Discussion:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced funding for projects that provide an opportunity for communities to assess vulnerabilities and begin planning for the effects of Minnesota’s changing climate in three areas: how to increase resilience to stormwater and reduce localized flood risk, how to improve the resilience of wastewater systems, and how to reduce human health effects and adapt community services, ordinances and public spaces to the changing climate.
The city will be applying for funding to conduct a feasibility study for the riverbank stabilization project which is allowed under this grant. The study will focus on the technical side of the riverbank stabilization to include measures needed to protect the sanitary sewer and get the manholes up above the floodplain. The study will also integrate park features into the riverbank but only will include those features directly related to the riverbank stabilization in this first phase. Staff is currently working with a consultant to develop a scope and cost that will be used as a basis for the feasibility study (estimated at approximately $50,000).