City Council Meeting Date: December 7, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Cole Johnson, 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, Wastewater, and Community Resilience.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the application submittal for the MPCA Planning Grant for Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience.
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 reduce localized flooding risk.
In 2020, Council approved the Surface Water Model Update which identified several properties that are at risk during the 100-Yr precipitation event. These properties were brought to City Council at the November 9, 2021 work session to discuss mitigation strategies for the at risk properties. City Staff is recommending that City Council approve the grant application so the City can request funding to start the plan design process for the Lincoln Waterway Box Culvert Improvement.
This grant gives priority to projects within the MPCA’s Environmental Justice Areas. The Lincoln Waterway spans the entire Environmental Justice Area from west to east and has the potential to serve many families who reside in this area. The property that will benefit most from this potential improvement is the North and South Oaks apartment complex which provides housing for income restricted residents.
A recap of the proposed improvement at this area is to remove the bottleneck situation created by an undersized 2’x3’ box culvert and replace it with a new 6’x8’ box culvert. This project, once implemented, will reduce 100-Yr peak flood elevation by nearly 11 feet and provide the apartment complex with over 8 feet of freeboard.
If awarded, the grant funds will be used to design and assemble plans and specifications for the project.
Staff is requesting $90,000 in grant funds from the MPCA and proposing to use $10,000.00 from the Stormwater Fund to satisfy 10% match requirement of the grant.
This is the first RFP for this newly created grant and contains $870,000.00 for eligible projects.
Alternative Options:
If Council chooses not to pursue this grant, staff would need to find another source of funds to begin the plan design phase of the project.
Financial Impacts:
Grant Funds $90,000.00
Cash Match $10,000.00 (Stormwater Fund)
Tentative Timelines:
Applications Due December 21, 2021
Project Selection February 19, 2022 (Notification by MPCA to occur within 60 days of application due date)
Project Start April, 2022
Project Completion December, 2022 (Grant Funds must be used by June 30, 2023)