City Council Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
James McDermott, Water Quality Technician
Title
Consider Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract - Neighborhood Flooding Issues - Infrastructure Improvements Project - (STRM2023-K40).
Body
Action Requested:
Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolution accepting bids and awarding the contract for the Neighborhood Flooding Issues - Infrastructure Improvements Project (STRM2023-K40).
Summary Report:
The City Council is being asked to award the contract for the Neighborhood Flooding Issues -Infrastructure Improvements Project (STRM2023-K40). The Plans and Specifications were completed by Bolton and Menk, Inc., and at the July 22, 2025, City Council Meeting, the Council authorized the advertisement for bids via Resolution 2025-070. The ad for bid was published in the Northfield News, on the MnDOT eAdvert site, and the City of Northfield website.
Proposed project locations and associated improvements: (Attachment 2)
• Juniper Avenue storm sewer - 400, 404, 412 Juniper Avenue
o Construction activities will involve clearing, grading, installation of new storm sewer, removal and replacement of bituminous road, concrete sidewalk, riprap, abandoning existing storm sewer, and restoration. Increasing stormwater pipes from 12”- 18” RCP to 36” RCP at the Juniper Ave project area will result in an increased pipe capacity of approximately 40 CFS, and a reduced 100-year high water level elevation, from 944.92 to 942.91.
• Spring Street storm sewer - 304 Greenvale Avenue and 301 Highland Avenue
o Construction activities will involve clearing, grading, removal of existing storm sewer, installation of new storm sewer and associated facilities, repaving bituminous road and concrete sidewalk, and restoration. Adding an overflow structure and stormwater conveyance pipe, as well as increasing existing stormwater pipes from 12” RCP to 48” RCP at the Highland & Greenvale Ave project area, will result in an increased pipe capacity of approximately 40-45 CFS and a reduced 100-year high water level elevation, from 946.28 to 945.10.
• 518 1st Street West backflow preventer
o Construction activities will involve the installation of a backflow preventer, flared end section, riprap, minor grading, and restoration. Adding a backflow preventor to the existing storm sewer pipe at the First St. W project area will result in a reduced 100-year high water level elevation, from 949.38 to 948.26
• Sibley Swale Park wetland outlet
o Construction activities will involve clearing, grading, bituminous path replacement, installation of new storm sewer and associated facilities, and restoration. Adding an overflow structure and stormwater conveyance at Sibley Swale Park results in a reduced 100-year HWL elevation at the wetland, from 972.38 to 971.80.
The City of Northfield applied for and received a grant in the amount of $897,066 from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Stormwater Resilience to be expended on this project. This Grant does have a 10% match requirement. See the financial tables below for additional information.
The City received eight (8) competitive bids (Attachment 3), which were publicly opened and tabulated on August 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. The bids ranged from $854,884.50 to $1,254,457.20 with the lowest responsible bidder being ICON, LLC. with a total bid amount of $854,884.50. This compared to the engineer’s estimate of $919,136.75. This project was identified in the 2024 – 2028 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and funding for the project is a combination of MPCA Grant Funding and Storm Fund funding as outlined below. Staff is recommending that the project be awarded.
Alternative Options:
City Council may decide not to award this project; however, these flood prone areas will continue to be at risk for property damage flooding.
Staff does not recommend any alternative actions outside of considering award of contract.
Financial Impacts:
This project was awarded an MPCA Stormwater Resilience Grant in the amount of $897,066 to be used for the completion of this project. The remaining project funds will be funded by the Stormwater Fund. See funding tables below:
Tentative Timelines:
See the Project Process (Attachment 4) for upcoming project milestones.