Improvements (streets, sidewalks, traffic signals and signs, striping, curbs, storm drains, etc) in the City fall into two main categories:

• Existing improvements are maintained by the Public Works Department, with funding from a variety of sources including grants, development mitigation fees and federal, state and local taxes,  and
• Future improvements are primarily funded by new development as a condition of approval of that development.  The development may be required to construct the improvements or pay cash in lieu of construction.  When cash in lieu is paid, it is placed into a fund for the City to use at a future date for the improvements.  The City's Capital Improvement Budget provides an outline of the City's expenditures on improvements for the current year and projections for future years.  The budget is a guideline and is dependent upon revenues. 

New development, prior to constructing improvements, must have plans prepared and submitted to the City for approval. 

DOCUMENTS AND FORMS to assist you in preparing your first submittal for the review by the Engineering Department are shown below:

• Plan Check Applications:
  • Street and Storm Drain Improvement Plans
  • Street Light Plans - Process still under 'construction', contact Engineering Department Staff.
  • Traffic Signal Plans
  • Signing and Striping Plans
  • Traffic Control Plans
• Fee Schedule
• Project Fee Calculator
• Encroachment Permit Application
• General Notes
• City Standard Drawings and Specifications (entire set)
  • Section 1 – Standard Street Sections        • Section 5 – Street Lights, Irrigation & Planting
  • Section 2 – Curb, Gutter & Sidewalks        • Section 6 – Miscellaneous
  • Section 3 - Drainage                                     • Section 7 – Standard Notes & Symbols
  • Section 4 – Traffic
• Engineering Design Guidelines Manual
• Title Block    

Not provided by the City is an Engineer's Estimate form.  The Engineer of Record will need to prepare one itemizing the quantities, unit cost and including a 15% contingency for the proposed improvements.  The signed/sealed estimate is required for use in calculating plan check fees and bond and security amounts.  The Engineer's Estimate will be vetted for accuracy during the plan check process.

The Engineer's Estimate as prepared by the Engineer of Record is also used in determining cash in lieu amounts. 

Not all improvements require a separate improvement plan.  For single-family homes and some commercial and industrial infill development, the following may be shown on the grading plan:

• Driveways
• Drive approaches
• Curbs
• Gutters, and
• Sidewalks

Additionally, for existing single-family homes, a site plan showing the location of the improvement may be acceptable.

Check your conditions of approval or ask an Engineering staff member if you are uncertain.

All improvements constructed in the right-of-way require an Encroachment Permit. The Encroachment Permit application includes a submittal checklist.  In cases where the construction will not impact vehicular or pedestrian traffic, the permit may be approved 'over-the-counter'.

IMPROVEMENT PLAN (Review and Approval)

Following design review approval of a project, in compliance with the project conditions of approval the developer shall submit improvement plans for review and approval. 

The process is outlined below:

• SUBMITTAL: Submit plans (with appropriate fee) prepared under the direction of, and signed by a registered civil engineer licensed by the State of California to the Engineering Division for review.  The improvement drawings shall use the City's standard title block, contain the City's general notes, show complete plans, profiles, and details for all required improvements to be constructed, both public and private, including common areas.
  
  
• PLAN REVIEW (Plan check)
  • Upon completion of the first review, one set of the preliminary plans, with the required revisions indicated, shall be returned to the developer's engineer. 
  •  2nd & Subsequent Review: The developer's engineer shall resubmit corrected plans to the plan checker; this process continues until all required corrections have been addressed. 
    • Standard review times are 3 weeks for first review and 2 weeks for any subsequent reviews. (add mailing time to review time listed)
  • Plan Check Approval: After completing all required corrections, the developer's engineer will be authorized to transmit mylars of the improvement plans to the plan checker.  The plan checker, upon finding that the plans are technically correct, will approve and forward those mylars to the City Engineer for final review and approval. 
• CITY ENGINEER APPROVAL: The City Engineer shall review the plans, and upon finding that the plans conform to all applicable City laws, design review requirements and conditions of approval of the project, shall date and sign the mylar set. 
  • Standard review time at City, 1 week. 
• PERMIT REQUIREMENTS: City Engineering Staff will notify the developer and/or developer's engineer of the approval of the mylars and the requirements (fees, security, bonds, etc.) necessary for permit issuance.
  
  
• PERMIT ISSUANCE: Once copies of the mylars have been made for City record and construction purposes, am Encroachment Permit can be issued upon submittal of the required documents and fees.
  • Security is a requirement for permit issuance and is based on the cost of the improvements.  Security is held to insure completion of the improvements and in some cases payment of the materials and labor used to construct the improvements.  The security can be released upon completion and/or acceptance of the improvements by the City.

REVISIONS

When field conditions require changes to the approved plans, consult the public works inspector.  If the revisions must be submitted for plan check, the process outlined above is followed through review.  Upon plan check approval of the revision, the plan checker will either authorized new mylars or require the revisions be made to the original mylar (by hand). 

INSPECTION

An Engineering Inspector is responsible for inspection during and after the construction of the improvements.  Areas of inspection include:

• Inspection of on-site improvements and off-site improvements such as storm drains, curb, gutter, streets, traffic signals, parks, etc. 
• Inspection of capital improvement projects, commercial developments, industrial, residential subdivisions, and multi-family developments.
• Erosion control monitoring for compliance with NPDES and City regulations. 
• Occupancy sign off.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact an Engineering staff member at 951-674-3124.

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