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<br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Date: 6/8/2026 <br />Item No.: 7.a. <br />Department ApprovalCity Manager Approval <br />Item Description:Approve Willow Pond Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) <br />Project <br />1 <br />2 Background <br />3 Citywide, there are 200+ public storm ponds that were installed since the 1950’s to meet <br />4 water quality goals, reduce stormwater rate, and help manage localized flooding issues. <br />5 Over time, the ponds fill with sediment and the design functionality diminishes. Staff is <br />6 currently prioritizing ponds to have preliminary engineering completed to quantify the <br />7 material that needs to be removed, determine potential water quality improvements, and <br />8 estimate costs based on removals. <br />9 <br />10 Staff is working towards acquiring pertinent permits to dredge the accumulated sediment <br />11 from Willow Pond. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires an Environmental <br />12 Assessment Worksheet (EAW) as part of their permit application. With Roseville being the <br />13 responsible government unit (RGU) for the EAW review, staff sent out a request for quotes <br />14 (RFQ) for consulting services to prepare the EAW on the City’s behalf. By having a <br />15 consultant prepare the EAW, Roseville would remove any bias from the review process. <br />16 <br />17 Kimley-Horn prepared the EAW documents in conjunction with City staff that were used for <br />18 the 30-day public comment period as required by the EAW process. The process consisted <br />19 of providing public notice through the Pioneer Press and having the document available on <br />20 the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) portal for review. Roseville also sent a mailing to <br />21 the residents adjacent to Willow Pond (Cty Rd B2 north to Oakcrest Avenue, Hamline <br />22 Avenue east to Lexington Avenue). During the comment period, only one comment was <br />23 received that was submitted by the MN Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) where <br />24 the EAW didn’t note that Bennett Lake is listed as an Impaired/Special Waters within one <br />25 mile of the proposed Willow Pond Project. The EAW will be updated based on this <br />26 comment. <br />27 <br />28 If the EAW is approved by Council, City staff will complete the MN DNR permit to dredge <br />29 Willow Pond. Once a permit is approved by the MN DNR, staff will start the process to get <br />30 bids for the work that will happen during the winter of 2026-27, or during the summer of <br />31 2027, depending on the preference of the contractor. <br />32 <br />33 Staff has deferred major pond maintenance for the past two years in preparation for the <br />34 Willow Pond Project, which is estimated to be over $1 million to complete. Through the CIP, <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Qbhf!4!pg!669 <br /> <br />