Council reviews revised Spring Creek levy plan after staff trims $310,000 from design

City staff presented revised designs and cost reductions for the Spring Creek levy project at the Carver City Council work session on June 15, 2026, reporting a current estimate of roughly $15,440,000 and an identified funding gap of about $2.7 million.

Staff said they found approximately $310,000 of savings in the Spring Creek segment by pulling back flood-wall extents, eliminating certain flat-work items behind City Hall, removing pedestrian-level lighting and cutting temporary sheeting and ornamental rail pieces. "We were able to trim out of the Spring Creek segment about $310,000," Todd Hummer (staff member) told the council, describing specific line-item reductions.

Why it matters: the levy project is intended to reduce flood risk along Spring Creek, protect buildings adjacent to the levee and ultimately allow the city to pursue a federal Letter of Map Revision that could remove some insurance requirements for properties behind the levy. Staff said the plan balances flood protection, maintainability and visual design while trying to reduce cost pressures.

Staff walked the council through specific design changes that reduce cost while preserving function. Jonathan (staff member) said the team removed colored concrete and scaled back hardscape behind City Hall, relying on existing street and bridge lighting rather than an extensive pedestrian-lighting network. Staff also redesigned an interior sheet-pile wall to a more naturalized stream treatment and adopted a tub-wall construction for work adjacent to soils of poor quality; that tub-wall approach, staff said, avoids driving piles and reduces seepage risks.

The city reported the highest-level numbers plainly: a project estimate of about $15,440,000 and roughly $2.7 million in additional funding to identify. Possible sources listed by staff included DNR, state or federal allocations and city stormwater funds. "Those can be either DNR funds, other allocations from state or federal sources, [or] city storm water funds," staff said when summarizing funding options.

Schedule and procurement: staff asked council to plan for a formal authorization to bid on Aug. 17 and to consider awarding the contract on Sept. 21; construction was described as beginning in October (year not specified in the transcript). Staff reported that easement signatures have been received on all parcels and that condemnation proceedings are not expected, though condemnation remains a risk if any easement cannot be closed. Staff also noted they have a FEMA CLOMAR response and plan to pursue a 2029 Letter of Map Revision after construction to remove residual insurance requirements.

Risk and contracting details: staff explained most bid items will be fixed through the contract but allowed limited escalation for fuel-price spikes or significant quantity changes. Contractors the city has met with indicated that doing the Spring Creek work over winter would reduce rainfall risks and is feasible; staff said the tub-wall method and lessons from the Third Street Bridge project will be incorporated into specifications.

Next steps: Council asked for public engagement materials — newsletter items, a display at City Hall and possibly an open house — if council remains comfortable with the design. Staff said they will prepare engagement materials and return with final documents needed for the Aug. 17 authorization to bid. The council closed the item with thanks to project staff and general support for advancing to the next steps.

The council moved on to other agenda items; there was no formal vote on approving the design package recorded in the transcript.