Utilities committee recommends engineering authorization for Northland–Bel Air flood improvements after staff outlines $22M plan

The Appleton Utilities Committee voted to recommend approval of preliminary engineering for the Northland–Bel Air drainage study and Study Update #4, sending the item to the Common Council for final action next Wednesday. The committee’s recommendation was recorded as 4–0.

Deputy Director Neuberger, presenting staff and consultant findings, said the study by Brown and Caldwell identified three primary improvement areas: enlarging the Veterans Memorial Park Pond South to increase storage and water‑quality benefits; building a Northland Avenue storm‑sewer conveyance backbone to move water into the expanded pond; and installing targeted local storm‑sewer and inlet upgrades east of Mead Street and south of Northland Avenue. “The maximum modeled identified flooding … from 1 and a half feet, all the way up to 5.3 feet,” Neuberger said in the presentation, describing the modeled 100‑year, 24‑hour storm depths in the study area.

Staff presented modeled benefits that showed significant reductions in peak depths in the most affected neighborhoods. “These proposed improvements are indicated by the model as reducing the 100‑year water depth in that area to 0.5 feet,” Neuberger said, citing a reduction from about 5.3 feet to roughly 0.5 feet in the purple area of greatest concern. He and staff emphasized that some additional reductions in other zones would require follow‑on projects and further study.

Preliminary construction cost estimates provided by staff put the Memorial Park pond expansion at about $10,000,000; the Northland Avenue storm‑sewer backbone at roughly $8,200,000; and local storm‑sewer improvements at about $3,800,000, for a combined estimated construction cost of $22,000,000. Neuberger said departments were assembling carryover requests and that DPW had identified roughly $2,500,000 in candidate 2025 stormwater capital carryovers; the 2026 stormwater capital budget includes $3,600,000. That leaves an estimated funding gap of approximately $15,900,000 to be addressed in 2027 and beyond.

Staff also told the committee they would coordinate with the finance department on a planned stormwater utility rate study to inform phasing and to attribute potential rate impacts to these projects. Alderperson Croat (District 14) pressed staff on timing and phasing and noted the projects’ return on investment, pointing to modeled drops in the 100‑year flood depth as a central justification for the expenditure. Neuberger said overlapping construction phases are possible but cautioned staff would not commit to simultaneous construction until an engineering scope is developed; he added that increasing conveyance before pond work is completed could push problems downstream.

On permitting and schedule, staff said the design process would advance in benchmarks (30%, 60%–90%, final) and would require outside permits from agencies including DNR and the county that has jurisdiction over Northland Avenue. Neuberger recommended negotiating a single‑source contract with Brown and Caldwell (the study consultant) to prepare the design contract; staff expect to return to the Utilities Committee with a design contract recommendation in about a month and to provide quarterly updates thereafter.

A resident, Rachel Peterson of 2701 North Viola Street, thanked staff and said neighbors would support the work and would advocate for a rate increase if necessary. The committee’s recommendation will go to Common Council next Wednesday; the Council meeting will include another opportunity for public comment before a final vote.

Next steps: the committee recommended authorization to proceed with preliminary engineering and directed staff to continue coordination on funding, permit needs and the planned rate study.