when fou~ or less buil~ing sites or adj01nin~ pro~
pm:ties are involved. For suh<livisions of five or more pn.rcels,
the granting of such waiver must be fine.lly approved by the Cit~·
Council after review by the Planning Conlr.dssion.
(f) ROUNDING OP EXCAVATIONS 1'.EOUIRED. The tdps of
excava~ion slopes and th~ ends of excavations shall be rounded
as required by the City Engineer.
(g} APPLICABILITY. This section applies to all cxcav~~
tionn in tiw City regardless of whether a permit ·is rsqu_ired
by this~chapter for such ~xcavations, except that the tc~ts and
reports specified by this section shall not be necessary in
connection with excavations for wl1ich no permit is required.
16.28.220 PILLS
· (n) SLOPE ST.ZlNDl1RDS. No fill shall be sade which cre(ttes
any exposed surface steeper in slope than tine ~na one-half
horizontal to one vertical. The Cit~ Engineer may, upon re~
quest, permit deviations from the abqve standard which do r.ot
conflict-with~the pµrpo~es of-this chapter; provided that the
-owner furnishes ·him with the written opini0n of a soils cngjneer
· or cnginecrlng ge6logist certifying that he has investigated the
-site nnd that the proposed deviations will not injure any pro-
perty.
(b) FLNrTER FI~J:., SlWFACE; WIEN .REQUIRED. The City
Engineer may rcquir,e that the owner furnl.sh ?. written opinion
of a soils en9ineer certifying ·that he has investigated the
site and recomrn~nding mfl_ximum a.ll0wablc fill slope an0 type
bf blope treatrnertt for s~ability.
(c) DISTI'.NCE FROM PPOPEPTY J .. INE. The toe of fillec1 slones
shall be located one·-half '..the ·vertical height of the fifl 'but~
not less than ten fee:t from any ac1joining p:ro[!e:tty line.
Request for. waiver of this requirerrient may ·be mad~· to the City
Engineer by :!_:>rosentR.tion of det2.iiecl plel.ns a.long with appropri
ate substa.ntiati:.1g evidence in the.• form-.of a written· opiniori cf
a .. soils ·engineer or engineering .geol9gist·~-to'"support justif id.J
tion for such a waiver. The City.Engineer s11allha.vP authority
to grant such a waiver ~.;hen four or ~e.ss bu~ldirig si,tes ci· ad-·
joining properties are involved. For subdivl~ici1s 6~ fiv~ or
more parcels, the g1~?nting -of such ~ waiver must ._hP-finally
a;?pr.oved ·by thP Cfty Councd.T q.:fter re\riew by· the Planning
Crnmnission •
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(<l) ~PPL!CABILtTY. This section applies· to all fills in
t.hc City rcga:r.diess o!. whether ci permit is require'~ hy this
chapter for. such fills, except that the tests and reports speci
fied by this section shall not be necessary in corinaction with
fills for which no pcrmi t ia rcr;uired.
16. 28. 230 COHPJ'l.C'rION OP FILI~S.
Fill slopes shall be compacted'as necessary. for safety; to
prevent the saturaticn, adverse i:;ettlemcnt, slipping or erosion
of the fill; an<l to achieve n stable.slope, and wherever possible
not too dense for planting on the slope.· Hhere compaction is re-:
quired it shall be made to a minimum of ninety percent compaction,
as defined_ in chapter 16.20.220, and rnade _under supervised grad
ing. '·The, city Engineer may specify the maximum thickness of the
layers of fill to be compacterl.. ·
Fills shall be coo~acted, inspected and tested in
acciordancc with the following provisions:
(a) The space over which fills are to·~e MAde shall
first be cleared of 2.ll trash, brush, trees, stm~tps, timber
or debris and shall'be scarified.
(b) All fillinq shall be done with ~cod souri~ earth,
gravel or naterials ~pproved by the City Engirieer.
{c) When an existing fill is to be widened or a nm·1
fill is to be made on a hillside, the new material shall be
bonded .to the old by plowing deep longitudinal ,furrows, or by
removing top soil and vegetation and by compacting the fill
upon a series of terraces.
(d), All exposed fill slopes shall be protect.eel. immcni
at.ely upon completion with landscaping, an approver1 sprinkler
system or other ero$ion-control devices approved and cleetned
nece~sary by the City Engineer.
(e) !rt addition to the inspection of any fills by the
City P.ngin:eer, the City Engineer may require that a \·1ri tten
report in duplicate be st1bmitted by a soils engineer certify..;.
ing results of tests of the till at selected stages. If
favorable conditions'exist, the City Engineer may by p~ior
· approva.1 waive requirements for supervision or soil testinq~
If the fill-is to support buildings, st:r.uctures or
roadways, _the ·City Engi.ne~r m~y require the report to include
~0co:nrnem:1n.t.ions ()n' bearing capa.ci ties.
16. 28. 21\ 0 TEP.PACING RF.QUl:n:r.MF~
(a) All excavated slopes shall have protectcc.1 drairiaqe
t6rfaces at ve~tib~l~in~br~als 6P thirty fe~t, bxcept that ..
wh9re ohty· <'.Hie terrace i~. required I it. ~hall be at: mi(F·heigh t.'
Dx-<~irtagc tcrracen are to be· a mhibmr.1 of ,four. fel':!t \·15.-~1.e, ?t.'o-
tccter1-, rtnd'· r·ntst ch!~ry w0tcr. to e. safe ~Usposal area.
(b) 1\11 fill slopes· ~hall hai.re· proteqtec1 Arainv.ge
te-rraccs at vertical.· intervals ·,of tt-Jef'~y-fivc feet ex~""!ept thRt
where 011ly one terra_ce is required; i1t·' shall be at mid-height·.
Drainage te:tTC\ce·s are to he a mlnimwn of f<iu:r. ·fc2t wirJ.e, prri-
+--ct,.;,-~ ·'1J1(~ m\1.-.t-·c·,,,,...,..., t»ate.,. -t,., "''"""{:_-. r~l.· """""'"'S:"ll. :"IY,..:"I ~'-:· -. '\,,.;:.\_.._ t '-:. -.. ' ~")-_11,.11..1...,~ .. .l <-.' ... -. ...... '-..... , """"'-"' ..... -''" -"'-'!-'-~ ..... --~--~---'" ..
{c) · The City Engineer may pe.tro1t variations f:tom the
above requir~mcnts where warian ted. ·
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iG.28.250 .MAINTENANCE OF PnoTgCTI\/r. DFVICES
Th~ owner of any proper,:ty on which an excavation or fill
has been made pursuant to a permit granted under this chapter,
or any other person or agent in control of such property, shall
maintain in good conditton ~nd ·rep-air all. retaining walls,
· cribbing, drainage structures, planted slopes and other pro~·
· tective devices shown in the approved-plans or drawings sub
mitted with the application for the grading permit.
16. 28. 260 REPAIR _OF EXIS'li.ING FILLS
Whenever the City Engineer determines by inspection that
any existing excavation or fill from any.cause has become a
menace to life or. limb, or endangers property, or affects the
safety, usability or stability of any public property, the owner
of the property upon which such excavation or fill is located,
or lJther pex-son or, agent in control of the property upon receir;>t
of notice in writirig'from the City Engineer to do so, shall,
within one hundred ei~hty-days from the date of such written
notice, reoair or reconPtruct such excavation or fill so that
,it will conform to the requirements of this chapter or otherwise
repair, reconstruct, strengthen·or eliminate such excavation or
fill in a manner satisfacto~y to the City Engineer so that it
· will no longer constitute a menace or danger as aforesaid. A
shorter period of time may be specified by the City Engineer if
an imminent and immediate_hazard is found to exist. Any person
receiving notice afvset out in this section may appeal f.rom the
notice of the City Engin~er in the manner provided by Section
16 .. 28.170.
16. 28. 270 DRAINAGE REQUIRE~U~NTS
(a) DRAINAGE GENERALLY. All graded sites shall be
d~v,eloped so as to provide control of storm and surface waters.
Adequate provision shall be made to prevent any stop:n or surface
water:1 from damaging the face of an excavation or the sloping
face of a fill. All drainage provisions shall be subject to
the approval of the puilding official and the City Engineer,
and shall be of such design as tocairy storm and surface wate~s
to the n~arestpractical street, storm drain, or naturai water
course, approved by the City Engineer as a safe place to deposit
and receive such ~aters.
(b) EAVE GUT'i'ERS. All buildings on:gradedsites si\all he
. equ.ippe~ with eave gutters. or ground gutters so that. all storm
waters falling upon th~ roof will· be collected ·c:md conducted to
art approved location iri a n"on-erosi ve device.
(c) BUILDING PADS. Building' 'pads on graded sites shall
}Je sloped at a minimum of two·percent to.the street or an
approved drainage device.
(d) FOOTING EXCAVATIONS:. Footings on gr~de<l sit~s shall
extend above the elevation of the whole point.of the street curb
. a min.j.mum of s'ix inches plus two percent Of )~he d~stance from
-·the ··footing to the·_curb. Where th_e ·~ite drains to-' an approvet.t·
drainage device the footing shall extend ·above the elevation of
the low point of the 9,evice .. a minimum of six inches' plus two
percent-of -the distance ·from the foo't.trg to the device.
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. (e) SUBDRAINJ\.GF.. Where deemed necessar.y to the
Building Off.icial or the City Enryineer, adequate subdrai.nage
shall be provided. in connection with fills.
16. 28. 290 AOnITIONAL SAF'ETY PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED •
. ~ -"":""
If at any stage of work on an excavation or fill the City
Engineer determines by inspection that the nature of ·the forma
tio~ is such that further work as authorized by an existing
permit is likely to endanger any pr.operty or public way,.the
City Engineer may require as a condition to allowing further wo'rk
to be done that such reasonable snfety precautions be taken as
the City Engineer considers advisable to a\·oid such likelihood
of danger. Such safety precautions may include, but shall be
limited to, specifying a flatter exposed slope, construction of
additional drainage facilities, berms, terracinq, compaqtion or.
cribbing.
16.28.290 PROTECTION OF ADJACENT PROPERTY; FENCES AND GUJ\PD R1\ILS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~--~~~~~~-~ No per
No person shall excavate on land sufficiently close to the
property line to endanger any adjoining public street, sidewalk, .
alley or other public property without supporting and protecting .
. ·.such public street, sidewalk, alley or other public property from
settling, cracking, or other damage which might result from such
excavation. Should the nature of the excavation .in the opinion
of the Clty Engineer create a hazard to life unless·aaequateiy
fenced, the applicant shall construct such fences or guard ra1ls
to safeguard persons using the public street, sidewalk, alley or
other public property as the City Engineer may require~··
16.28.300 DEPOSITS OF EARTH, ROCK, ~TC. ARE PROHIBITED.
(a} PREMISES OF ANOTHER PERSON. No person shall dt.i.rnp,
move or place any earth, sand, gravel, rock, stone or other
excavated material so as to cause the same to be deposited upon
or to roll, flow .or wash upon or over the premises of another
without the express consent of the owner of such premises so
affected or upon or over any public place or way.
(b} SPILLING.· No person shall, when hauling any ea,rth.,
sand, gravel, rock, stone or other excavated material over any
public street, alley or other public place, allow such materials
. to_blow or s~ill o~er and·upog such street, alley, or place or
adja~ertt private property. · './.,.,·"
(c) REMOV.AL .. OF DEBRIS. If due to a violation of subdi
vision (a) or (b) ·of thl.s section, any earth, sand, gravel,
rock, stone or other excavated m~terial is caused to be
deposited upon or to roll, fl.ow or wash upt>n any public place or
way,. the per!?On. responsible th€'",efor shall ·cause the same to be
. removed f rotn such public place ·or way, the· person.· responsible
therefor shall.cause the same to be removed from such public
place oi· way within thirty-six hours. In the event· it is not
so removed, ·th~ ,City. Engineer shall cause such remot~a1 a:nd the
cost of Such removal by the City Engineer shall be paid to the
·City by the person who failed to so remove the material.
16.28.310. BUILDING REST~i:CTIONS
Buildings shall not be, ccristru'cted upon excavation or
£ill slopes steeper than ·a slope of two hr)rizontal to one
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vcrticn.J. unlcnn othen:iisa authorized lw the Ci. ty P.m; Jneer. •
. !~tdl.1 Jngs shnll ho loc.itcr. clear of tho toe of "-~xc~lvi"lt.ion or
f .ill slope~ uhich ar.e steo!:mr th<'\n a ~lope of. two i1o:r.izonta1
to one vertical the following cHstnnccs unless otherwise
u.uthorizcc1 by the City engineer:
{a) Three feet [-lrovided the slope c~ocs. not extenf1
more than six feet in height.
(b) One-half. the vertic0l hoight of 'the slope for.
slopes between si:! feet ;m,-1 twenty feet .in height.
(c) Ten feet for. slopes m~t0n<l in(]" rri.orc thP\!1 t~·1cnty
feet in lic~:i.rr:11:.
r.Y.Cf:PTJOU: GnrP'J! ~~~, ;d:t-. .c~c:'1(,,"' or. -:~ctci.cher1 , !''nY bC! constrnctc(1
three f:cct cJ.car 05: the toe of' conf:or1il1-9 excavation
or. fill slopes.
Conforming excuvci.tioi:i or fill slopes tHenty feet or more
in vertical height shall be provided with a four foot high de
signed retaining wall Cl.t their toe:-for that portion of the
slope paralleling any buildings anc~ distant therefrom less than
ten feet.
lG. 28. 320 CEP.TIF'ICATB OF. co~:t:>LETION
Upon conpletion of the project the permitteo or a civil
cngi11cer in chaxge of the p:i:-ojcct in his behaL'.: shall c:crti fy
in writing to the Duildini,j Official that the project was ·done
in con:Eon.lity with the provisions of this chapter, .the p8rnit
and plans and specification~·subrititted tq the Building Offici<ll
and shall furnish .~ final contour map and shall certify to the
soil bearing capacity of the fill. · ·
if upon final inspection of any excavations or fill, it
is found thnt the work authorized by the permit has been
satisfactorily completed in accordance with the requirements of
this chapter, the permit and the plans and. specifications, a
completion certificate covering such \·10rk shall }?e issued to
the owner ~r ~h~·.nuilding Officiai. A ~cpat~te certificate
shnll be issued fo=.·· each lot._ ·
16. 28. 330 VIOLATIONS or-··sECTIONS i REMEDIES
Violations of Sections 1€).20.030, i6.?.0.l10, and 16.28~2}.{l
through 16 .. :HL 310 are hereby declared to consti tutc pt~blic
nuisances. l·Jhenever the ('ity Engineer, ·the Building O.ff icial
or the Fire r-Iarshal shall detennine that conditions violating.,
the aforementioned sections exist, he may require or provide~,,
for the abatement thereof. The City Attorney is hereby direc1.:.e~'l
to ins.titute '.such legal proceedings as may be necessary to abate
any such .publ~c nuisance. The remedies provided herein are not
exclusive, and are in addition to 'Other remedies provided und<~r
tliis code; or under any other law.
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