It is the general intent of the regulations of this Article that site development design shall preserve to the extent that is reasonable and feasible the existing natural scenic value of hills and valleys and contours of land.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
All site development work, whether or not a permit is required under this Chapter, shall be designed to:
(a) 
Retain trees and other native vegetation which stabilizes steep hillsides, retains moisture, prevents erosion, and enhances the natural scenic beauty, insofar as practical.
(b) 
Place building pads in such a manner as to permit ample room for adequate landscaping and drainage between and around the buildings.
(c) 
Minimize scars from cuts and fills and avoid permanent scarring of the hillsides.
(d) 
Round off, in a natural manner, sharp angles at the top and toe of cut and fill slopes, and conform to existing terrain, both with respect to building sites and to road cross sections.
(e) 
Limit development on steep or dangerous terrain.
(f) 
Take into consideration geologic hazards and adverse soil conditions and their effect on the future stability of the development.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
Maximum Slope. Cuts shall not be steeper in slope than two (2) horizontal to one (1) vertical unless the owner furnishes a soil or a geological report certifying that the site has been investigated and indicating that the proposed deviation will not endanger any public or private property or result in the deposition of debris on any public way or place or interfere with any existing drainage course.
The City Engineer may require the excavation to be made with a cut face flatter in slope than two (2) horizontal to one (1) vertical if he finds it necessary for stability and safety.
(b) 
Drainage Terraces. Cut slopes exceeding forty (40) feet in vertical height shall have drainage terraces not less than eight (8) feet in width, measured from the outer edge of the terrace to the invert of the drain, at vertical intervals not to exceed twenty-five (25) feet except that where only one (1) such terrace is required it shall be located at mid-height. For cut slopes exceeding one hundred (100) feet in vertical height, the drainage terrace near mid-height shall be not less than twelve (12) feet in width. Design and construction of drainage terraces shall conform to the requirements of Section 7-2.606. All cut slopes shall be examined for evidence of seepage at completion of grading to determine if installation of horizontal drains is necessary.
(c) 
Variations. Variations from the regulations in this Section may be allowed by the City Engineer if they will provide equivalent safety, stability, and protection against erosion, as recommended by a soil engineer or engineering geologist.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
Compaction. Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (b) of this Section, all fills shall be compacted throughout their full extent to a minimum of ninety percent (90%) of maximum density as determined by the current ASTM D1557 test method. Field density shall be determined by a method acceptable to the City Engineer. All existing on-site fills and backfills shall be excavated and stockpiled for reuse in planned fill areas.
(b) 
Exceptions to Compaction Requirement.
(1) 
Special Compaction. Compaction may be reduced to eighty-five percent (85%) of maximum density as determined by the specified test in Subsection (a) of this Section, within the outer eight (8) inches of fill slope surfaces when such compaction is provided by grid rolling or equivalent means.
(2) 
Non-Structural Fills. Fills not intended to support structures, subdivision streets or improvements need not be compacted to the standard set forth in Subsection (a) of this Section if the City Engineer determines that such compaction is unnecessary as a safety measure. In making this determination, the City Engineer may require that an investigation be made by an approved soil testing agency to establish the characteristics of the soil, the amount of settlement to be expected and the susceptibility of the soil to erosion or slippage.
(3) 
Planted Slopes. Slope surfaces may be prepared for planting by scarifying, by the addition of topsoil, or by other methods, if such loose material does not exceed a depth of three inches and said slopes otherwise comply with the requirements of this Section.
(c) 
Preparation of Ground. The natural ground surface shall be pared to receive fill by removing vegetation, non-complying fill, topsoil, and, where slopes are five (5) horizontal to one (1) vertical or steeper, by benching into sound bedrock or other competent material. Five (5) feet of the lowermost bench shall be exposed beyond the toe of the fill. The bench shall be sloped for sheet overflow or a paved drain shall be provided.
(d) 
Fill Slope. No compacted fill shall be made which creates an exposed surface steeper in slope than two (2) horizontal to one (1) vertical. The City Engineer may require that the fill be constructed with an exposed surface flatter than two (2) horizontal to one (1) vertical if he finds this necessary for stability and safety.
(e) 
Fill Material. No organic or other reducible material shall be incorporated in fills. Except as recommended by the soil engineer and approved by the City Engineer, no rock or similar irreducible material with a maximum dimension greater than four (4) inches shall be buried or placed within forty-eight (48) inches of finish grade. No expansive adobe soils shall be used in fills within five (5) feet of finish grade in street and building areas and shall not be placed in the slope area of high fills.
(f) 
Drainage Terraces. Fill slopes exceeding thirty (30) feet in vertical height shall have drainage terraces not less than eight (8) feet in width, measured from the outer edge of the terrace to the invert of the drain, at vertical intervals not exceeding twenty-five (25) feet except that where only one (1) such terrace is required it shall be located at mid-height. For fill slopes exceeding one hundred (100) feet in vertical height, the drainage terrace near mid-height shall be not less than twelve (12) feet in width. Design and construction of drainage terraces shall conform to the requirements of Section 7-2.606.
(g) 
Slopes to Receive Fill. Where fill is to be placed above the top of an existing or proposed cut or natural slope steeper than three (3) horizontal to one (1) vertical, the toe of the fill shall be set back from the top edge of the slope a minimum distance of six (6) feet, measured horizontally, or such other distance as may be specifically recommended by a soil engineer or engineering geologist and approved by the City Engineer. Fills shall not toe out on slopes steeper than three (3) horizontal to one (1) vertical.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
The property line of any proposed or existing site or parcel located within the grading project shall be located at the top of the slope or along any slope drainage terrace.
(b) 
Excavation and fill slopes shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet plus one-fifth (1/5) the vertical height of the slope from the project boundary line, with a maximum of ten (10) feet.
(c) 
Buildings and structures shall be set back from excavation or fill slopes a minimum of four (4) feet plus one-fifth (1/5) of the vertical height of the slope, with a maximum of ten (10) feet.
Variations from the regulations in this Section may be allowed by the City Engineer if they will provide equivalent safety, stability, and protection against erosion, as recommended by a soil engineer or engineering geologist.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
General. Storm drainage structures, systems and facilities shall be provided as required by the City Engineer and in accordance with standard specifications on file in the Public Works Department. In addition, storm drain structures, systems and facilities shall be in compliance with State and Federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. In satisfaction of these requirements, the City Engineer may require the installation of grease traps, sediment basins, storm water monitoring stations and such other devices and systems which the City Engineer determines are necessary for compliance with NPDES requirements. The design of all storm drainage, structures, systems and facilities shall be in accordance with recognized principles of hydraulics.
(b) 
Disposal. All drainage facilities shall be designed to carry surface waters to the nearest practical street, storm drain, or natural watercourses, approved by the City Engineer as a safe place to discharge such waters. If the drainage device discharges onto natural ground, rip-rap or a similar energy dissipater may be required. City standard curbs and gutters shall also be installed at the property line adjoining the public right-of-way for the purpose of conveying site run-off to storm drain facilities.
(c) 
Site Drainage. Graded building sites (building pads) shall have a minimum slope of one percent (1%) towards a public street or drainage facility approved to receive storm waters. A lesser slope may be approved by the City Engineer for sites graded in relatively flat terrain, or where special drainage provisions are made, when he finds such modification will not result in unfavorable drainage conditions.
(d) 
Terrace Drains.
(1) 
All unlined swales or ditches on drainage terraces shall have a uniform longitudinal grade of not less than one percent (1%) nor more than three percent (3%) and a minimum depth of one (1) foot at the deepest part. Such terraces shall drain into a paved gutter, pipe or approved watercourse adequate to convey the water to a safe disposal area.
(2) 
The soil engineer may approve steeper slopes based on sediment transport analysis.
(3) 
The drainage terrace shall be provided with a lined ditch, if required by the soil engineer for stability or prevention of erosion.
(e) 
Overflow Protection. Berms, swales or other devices shall be provided at the top of cut or fill slopes to prevent surface water from flowing over or onto, and damaging the face of the slope. Special drainage provisions shall be made where a building or structure exists within five (5) feet of the top of a slope.
(f) 
Maintenance of Drainage. The permittee and/or owner shall maintain drainage facilities, in conformance with the requirements of this Chapter, during and after construction.
(g) 
Subdrains. Subdrains and laterals shall be as determined by the soil engineer. Subdrain designs shall be approved by the City Engineer. Provisions shall be made for carrying off all collected water to suitable disposal points removed from all slopes.
(h) 
Variations. Variations from the regulations of this Section may be allowed by the City Engineer if they will provide equivalent safety, stability, and protection against erosion and storm water pollution as recommended by a soils engineer or engineering geologist and by the County Flood Control District.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986; Ord. 308 Div. 1, 1992)
(a) 
The surface of all erodible cut slopes more than five (5) feet in height and fill slopes more than three (3) feet in height shall be protected against erosion by planting with landscape materials as prescribed in Section 7-2.307. The plants and planting methods shall be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site and in accordance with standard specifications on file in the Public Works Department.
(b) 
Irrigation System. Planted slopes shall be provided with an approved system of irrigation. A functional test of the system may be required. For slopes less than twenty (20) feet in vertical height hose bibs may be allowed where a hose no longer than fifty (50) feet is necessary for irrigation.
The requirements for permanent irrigation systems may be modified, when approved by the Director of Public Works, because the type of plants selected, planting methods used, and soil and climatic conditions at the site make irrigation of the slope planting unnecessary.
(c) 
Approval. The planting and irrigation system shall be installed after rough grading. Final approval of the work and release of the bond shall be made when growth is established on the slopes.
(d) 
Variations. Variations from the regulations of this Section may be allowed by the Director of Public Works if they will provide equivalent safety, stability, and protection against erosion, as recommended by a soil engineer or engineering geologist.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
Hours of Work. If operations under the permit are within five hundred (500) feet of residential or commercial occupancies, grading operations shall be limited to the hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or as approved by the City Engineer, except that maintenance and service work on equipment may be performed at any time.
(b) 
Encroachments on Public Rights-of-way. Encroachment of operations on public rights-of-way without a valid encroachment permit is prohibited except for hauling of legal loads by vehicles permitted by law to operate on public roads.
(c) 
Nuisances. Operations shall be controlled to vent nuisances to public and private ownerships because of dust, drainage, removal of natural support of land and structures, encroachment, noise, and/or vibration.
(d) 
Explosives. Blasting or other use of explosives shall be conducted in accordance with regulations by the City Council, the State Fire Marshal, and local fire authorities.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
Compliance with Plans and this Chapter. The permittee, his agent, contractor or employee, shall carry out the proposed work only in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and in compliance with all the requirements of this Chapter.
(b) 
Notice of Work. In performing regular development work it shall be the responsibility of the permittee to notify the City Engineer at least one working day in advance so that the required inspections can be made.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
The City Engineer may require the following reports, and shall not finally approve any development or work until all required maps and reports have been submitted and approved:
(a) 
A final report by the civil engineer certifying that all grading, lot drainage and drainage facilities have been completed and the slope planting installed in conformance with the approved plans and the requirements of this Chapter with a final contour map if the work is not in substantial conformity with the approved plans.
(b) 
A report by the soil engineer including the recommended soil-bearing capacity, a statement as to the expansive qualities of the soil, summaries of field and laboratory tests, and his opinion as to the adequacy of the work completed and its conformity with plans and specifications. The location of such tests and the limits of the compacted fill shall also show by plans and cross-section the location of any subdrains, rock disposal areas and/or buttress fills in the work.
(c) 
An engineering geologist's report based on the final contour map including specific approval of the grading as affected by geological factors. The report shall include a revised geologic map and cross-sections, with recommendations regarding the location of buildings or sewage disposal systems.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
The City Engineer may require the submission of a preliminary soil investigation report and/or engineering geological report before issuing a building permit for a structure to be placed on any fill or embankment constructed before the enactment of this Chapter, or excepted from the requirement for a grading permit, or on any other lot or parcel on which critically expansive soils, slide conditions, or other soils, or geologic hazards exist or may reasonably be anticipated to exist. If the City Engineer determines that the action recommended in this report is likely to prevent structural damage to the proposed structure, he shall approve the report and the recommended action contained in the report shall become a part of the required construction as a condition of the permit.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)
(a) 
The City Engineer may conduct a field investigation and site evaluation of a lot or parcel prior to application for a grading and/or building permit if the owner submits a written request and the fee required by Section 7-2.311.
(b) 
The investigation shall determine what information, engineering data or plans will be required to be submitted with the application for grading and/or building permits and under what conditions the permits would be issued.
(c) 
No fees or written request will be necessary after an application for a building and/or grading permit has been accepted or if the City Engineer initiates the field investigation.
(Ord. 242 Div. 2 (part), 1986)