City Council Meeting Date: July 22, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: James McDermot, Water Quality Technician
Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
David E. Bennett, PE - Public Works Director/City Engineer
Subject:
TITLE
Consider Resolution Approving Plans and Specifications and Order Advertisement for Bids for the Neighborhood Flooding Improvement Project (STRM2023-K40).
BODY
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the attached Resolution (Attachment 1) Approving Plans and Specifications and Order Advertisement for Bids for the Neighborhood Flooding Improvement Project (STRM2023-K40).
Summary Report:
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 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 $897,066.00 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.
Alternative Options:
The City Council could delay this project; however, the risk of potential flood impacts and structure damage would continue to persist, and it would risk the loss of the awarded grant.
Financial Impacts:
This project will be funded through the MPCA Grant and Stormwater Enterprise Fund.
Below are the estimated project costs, and funding tables developed from the final plans.
Tentative Timelines:
See the attached project process (Attachment 3) which details the timeline for the Neighborhood Flooding Improvement Project.