Adopt Resolution #24-357 Approving Natural Resource Improvement Grant Agreement with Anoka Conservation District for Improvement Project #25-01, Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #24-357 approving a Natural Resource Improvement Grant Agreement with Anoka Conservation District for Improvement Project #25-01, Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements.  

Background:
In June of 2016, the Anoka Conservation District completed a Stormwater Retrofit Analysis for the City of Ramsey and the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) to identify and rank potential improvement projects that drain to the Mississippi and Rum Rivers. The Stormwater Retrofit Analysis recommended modifying a wetland within Rivers Bend Park to increase the volume of stormwater runoff storage provided by this wetland that currently treats runoff from a 38-acre catchment area for the purpose of reducing sediment and phosphorus loads that can end up in the receiving water, which is an oxbow of the Rum River. See Project ID: RR8-A on page 89 of the attached modified version of the Stormwater Retrofit Analysis for reference. 

In the Fall of 2023, the Lightbridge Academy submitted a commercial development application so staff began working with the developer to address their stormwater management requirements.  This development is located within the City’s East Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) where infiltration of stormwater is prohibited so staff reached out to the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) to confirm the developer could purchase credits to utilize a portion of The COR regional infiltration basin to comply with the LRRWMO’s volume retention requirements.  When The COR regional infiltration basin was constructed, it was believed that basin could be used to accommodate development within the East and West DWSMA’s. However, the LRRWMO’s engineer, BARR Engineering, informed staff that since the two DWSMA’s drain to different water bodies (the East DWSMA drains to the Rum River and the West DWSMA drains to the Mississippi River) Lightbridge Academy could not pay a fee to use The COR infiltration basin. 

Discussions turned to how Lightbridge can comply with LRRWMO requirements for stormwater runoff rate control and water quality improvements. The developer’s engineer stated they cannot provide these improvements on their site so they asked if the City could accommodate these requirements off site.  After discussions with the LRRWMO’s engineer it was determined that the City needed to construct stormwater management facility improvements on the west edge of Rivers Bend Park, West of the existing wetland that currently treats all stormwater runoff from the 38-acre catchment as addressed in the ACD’s Stormwater Retrofit Analysis, and that the existing wetland should not be impacted.   This existing wetland is undersized and does not meet the rate control and water quality treatment requirements per current LRRWMO stormwater standards for the 38-acre catchment that includes several undeveloped parcels including the Lightbridge Academy parcel.

Since this 38-acre catchment is located within the City of Ramsey’s East Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA), where infiltration of stormwater is prohibited, the pond must be lined. The LRRWMO Management Plan describes/defines sites, such as those located within a DWSMA, as infeasible or inappropriate for infiltration and identifies other scenarios for the permittee to investigate.  Volume retention requirements can either be provided on-site as part of the Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements by utilizing filtration practices as allowed by LRRWMO stormwater standards, or off-site in a regional infiltration basin located outside the East DWSMA. 

City staff discussed various aspects of this project with LRRWMO and MPCA staff, including potential wetland impacts, options for meeting volume retention requirements, and how the timing of this project could be coordinated with the Lightbridge Academy development construction to ensure adequate stormwater runoff treatment can be provided during construction of both projects. 

Staff coordinated the construction schedule of the City’s stormwater pond improvements project with the Lightbridge Academy development construction schedule to address concerns raised by the LRRWMO. Lightbridge Academy’s engineer prepared and submitted a phased construction plan with their LRRWMO permit application, which was approved. Lightbridge Academy will construct their building first, along with two temporary stormwater retention ponds to manage stormwater runoff, thereby minimizing disturbance to the site while the Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements project is under construction. Lightbridge Academy will then complete their site improvements, including impervious surface improvements, during the final construction phases of the Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements late this Fall or next Spring.  As of the time this report was prepared, Lightbridge Academy had not yet started construction.    

Bolton & Menk performed a wetland delineation to identify the existing wetland boundary and type for the wetland in River’s Bend Park that currently receives stormwater runoff from the 38-acre catchment.  The LRRWMO reviewed the wetland delineation report and issued permit #24-21 on August 15, 2024, approving the revised wetland boundary and type. 

On August 12, 2024, the plans and specifications prepared by Bolton & Menk, Inc. were approved and advertisements for bids were authorized.  Bids were advertised in QuestCDN, the electronic bidding platform utilized by the City of Ramsey for all improvement projects, and in the Anoka Union Herald on Friday, August 16th, and again on Friday, August 23rd, 2024.  Five (5) bids were received, opened and tabulated on September 6, 2024.  Douglas-Kerr Underground, LLC of Mora, Minnesota, submitted the lowest responsible total bid in the amount of $899,653.31 for construction of said improvements in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and advertisement for bids, and was awarded the construction contract on September 24, 2024. 

On September 19, 2024, the LRRWMO reviewed and approved the erosion control / stormwater permit for this project (LRRWMO Permit #24-26).

Construction is now substantially complete but before the Anoka Conservation District will release grant funds the City must enter into the attached Natural Resource Improvement Grant Agreement that commits the city to specific operational and maintenance activities to ensure the long-term success of the stormwater improvements. Upon execution of the agreement a copy of the final construction plans (attached) will be attached to the agreement under Exhibit C - Porject Design.

Staff reviewed this agreement and have no concerns with the terms and conditions included therein.

The City Attorney reviewed the agreement and approved it as to legal form. 

Alternative #1 - Motion to adopt Resolution #24-357 approving a Natural Resource Improvement Grant Agreement with Anoka Conservation District for Improvement Project #25-01, Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements. 

Funding for this project is proposed to come from a combination of watershed grant funds administered by the Anoka Conservation District, and City Storm Water Management Funds, in the following amounts. 
 

Funding Source	Project Costs
Watershed Grant Funds	$325,550.00
Storm Water Management Funds	$709,051.31
Total Estimated Project Costs	$1,034,601.31

Staff recommends approving alternative #1.  

Motion to adopt Resolution #24-357 approving a Natural Resource Improvement Grant Agreement with Anoka Conservation District for Improvement Project #25-01, Rivers Bend Regional Stormwater Improvements.