Iowa State Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) ProgramMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
blend
AI- America City
IIIii!
2007 • 2012 • 2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program
(SUDAS)
DATE: February 11, 2014
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos recommends the City Council formally adopt the Iowa
Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program, commonly known as SUDAS.
There are many advantages to implementing SUDAS:
First, citizens will see uniform public improvements (e.g., similar sidewalk ramps).
Second, by using standard designs and specifications the City will have:
• Uniformity of urban design and specifications similar to those across the state;
• 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;
• The potential for reduced costs through uniformity, understanding, and acceptance;
• Finally, In Trans (Iowa State University - Institute for Transportation) keeps the
statewide manuals up to date; relieving the City of the burden and expense of
updating specifications while ensuring the City of Dubuque is informed about new
products and procedures.
The SUDAS standards will be applicable to most projects released from City
departments, with the exception of the Water Department, which currently has its own
standards.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
2
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
DATE: 6 February 2014
Dubuque
NFamsdcaatr
I I,
2007 • 2012 • 2013
RE: Adoption of the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program
(SUDAS)
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the formal adoption by City Council of
the Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications Program commonly known as
SUDAS.
BACKGROUND
In the late 1980s, 16 central Iowa 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, Governor Terry
Branstad assembled a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Transportation to investigate ways to
use Iowa'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 Iowa group (known as the Central Iowa
Committee) had expanded to 34 Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa Committee acted to officially transfer ownership of the manuals to the
Iowa SUDAS Corporation. Statewide ownership of the manuals makes them truly the
statewide standards for urban public works improvements.
The City of Dubuque acknowledged these changes and in preparation made adoption
and implementation of SUDAS a Planned and Managed Growth Goal. Over the course
of several years observing how SUDAS has been implemented in other cities, Dubuque
is prepared to move forward with adoption of SUDAS along with the development of a
Supplemental Specification and corresponding Design Memorandum outlining key
changes to the manuals allowing for the flexibility Dubuque needs to meet our
topography and construction preferences. SUDAS will fully replace the existing City of
Dubuque Standards, 1995 Edition.
DISCUSSION
The City of Dubuque's Engineering Department with advisory assistance from the City's
Legal Department has completed its review of the SUDAS specifications and has
prepared Supplemental Specifications. In addition, to complement the upcoming
change, staff has developed new bid proposal forms and estimate forms based on
SUDAS.
In preparation for the 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. Local contractors, consultants and developers were invited and staff provided an
update and overview of the upcoming SUDAS implementation. The SUDAS standards
will be applicable to most projects released from City departments, with the exception of
the Water Department which currently has its own standard. Any City departments will
be able to consult Engineering with application of SUDAS programs to ensure
consistency in contract documents and standards.
The Engineering Department is also prepared to meet quarterly, taking into account any
recommendations or comments contractors, developers, and local consultants may
have in the implementation of the SUDAS program. Should a common issue present
itself; the City will look to include a change to the City's Supplemental Specifications.
Advantages Source: www.iowasudas.org
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 the City will have:
• Uniformity of urban design and specifications similar to those across the state;
• 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
• The potential for reduced costs through uniformity, understanding, and
acceptance
• Finally, InTrans (Iowa State University — Institute for Transportation) keeps the
statewide manuals up to date; relieving the City of the burden and expense of
updating specifications while ensuring the City of Dubuque is informed about new
products and procedures.
Implementation Process
• Presentation of a Council Resolution Adopting the SUDAS Program — February
17, 2014, authorizing City Manager Michael C. Van Milligen to amend and
update from time to time a Supplemental Specification to the SUDAS
2
Specification Manual and a Design Memorandum to the SUDAS Design Manual
along with corresponding Contract Documents meeting the City of Dubuque's
requirements.
• City Engineering will conduct Quarterly Meetings to review comments and issues
presented by Contractors, Developers, and Consulting Engineers for a period of
up to 2 years from the effective date of adoption.
• Revise Supplemental Specifications annually or as needed thereafter the 2 year
period post adoption.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request full adoption of the SUDAS Program.
Cc: Don Vogt, Public Works
John Klostermann, Public Works
Laura Carstens, Planning Services
Marie Ware, Leisure Services
Bob Green, Water Department
Barry Lindahl, Legal
Tim Horsfield, Parking
Bob Schiesl, Engineering
Jon Dienst, Engineering
Denise lhrig, Engineering
3
RESOLUTION NO. 48-14
APPROVING ADOPTION OF THE 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:
Section 1. That 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. That 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, 2014.
4,0
Roy D. rf ol, Mayor
Attest: