03-17-26 City Council Meeting Packet

Home Browse Search

STAFF REPORT DATE:March 17, 2026 CONSENT TO: City Council FROM: Nate Stanley, City Engineer AGENDA ITEM: Approve Engineering Design Standard Updates REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator Clarissa Hadler, Finance Director Jason Stopa, Community Development Director Pete Tholen, Public Works Director CORE STRATEGIES: ☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☐ Managed Growth ☒ Resilient Infrastructure BACKGROUND: The City maintains engineering design standards, standard specifications, and standard details for public infrastructure within the City, including streets, sanitary sewer, watermain, storm water facilities, right-of-way management and boulevard layout. This information is compiled into an Engineering Design and Construction Standards Manual for use by staff and the development community. The latest version of the Manual is dated January 2022. The standards have been established to set minimum requirements to be met for new public infrastructure projects in the City with the intent of constructing consistent and compatible infrastructure systems throughout the community; to clearly communicate with the development community these minimum expectations and requirements; and to expedite plan design, preparation and City plan review and approvals. To the extent practical these standards also apply to the improvement or reconstruction of existing public infrastructure. The engineering design standards and guidelines have been established to address the most common project elements and are to be used in conjunction with the requirements set forth by applicable codes, laws and ordinances, recognized industry standards, good engineering practice and specific project needs. Omission of reference in these standards and guidelines does not relieve responsibility for compliance with these requirements. In addition, the provisions of these standards and guidelines are not intended to prohibit the use of alternative systems, methods or components. Professional engineering judgement and ingenuity is encouraged to adapt to specific project needs. However, varying from the standards and guidelines will only be permitted with the approval of the City, after performing due diligence to ensure the design is equivalent or superior to the prescribed elements of the guideline.