Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 12/19/2017
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Manager’s Office
Title:
title
Notification of Retaining Structure Inspections Program Policy
End
Background:
In an effort to enhance public protection and improve the overall life of the specific publicly-owned retaining structures constructed in the public right of way or on City owned property, the City of Broken Arrow has developed a unique Program to inspect retaining structures which includes (1) earth retaining walls, (2) flood control and protection structures, as well as (3) sound or noise barrier walls.
Presently, the State of Oklahoma does not require “on-going” structural inspections of a publicly-owned retaining structure once it has been constructed and is effectively placed in operations or service, unless the structure specifically serves as a dam. Based upon the fact that city has grown significantly over the past several decades and several retaining structures are continuing to age much like other public infrastructure, the City of Broken Arrow developed an unprecedented Retaining Structures Inspections Program in order to conduct visual observations and investigations of the condition of specified structures in an effort to gage the anticipated predicted performance of these structures. Using some of the requirements established by state statutes for the continued inspections of specific dams, Staff has developed a policy to govern the administration and oversight of the Program, as well as establish a certification and training aspect to effectively ensure qualified inspections. A current Retaining Structure Inventory is included to document which structures meet with the policy requirements. As structures are identified that meet with the requirements of the policy, they will be added to the Inventory.
The above identified information has been compiled in a Program Guidance Manual and is attached for your information.
Cost: None
Prepared By: Kenneth D. Schwab, P.E., CFM, Assistant City Manager of Operations
Reviewed By: Engineering and Construction Department
Streets and Stormwater Department
Assistant City Manager - Operations
Legal Department
Approved By: Michael L. Spurgeon, City Manager
Attachments: Retaining Structure Inspection Program, Guidance Manual 2017
Recommendation: No Action Required