City Council Meeting Date:
To: Mayor and Members of Council
City Administrator
From: Justin Wagner, Utilities Manager
David Bennett, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consideration of Approval of Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2 Update.
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council is requested to consider a Motion approving the Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2 Update.
Summary Report:
This agenda item immediately follows the public hearing related to the Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2. No separate presentation is planned for this action item as it will be included in the public hearing section. There also will be no separate public input on this item as the intent of the public hearing is to take the comments related to this proposed update.
Staff along with Bolton and Menk, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Rural Water Association developed an update to the Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2. Part 2 describes strategies to manage potential sources of contamination and protect the community’s drinking water resources over the next ten years. Public participation is an important part of the process, and all comments received will be considered before the Plan is submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2 outlines actions the City will take to protect the groundwater that supplies Northfield’s municipal drinking water wells. The Plan builds upon the Wellhead Protection Plan Part 1, which identified the Drinking Water Supply Management Area and evaluated the vulnerability of the groundwater capture area.
The current Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2, from 2013, is approved through January 2, 2027, and a new plan is required to be completed prior to January 2, 2027.
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2 Update
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
None
Tentative Timelines:
• November 10, 2026 Public Hearing on Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2
• November 10, 2026 City Council votes on Approving Wellhead Protection Plan Part 2
• Post Meeting Minnesota Department of Health Approves Wellhead Protection Plan Pat 2