(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)

      (1)   Fill slopes steeper than two horizontal to one vertical must be constructed by the placement of soil a sufficient distance beyond the proposed finish slope to allow compaction equipment to operate at the outer surface limits of the final slope surface. The excess fill is to be removed prior to completion or rough grading. Other construction procedures may be utilized when it is first shown to the satisfaction of the City Engineer or Building Official that the angle of slope, construction method and other factors will accomplish the intent of this section.

      (2)   Fills not intended to support structures are not required to be compacted to these standards if the City Engineer or Building Official determines that such compaction is unnecessary as a safety measure. In making this determination, the City Engineer or Building Official may require that the owner provide a report from a soils engineer establishing the characteristics of the soil, the amount of settlement to be expected and the susceptibility of the soil to erosion or slippage.

      (3)   Slope surfaces may be prepared for planting by scarifying, by the addition of top soil, or by other methods, provided such slopes when so prepared otherwise comply with the requirements of this section.

   (B)   Preparation of ground. The existing ground surface must be prepared to receive fill by removing vegetation, noncomplying fill or other incompetent material. Where the slope of the existing ground surface is five horizontal to one vertical or steeper, the fill must be supported on level benches cut into competent material. The bench under the toe of a fill on a slope steeper than five to one must be at least ten feet wide. The area beyond the toe of fill must be sloped for sheet overflow or a paved drain must be provided. When fill is to be placed over a cut, the bench under the toe of fill must be at least ten feet wide, but the cut must be made before placing the fill and before acceptance by the geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist, or both if applicable, as a suitable foundation for fill. Daylight lines indicating a transition between fill and natural ground or fill and excavation are not allowed within the building area of a graded pad unless approved by the City Engineer or Building Official based on special circumstances or site conditions. Except where recommended by the geotechnical engineer or geologist as not being necessary and approved by the City Engineer or Building Official, subdrains must be provided under all fills placed in natural drainage courses and in other locations where seepage is evident. Such subdrainage systems must be of a material and design approved by the geotechnical engineer and acceptable to the City Engineer or Building Official. The permittee must provide continuous inspection during the process of subdrain installation to conform with approved plans and geotechnical engineer's recommendation. Such inspection must be done by the soil testing agency. The location of the subdrains must be shown on a plan by the geotechnical engineer. Excavations for the subdrains must be inspected by the geologist when such subdrains are included in the recommendations of the geologist.

      (1)   The oversized material must be placed ten feet or more below finish grade;

      (2)   A representative of the soil engineer must be present while the oversized material is placed and covered;

      (3)   The reports submitted by the soil engineer must acknowledge the placement of the oversized material and whether the work performed is in accordance with his or her recommendations and the approved plans; and

      (4)   The location of oversized rock dispersal areas must be shown on the as-built plan.

      (5)   Stockpiled soil, sand or gravel must be covered or stabilized as to prevent erosion by wind or water.

(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)

   (C)   Toe of fill slope. The toe of a fill slope must not be made nearer to the site boundary line than one-half of the height of the slope with a minimum of two feet and a maximum of 20 feet. Where a fill slope is to be located near the site boundary and the adjacent off-site property is developed to such grading, special precautions must be incorporated in the work as the City Engineer or Building Official deems necessary to protect the adjoining property from damage as a result of such grading. These precautions may include but are not limited to:

      (1)   Additional setbacks;

      (2)   Provision for retaining or slough walls;

      (3)   Mechanical or chemical treatment of the fill slope surface to minimize erosion; or

      (4)   Provisions for the control of surface waters.

(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)

   (B)   Regular grading requirements. The grading must be inspected by the City Engineer or Building Official as set forth in subsection (C) of this section. The City Engineer or Building Official may require inspection and testing by a soil testing agency. If required, the soil testing agency's responsibility will include, but need not be limited to, approval concerning the inspection of cleared areas and benches to receive fill, and the compaction of fills.

      (1)   The City Engineer or Building Official, upon notification from the permittee or his or her agent, will inspect the grading at the following stages of the work and must either approve the portion then completed or must notify the permittee or his or her agent wherein it fails to comply with the requirements of this Code.

      (2)   In addition to the called inspections specified above, the City Engineer or Building Official may make such other inspections as he or she may deem necessary to determine that the work is being performed in conformance with the requirements of this Code. Investigation and reports by an approved soil testing agency, soils engineer and/or engineering geologist may be required.

      (1)   For engineered grading, it is the responsibility of the persons listed below to perform the designated functions and provide reports as required by § 16.97.050. These responsibilities and

functions are in addition to those of the City Engineer or Building Official as set forth in subsection (C) of this section:

      (2)   Reports that reflect conditions which are not in agreement with the approved grading plans must be submitted to the field engineer and the City Engineer or Building Official by the appropriate consultants.

      (1)   If, in the course of fulfilling their responsibility under this chapter, the field engineer, soil engineer or geologist finds that the work is not being done in conformance with this chapter or the plans approved by the City Engineer or Building Official, or in accordance with good accepted practices, the person in charge of the grading work and the City Engineer or Building Official must be immediately notified in writing of the nonconformity and of the corrective measures to be taken.

      (2)   All uncertified fills and nonconforming grading must be recorded on the title of the property so that any future buyer will be aware of the situation. This recordation may only be removed when the City Engineer or Building Official determines conformance. No building permits will be granted until the fill and/or grading is in conformance.

   (G)   Termination of services. The termination of the services of the field engineer, soil engineer or geologist prior to the completion of the work shown on the approved grading plan must be reported to the City Engineer or Building Official in writing within 48 hours. The report must be by the person terminated and must include the status of the work at the last inspection. The work must be stopped until the replacement has agreed to accept the responsibility within the area of his or her technical competence for verification upon completion of the work.

(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)

      (1)   The statement required by this section supplement the records of the City Engineer or Building Official. These forms may be duplicated and the letterhead of the responsible person may be utilized. Final approval of grading by the City Engineer or Building Official cannot be given until all required maps, statements and reports have been submitted.

      (2)   Where reference is made to initial, rough or final grading, it means those stages of construction set forth in § 16.97.040.

   (B)   Field engineer. At the completion of rough grading and final grading, the field engineer must submit a statement that work is in conformance with the approved plans. A final contour map (as-built plan) must be submitted unless the work has been completed in close agreement with the approved plan.

(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)