Adoption of the 2020 Edition of the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program (SUDAS) Copyrighted
February 17, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 8.
ITEM TITLE: Adoption of the 2020 Edition of the Statewide Urban
Design and Specifications Program (SUDAS)
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending adoption of the 2020 edition
of the lowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications
Program (SUDAS) and adoption of the 2020 edition of the
City's Supplemental Specifications.
RESOLUTION Approving adoption of the 2020 Edition of
lowa Statewide Urban Design and specifications Program
for Public Works Improvements (SUDAS)
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Adopt
Resolution(s)
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Adoption of 2020 SUDAS-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Resolution Resolutions
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of the 2020 Edition of lowa Statewide Urban Design and
Specifications Program (SUDAS)
DATE: February 7, 2020
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending adoption of the 2020 edition of the lowa
Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program (SUDAS) and to adopt the 2020
edition of the City's Supplemental Specifications.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Dubuque
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TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manage
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer -
DATE: February 11, 2020
RE: Adoption of the 2020 Edition of lowa Statewide Urban Design and
Specifications Program (SUDAS)
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the adoption of the 2020 edition of
SUDAS and to adopt the 2020 edition of the City's Supplemental Specifications and by
City Council.
BACKGROUND
In the late 1980s, 16 central lowa urban jurisdictions, including the City of Des Moines,
surrounding cities, and two counties, began meeting to discuss developing common
urban standards for public improvements. Such improvements include sanitary sewers
and water mains, streets and sidewalks, utility locations, signalization, drainage and
erosion control, etc. Their efforts came into focus when, in 1995, Gavernor Terry
Branstad assembled a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Transportation to investigate ways to
use lowa's Road Use Tax Fund more efficiently. One of the task force's
recommendations was that agencies "adopt common standards for construction
specifications . . .." By 1998, the central lowa group (known as the Central lowa
Committee) had expanded to 34 lowa jurisdictions, including several communities
outside the Des Moines area and had published their design standards and
specifications. In 2000, the effort was underway to further expand the number of cities
using the Central lowa Committee's manuals and to convert them to statewide manuals,
eventually known as the SUDAS program. The Statewide Urban Design and
Specifications Program (SUDAS) has been a work in progress since 1995 and in 2005,
the Central lowa Committee acted to officially transfer ownership of the manuals to the
lowa SUDAS Corporation. Statewide ownership of the manuals makes them truly the
statewide standards for urban public works improvements.
The City of Dubuque's Engineering Department with advisory assistance from the City's
Legal Department completed its review of the SUDAS specifications and prepared
Supplemental Specifications. In addition, to complement the upcoming change, staff
developed new bid proposal forms and estimate forms based on SUDAS.
In preparation for the original public release of the standards and specifications, the City
hosted two (2) Construction Conferences one April 19, 2012 and the second on
February 5, 2014, where local contractors, consultants and developers were invited and
staff provided an update and overview of the upcoming SUDAS irnpiementafiion. The
SUDAS standards are applicable to most projects released from City departments,
except for the Water Department which currently has its own standard. Any City
departments will be able to consult the C;ity of Dubuque Engineering Department with
application of SUDAS programs to ensure consistency in contract documents and
standards.
Dubuque adopted the SUDAS program as the City's standard specifications in 2014.
The City also developed and adopted the City of Dubuque Supplemental Specification,
which modifies the SUDAS program, allowing for the flexibility Dubuque needs to meet
our topography and construction preferences. Council Resolution 48-14 Adopting the
SUDAS Program, authorizing City Manager Michael C. Van Milligen to amend and
update, from time to time, the City's Supplemental Specification and Design Manual to
the SUDAS program.
Assistant City Engineer, Robert Schiesl, has been appointed and serves on the SUDAS
Board of Directors as a representative for both the City of Dubuque and the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (DMATS). The SUDAS Board of Directors are a
group of 38 volunteer appointees from around lowa who devote their time to ensuring a
standard of excellence in urban design and construction around the state of lowa.
Advantaqes
There are many advantages to implementing SUDAS; Firstly, citizens will see uniform
public improvements (e.g., similar sidewalk ramps). Secondly, using standard designs
and specifications cities will have:
• Uniformity of urban design and specifications similar to those across the State of
lowa.
• Reduction of contractor confusion and mistakes due to differing specifications.
• SUDAS staff is proactive in research and studies for new and improved urban
design and specifications.
• Methods implemented are the latest techniques and materials used.
• SUDAS is an open forum allowing State and local governments to collaborate
with industry.
• Reduced costs through uniformity, understanding, and acceptance
(conservatively estimated at $16M/year if program is fully implemented).
• Finally, InTrans keeps the statewide manuals up to date. This relieves individual
communities of that burden and expense while ensuring they are informed about
new products and procedures.
Source:www.iowasudas.org
DISCUSSION
The City of Dubuque's Engineering Department and Water Department, with advisory
assistance fr�rri the City's Legal Department, has amended and updated the City's
Supplemental specification for SUDAS 2020 edition. The supplemental specifications
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modify the SUDAS specifications in areas where City of Dubuque staff recommend
changes based on experience and available materials. Examples of the changes
include:
• Using the City of Dubuque's standard contract language for Division 1.
• Specifying stone and foundation materials common in the Dubuque area
• Updating how backfill materials are paid. The City pays by the ton rather than
incidental to a utility.
• Specifying different requirements for trenching and directional drilling and how
this is paid.
• Changes in how sanitary sewer pipe and related services are paid for.
• Clarity on the types of materials allowed for sanitary sewers.
• Additional specification related to lift stations
• Changes in how manholes are measured and paid for. Clarifying what is included
in the payment for each.
• Specifying what size castings are used for storm, sanitary and water valves. This
provides uniformity with what is currently installed in Dubuque.
• Modification to standard street widths and pavement jointing to match what is in
use in the Dubuque area and to consider recent construction changes based on
staff experience. For example, pavement jointing recommended changes based
on experience and industry input.
• Requirement that all new sidewalks must be concrete and meet ADA
requirements. New brick sidewalks ar� riofi all�w�d due to vibration concerns for
people with disabilities.
• Historic Brick Pavers that are removed, need to be salvages, cleaned and
palletized and delivered to a location at the City's choosing.
The SUDAS program will be applicable to most projects released from City
departments. All City departments will be able to consult the City of Dubuque's
Engineering Department regarding the application of SUDAS to ensure consistency in
contract documents and design and construction standards.
The City of Dubuque's Engineering Department continues to review any
recommendations or comments received from contractors, developers, and local
consultants, on the SUDAS program and the City's Supplemental specification. Should
a common issue present itself, the City may look to include a change in future revisions
to the Supplemental Specification.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request the adoption of the 2020 edition of SUDAS (Statewide Urban
Design and Specifications) and to adopt the 2020 edition of the City's Supplemental
Specifications.
3
rc; Jahn K9a�terrr�ann, F'�.iblir Worl<s
Laura Carst�ns; P�anninc� Servic;es
Marie W�ar�, L.�i�urc Servic�;s
D�nis� lhrig, Wat�r �epartm�nk
�arry Lind�hl, Leq�l
Re;nE;� Tyl�r, P�rking
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Steve Brpwn, Prc�ject M�n�g�r
,Jan �i�nst, Engirn�ering
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Prepared by Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque IA 52001, 563-589-4276
Return to Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque, IA 52001, 563-589-4100
RESOLUTION NO. 46-20
APPROVING ADOPTION OF THE 2020 EDITION OF IOWA STATEWIDE URBAN
DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC WORKS
IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS, the Statewide Urban Design And Specifications Program (SUDAS)
provides statewide standards for urban public works improvements; and
WHEREAS, various cities and jurisdictions in the state of Iowa have been meeting,
discussing, drafting and implementing SUDAS since the mid 1990's to ensure uniformity
and continuity of urban design and specifications in cities throughout Iowa; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque City Council has deemed adoption and
implementation of SUDAS a Planned and Managed Growth Goal for the City of
Dubuque; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque Engineering Department, with assistance from the
City Attorney's Office, has reviewed the SUDAS specifications and prepared
Supplemental Specifications for public improvements; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the City's best interest to adopt and
implement SUDAS for public works improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA THAT:
Section 1. The Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program is adopted as an
accepted form of contract for all public works improvements in the City of Dubuque.
Section 2. The City Manager is authorized to take such actions as are necessary to
implement the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program.
Passed, approved and adopted this 17th day of February 2020.
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Key 1iv' . Firnstahl, Cityk