The policy discussed during the Oct. 16 City Council meeting would implement a rule that driveway replacements must include an engineer analysis to ensure the driveway construction adequately allows water flow through culverts.
City Council discussion led to the postponement of the agenda item due to concerns about fees to residents who are repairing or replacing their driveways.
The overview
Council member Jonathan Swarek was not in favor of the update, saying it could cost residents an additional $5,000 to get engineering services for a driveway replacement.
City staff said the engineering requirement proposal is due to cases where culverts may be undersized and need more infrastructure to reduce the impact on adjacent properties or infrastructure.
Council member Ruben Olvera said he is not comfortable implementing the engineering requirement if there have not been many problems with driveway culverts flooding.
“I don’t think that it is a problem enough to where we have to pass it on to every homeowner who wants a new—or to redo—a driveway or culvert,” Olvera said.
Many of the council comments focused on old driveways, with council members supporting the requirement of engineering for new driveways and culverts.
One of the main concerns from city staff was the construction of culverts 30 or more years ago, or culverts installed before the incorporation of the city.
City Council postponed the agenda item until a future meeting.
