2013 Water System Plan, Volume II - Seattle City Clerk's Office - City ...

18.2 GENERAL INFORMATION
This section describes the authority for and general organization of the plan review function
within SPU.
18.2.1 Authority
For plan review of projects, SPU exercises authority granted by the Seattle Municipal Code
(SMC). Director’s Rules (DR) further clarify this authority. SPU has a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and an MOA is pending with
the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to exercise this authority and review projects
on behalf of SPU through various development permits and a Public Works Contract.
SPU documents roles, responsibilities and financial agreements with SDOT and DPD through
Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), which are typically updated every other year. The sections
of the SMC, which authorize SPU’s role in plan review, are described in SPU Client Assistance
Memos(CAM’s). These CAM’s are delineated in Table 18-8 of DSG Section 18.6.4.
The SPU Plan Reviewer staff review plans to ensure that the SMC requirements for drainage,
wastewater, water, and solid waste are met in project design. SPU provides plan review to
ensure:
Protection of SPU’s infrastructure and the ability to serve current and future customers.
Assurance that development by private developers and other agencies meet the
requirements of the SMC that SPU enforces and design standards to protect existing
SPU infrastructure and the construction of new SPU infrastructure.
Assurance that plans for City construction meets design standards.
18.2.2 Organization
SPU works collaboratively with other departments and government agencies to protect City of
Seattle (public) infrastructure. The SPU PMED Division will often need to rely on DPD, SDOT, or
other municipalities or agencies to identify and refer to SPU those projects that may impact SPU
facilities. SPU interests include protecting and managing the capacity and operability of its
infrastructure. DPD and SDOT (via MOA’s) work on SPU’s behalf to protect SPU interests on
private property and in the ROW.
Other work groups within SPU also become involved with plan review to protect SPU property,
infrastructure, and related interests (Table 18-1). The SPU Plan coordinator will route plans to
these other groups if specific triggers are attained or specific questions arise. Additionally, these
SPU groups receive plans to review from other City of Seattle departments.
Table 18-1 SPU Sections Involved with Plan Review
Organization
Involvement
SPU PMED
SPU Materials Lab
SPU Real Property
SPU Customer Service
Conducts more complex water, drainage and wastewater plan reviews
May review detailed plans to assure appropriate products or materials will be used
Reviews detailed plans for projects near SPU property or easements to assure SPU
interests are protected. Obtains easements if SPU facilities are proposed on private
property. Coordinates with jurisdictions in which SPU facilities are located. Main SPU point
of contact in the street vacation process.
Manages relationships with SPU customers, including establishing new water services and
18-2
SPU Design Standards and Guidelines