City Council Meeting Date: July 7, 2026
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 Motion Authorizing Submittal of Application for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant for Downtown Flood Improvements.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves a motion authorizing the submittal of application for the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grants for the Downtown Flood Improvements Project.
Summary Report:
On July 11, 2023 the City Council accepted the Downtown Flood Study report (Attachment 1) and authorized staff to pursue grant funding. Additionally, the City Council at the last budget worksession offered feedback supporting exploration of grants to fund the downtown flood improvements. There are currently two grant programs, the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant, that staff have prepared an application for both submittals (Attachment 2).
The proposed grants provide for a 75% Federal and 25% Local Match.
The proposed project locations and costs:
Area 1 - Floodwall Extension West side North of 4th Street Bridge (301 Water St., 207 Water St.,
205 Water St.)
Project Cost - $4.4 Million
Grant Share - $3.3 Million
City Share Local Cost - $1.1 Million
Carleton College - Stadium floodwall, and West Gym Closure
Project Cost - $3.6 Million
Grant Share - $2.7 Million
Carleton College Share - $900,000
Staff have spoken to Carleton College, and they are supportive of being included in the application for the work on Carleton College property and would cover the cost share.
Alternative Options:
Not submitted, however, staff believe in leveraging available fundin...
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