Commission authorizes application for $2.3M Water Trust Board design grant to create shovel-ready water project

City staff asked the commission to authorize submission of an application to the state Water Trust Board for roughly $2.3 million in design funds. Staff said this year's Water Trust funding stream includes design-only awards at 100% grant, meaning no local match would be required for the design phase.

"We're gonna be applying for approximately $2,300,000 for design only," the presenter said, adding that if awarded the design funding the city would design well improvements (including a potential new well at the north end of town) and plan roughly 31,000 linear feet of water main, creating a shovel-ready project estimated at about $25 million. Staff explained that design funds would allow the city to prepare for construction-phase funding applications through Colonial, Water Trust, HUD, USDA or other programs.

Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing staff to submit the Water Trust Board application and instructed staff to coordinate engineering deliverables and sequencing with the WISP 2 and other water projects.