2019-10-12 - Stockstill, Ray - Drainage for Courtyard questionsFrom: Ray Stockstill <scnbeach@earthlink.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2019 4:51 AM
To: Amy Yu; AJ Ortega
Subject: questions
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I'm in arbitration but we are trying voluntary mediation and we have made a lot of progress. In order to
successfully conclude this, we need to agree on the drainage design for the courtyard. My questions have all
been related to getting answers to the differences of opinions between the engineers on the respective sides.
The slope question that you and AJ responded to was related to one of the final differences. Freeboard is also
one of the final design questions. There is no hidden agenda behind the questions. The City of La Quinta is not
part of the mediation or the arbitration. Please answer the questions that I have asked to date. I understand
that your answers may have ramifications related to other interior courtyards previously permitted and/or future
submissions for permits that include an interior courtyard. I personally think the City needs to address this
rather than try to avoid it so other La Quinta residents never have to go through what I've been through.
New question related to the freeboard requirement in the front of the house, which to date you have been
willing to discuss.
The illustration of freeboard on page 17 of Engineering Bulletin #06-16 shows that the 1 foot minimum
requirement is measured from the top of the 100 year flood elevation at the STREET R/W LINE to the bottom
of the dwelling unit pad. Is that correct?
In this photo, the top of the dwelling unit pad is probably less than 2" below the doorsill at the bottom of the
front door. The bottom of the dwelling pad is 24" or more below the top of the dwelling pad in the front of the
house and a significant portion is exposed even though it is covered with stucco. Would I be correct to
measure the as -built freeboard in the front from the top of the 100 year flood elevation at the STREET R/W
LINE to the bottom of my dwelling unit pad which is 24" or more below the door sill in the above picture, a
portion of which has soil in front of it and a portion has stucco covering it? It is a post -stressed slab that is one
continuous concrete pour, if that helps. I'm in search of the correct place on the pad to measure freeboard from
in the front of the home that you see in the above picture.
Second set of new questions related to horizontal drilling.
Has the City ever approved horizontal drilling to install a rainwater drain line under a dwelling pad into an
interior courtyard that comes within inches of the slab's footers that are part of the continuous concrete poured
dwelling unit pad?
Would I need a permit to do this from the City/your department?
Would you issue a permit for using a 5.5" drill bit to drill under multiple footers, then attached a 10" auger to the
drill line and attached a 6" flexible conduit line and drill it back toward the horizontal drill rig to get the line in
place under the dwelling pad within inches of the footers at a 1 % slope knowing that this approach has failed in
the past according to the drilling company I spoke with? They said they have seen foundations lifted up off the
ground with drilling mud coming through the broken foundations. Is this something the City would approve?
I believe that the codes for drain lines include material of construction like PVC. Is flexible conduit appropriate
material for a rainwater drain line? Would the City approve flexible conduit for my OVERFLOW drain line?
If possible, please answer all of these questions as quickly as possible because we are waiting on your
answers.
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Figure 1
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Figure 5
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v uMio8XmnE