To ensure the intent of this chapter is achieved, the applicant shall retain a professional civil engineer currently registered in the state of Idaho to serve as the engineer of record.
A. Responsibilities: It shall be the responsibility of the engineer of record:
1. To prepare the preliminary development plan and permit application.
2. To incorporate into the development plans all recommendations contained in the plans and other reports as required in this chapter.
3. To act as coordinating agent between other professionals, the owner, the city, and other government agencies with a regulatory interest in the development.
4. To prepare any revised plans and to submit an as built record to the city upon the completion of the project.
B. Reports: The engineer of record shall submit all necessary reports to the city both prior to and during development activities.
C. Noncompliance: If the engineer of record, in the course of fulfilling the specified responsibilities, discovers that any work is being accomplished to a substantially lesser standard than required by this chapter or by the approved hillside development plan, the noncompliance shall be reported in writing to the owner, with copies of the report delivered to the city within three (3) working days of the discovery. The owner shall provide the city with recommendations for corrective measures, within five (5) calendar days of the notice. The city may require corrective action within a specified period. If any deficiency is deemed by the city to be an imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare, that work shall be stopped immediately until such deficiencies are corrected.
D. Replacement Of Engineer: If the engineer of record is replaced during the course of work, the work shall be stopped. Work may resume when the replacement engineer of record has agreed to accept the responsibility for previous and future work.
E. Inclement Weather: In the event work is stopped during inclement weather, all open, and/or unfinished work on the project shall be protected to the satisfaction of the city.
F. Completion Of Work: At the conclusion of the approved work, the engineer of record shall submit a report to the city stating that the work has been executed in compliance with the approved plans. The report shall have the signature and professional seal of the engineer of record, along with copies of all testing reports required by this chapter, by the city, or by the administrator.
G. Delays: The city may require the grading operation and/or project schedule be modified if delays occur which result in weather generated problems not anticipated at the time approval was granted. Construction shall be scheduled to minimize soil disturbance.
H. Development Of Special Hazard Areas: Any area that presents one or more of the following limiting factors shall not be permitted to be developed unless the engineer of record can demonstrate to the city, based on the required engineering reports, that these limitations can be overcome in such a manner as to prevent hazard to life, hazard to property, adverse effects on the use or stability of a public way or adverse impact on the natural environment:
1. Landslide areas or scarps, or areas of active landslides.
2. Natural slopes greater than fifteen percent (15%).
3. Water table within six feet (6') of the surface at any time of the year.
4. Any area of hydrologic hazard as determined by the engineering hydrology report.
I. Vegetation And Slope Stabilization:
1. Vegetation shall be removed only when absolutely necessary, such as for the construction of structures, filled areas, roadways, firebreaks, or as required by this title.
2. Every effort shall be made to conserve topsoil that is removed during construction for later use on areas requiring revegetation or landscaping.
3. Adequate soil and slope stabilization using any combination of vegetation and/or chemical or mechanical methods shall be established on all disturbed areas as each stage of development is completed.
4. New plantings shall be protected with organic cover unless determined not to be necessary in the slope stabilization and revegetation plan and report.
J. Slopes And Stabilization:
1. All retaining walls with a total vertical height of four feet (4') or more, including footing, shall be designed in accord with the regulations of this code for building permits.
2. All slopes that are stabilized by mechanical or chemical means shall conform to the surrounding terrain and shall be given aesthetic treatment that is designed to blend into the background and minimize the visual impacts on surrounding areas.
3. Large tracts shall be divided into smaller workable units on which construction can be completed within one construction season so that large areas are not left bare and exposed during the winter-spring runoff period.
K. Roadways:
1. Roadway alignments shall be designed to create the minimum feasible amounts of hillside scarring, land coverage and the disturbance of the soil.
2. Roadway alignments shall be designed to minimize removal of existing deep rooted perennial vegetation.
3. Roadway alignments shall be designed to follow natural terrain.
4. Roadways shall meet the standards of the associated highway districts of Kootenai County design criteria, except as revised by ordinance or variance. (Ord. 166, 2-5-2004)