City Council Meeting Date: December 2, 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) Planning Grant for Stormwater - Downtown Floodwall Design.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the application submittal for the MPCA Planning Grant for Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience for the Downtown Floodwall Design.
Summary Report:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is providing a funding opportunity for communities to assess vulnerabilities and begin planning for the effects of Minnesota's changing climate. This grant focuses on Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience. City Staff, if Council approves the grant application, will apply for funding to increase resilience and mitigate flooding for properties located along the west bank of the Cannon River in downtown Northfield.
In 2020, the City received a grant for a downtown flood study; the first phase of the study looked at updating Cannon River modeling and identifying properties at-risk for future flooding. A second phase of the study was completed and provided in-depth modeling and preparation of a FEMA Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA).
The BCA is a way to identify flood improvement projects that would be eligible for grant funding. The Phase II study was completed in 2023 by Council Resolution 2023-064. The City is now in Phase 3, pursuing grant funding. City Staff is recommending that the City Council approve the grant application (Attachment 1) so the City can request funding to start the plan design process for the West Bank Floodwall project.
The properties that will benefit most from this potential improvement include 205, 207, and 301 Water Street S. A recap of the proposed improvement in this area is to extend the existing f...
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