City Council Meeting Date: February 18, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: James McDermott, Water Quality Technician
Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
David Bennett, City Engineer/Public Works Director
Title
Consider Approving Application for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Grant for Stormwater Resilience.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the application submittal for the MPCA Planning Grant for Stormwater Resilience.
Summary Report:
The MPCA is soliciting project proposals to distribute $35 million to communities for projects to prepare local stormwater infrastructure for the impacts of climate change. These projects are specifically meant to address water quantity and prevent localized flooding. Project examples include the construction of:
• Storage
o Stormwater retention/detention ponds
o Smart stormwater ponds
o Storage and reuse
o Multi-use storage that provides community amenities when not flooded
• Infiltration
o Rain gardens
o Infiltration basin
o Other bioretention features
• Conveyance system improvements
o Larger pipes without negative downstream impacts
o Above-ground street drainage improvements
• Impervious surface reduction
• Treatment train approaches to slow and reduce volume
As Minnesota’s climate continues to warm, extreme storms have pushed aging and undersized stormwater systems in communities across the state to the breaking point. Over the last 20 years, Minnesota has experienced 10 “mega-rain” events, when at least six inches of rain falls over an area of at least 1,000 square miles. Today more than 155,000 homes and apartment buildings, 29,000 miles of roads, and 13,000 commercial buildings in Minnesota are at risk of severe flooding.
In 2020, the City consulted with Bolton & Menk, Inc. to update its Surface Water Model as well as review known localized flooding issues throughout the community. These localized flooding issues are isolated events not associated with the Cannon River flooding, which our community is very familiar with. Most of these areas are smaller regional locations that experience flooding and threats to structures due to undersized or lack of infrastructure or emergency overflows (EOFs).
Proposed project locations: (Attachment 2)
• Juniper Avenue storm sewer - 400, 404, 412 Juniper Avenue
• Spring Street storm sewer - 304 Greenvale Avenue and 301 Highland Avenue
• 518 1st Street West - backflow preventer
• Sibley Swale Park - wetland outlet
The City of Northfield has completed the design for the project and is ready to solicit for bids, however, is requesting approval for this grant opportunity to offset the cost for construction of this project.
Staff are requesting $858,378.00 in grant funds from the MPCA and proposing to use $95,376.00 from the Stormwater Fund to satisfy the 10% match requirement of the grant.
Alternative Options:
If Council chooses not to pursue this grant, staff will use the Stormwater Fund to fund the entirety of the project.
Financial Impacts:
Grant Funds $858,378.00
Cash Match $95,376.00 (Stormwater Fund)
Tentative Timelines:
Applications Due Thursday February 27, 2025
Project Selection June 2025
Project Start June 2026
Project Completion September 2026 (Grant Funds must be used by June 30, 2027)