Appleton City utilities committee backs $3.9 million preliminary engineering contract for Northland/Bel Air stormwater work

The Appleton City Utilities Committee on March 24 recommended that the city proceed with a sole‑source preliminary engineering contract with Brown and Caldwell for the Northland/Bel Air stormwater project, voting 3-0 to forward the recommendation to the common council.

Deputy Director Neuberger told the committee the work responds to recommendations from a 2024 drainage study and centers on three primary components: expansion of the Veterans Memorial Park south pond; storm‑sewer and inlet‑capacity improvements along Northland Avenue east of Mead Street; and local street storm improvements south of Northland Avenue. "So there's a fair amount to unpack in the memo here," Neuberger said as he reviewed the proposed scope and schedule.

Under the proposed consultant scope, Brown and Caldwell would provide project management and coordination with Department of Public Works staff and stakeholders, conduct a complete topographic and utility survey for the pond expansion and the Northland corridor, perform wetland delineation and groundwater analysis, and carry out geotechnical investigations including soil borings for pond and storm‑sewer work. The consultant would also refine hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and update water‑quality modeling in support of the city's DNR MS4 permit.

Neuberger told the committee the total estimated cost of implementing the study’s initial recommendations was previously identified as $22,000,000. The contract before the committee covered preliminary engineering services at a not‑to‑exceed amount of $3,900,000. He outlined schedule milestones: an anticipated notice to proceed around April 6; geotechnical and wetland investigations between April and June; and completion of 30% storm sewer and pond design work by December 31. Final storm‑sewer design work is anticipated to be completed by DPW staff in 2027, with a Phase 1 construction package expected to be bid in 2027.

Alder Lambert asked whether the consultant would be expected to carry portions of the storm‑sewer design beyond the 30% stage. Neuberger said the level of structural analysis required for the large Northland Avenue storm sewer will determine whether the consultant takes that portion farther into design; by contrast, local‑street storm improvements will likely be handed off to city staff at the 30% milestone while the pond expansion would be carried by the consultant through final design.

Neuberger also flagged potential schedule risks: permitting with the Department of Natural Resources, negotiations with stakeholders and other project complexities could alter the timeline. "We wanted to demonstrate that this would be pursued aggressively without over promising on a delivery date," he said, describing the schedule as the team's best estimate of the highest‑probability outcome.

After discussion, the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote, 3‑0, and the chair said the recommendation will be forwarded to the common council for final action.

The contract under consideration covers preliminary engineering only; funding for final design and construction was noted as subject to future council approvals and capital budget requests in 2027. The committee did not take any additional action at the meeting beyond the vote to forward the recommendation.