HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-097 Construction Specifications and Standard DetailsDate: December 4, 2020 Report No. 2020-097
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide information about the City’s new Construction Specifications and Standard Details
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Since 2018, a cross-departmental team has been working with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
to create construction specifications and corresponding standard details for City of Denton
infrastructure construction projects. The construction specifications and standard details are
nearing completion with a planned effective date of January 1, 2021.
BACKGROUND:
Construction specifications are the foundation of constructing public infrastructure. These
specifications describe in detail the work to be performed, accepted construction methods, how the
quality of construction is determined, how the work will be measured, and how the City’s
contractors will be paid. The more clearly and plainly these items are described, the better the
understanding a contractor bidding a project will have of the expectations and ground rules
required by the City during the bidding process. Clearly defined specifications minimize change
orders which, by extension, reduce potential risks incurred by the City with respect to increases in
scope, schedule, and budget.
The City of Denton currently uses multiple sets of specifications to construct public infrastructure,
which often leads to confusion and complication between the City and its general contractors
during construction. This typically comes in the form of referencing the North Central Texas
Council of Governments’ (NCTCOG) Public Works Specifications with addendums specifically
required by the City of Denton that either modify, add to, or completely change certain portions
of the NCTCOG specifications. In addition to these specifications, references are also made to
other specifications, such as those from the Texas Department of Transportation, or Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and special specifications that pertain only to a specific project.
The complication of having multiple specification references causes potential misunderstanding
between the contractor and the City from the beginning of the project through inspection to final
acceptance.
On October 23, 2018, the City entered into a professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn
and Associates, Inc. for the preparation of standard construction specifications. Following
approval of the agreement, staff began working with Kimley-Horn to prepare a unified set of
technical specifications and standard details for public infrastructure construction in Denton.
Standard details are detailed drawings that visually represent the technical requirements of the
construction specifications. The draft construction specifications were substantially complete in
spring of 2019. The public inspection period for the standard construction specifications lasted
from December 23, 2019, to January 24, 2020. Since that time, staff has incorporated the feedback
received from the public, conducted additional internal review, and the Engineering Design team
prepared the standard details in accordance with the latest draft of the specifications. The project
Date: December 4, 2020 Report No. 2020-097
schedule, which was originally projected to be completed by December 2019, was impacted in
part by staff work to prepare for the 2019 bond program and by the City’s COVID-19 response.
Development of the construction specifications also included an overhaul of the City’s
construction contract documents. The revised contract documents were developed in collaboration
with the Procurement & Compliance Department and City Attorney’s Office. Once finalized, the
new contract documents will be used by every City of Denton department for public works
construction projects.
The new construction specifications will also be used by the private development community when
private developers are required to construct public infrastructure with their projects. The
development community recently received updates on the draft construction specifications and
standard details through a Developer Town Hall presentation on November 11, followed by a
presentation to the Texas Society of Professional Engineers on November 13. Feedback received
to-date from the development community has generally been very positive, as the new
specifications will alleviate confusion and provide consistency from project to project. The draft
standard construction specifications and standard details are also available on the City’s Land
Development webpage at: www.cityofdenton.com/landdevelopment.
Standard details and construction specifications are reviewed and approved administratively. Staff
is currently conducting a final review of the draft specification and standard details with a goal of
finalizing the documents by December 18, 2020. The effective date of the new standard
construction specifications and standard details will be January 1, 2021. Staff will conduct
comprehensive internal training in early calendar year 2021 to ensure all technical staff, including
the inspectors and project managers, fully understand the City’s new technical requirements. Staff
plans to update the standard construction specifications and standard details annually, with a public
inspection and feedback period each summer.
STAFF CONTACTS:
Rachel Wood
Deputy Director of Capital Projects
(940) 349-7718
Rachel.Wood@cityofdenton.com
Trevor Crain
Construction Project Manager
(940) 349-7104
Trevor.Crain@cityofdenton.com
REQUESTOR:
Staff Initiated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Capital Projects
Utilities
Date: December 4, 2020 Report No. 2020-097
City Attorney’s Office
Development Services
Procurement & Compliance
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT:
One hour