Staff updates council on grants, Fernbrook coordination and bridge planning; requests public grants list

At the work session, Dayton City staff reviewed strategic-initiative progress and grant activity. Staff reported pursuing multiple federal and state grants for water towers, wellhead treatment and intersection improvements; they noted one LRIP application for Fernbrook was denied and that the county offered a local-share program that can supply up to $500,000 for eligible projects. Staff summarized that the city has received roughly $7 million in grant funding since 2021, across federal, state and county sources.

A council member requested a public-facing list summarizing grants the city has applied for, those pending, awarded and denied so residents can see staff efforts and outcomes. Staff agreed the list could be posted on the city’s communications channels and that existing application records would permit such a report without significant new workload.

On transportation, staff said they continue to coordinate with the county about Fernbrook intersection improvements and an associated county bridge/grade-change project intended to reduce repeated road closures. The city will seek to align local intersection work with the county schedule where possible; no funding decision or binding intergovernmental agreement was made during the session.

Staff also described contingency planning for a possible Tier 1 environmental study (EIS) tied to a larger bridge study: if funding were received, the city could participate in forming a cooperative group with neighboring jurisdictions to manage funds and decision-making. That coordination remains contingent on receiving state funding.