Council approves $21.4 million lead pipe replacement program
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved two resolutions on May 15 to accept $21.37 million in grants for replacing lead service lines across the city. The program aims to remove toxic lead pipes from homes and childcare facilities before a 2037 state deadline.
The council voted to accept three project orders from state and federal funding sources and appropriate the grant money for the Lead Service Line Replacement Program. Christopher Larson, a professional engineer with Public Works, presented the initiative, which prioritizes neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of lead pipes, young children, and childcare facilities.
The program targets the city's "green zones" — areas identified as having the greatest need. The Northside green zone is expected to complete about 1,255 service replacements by the end of 2026, with work then shifting to the Southside green zone. The city is also coordinating replacements with other street reconstruction projects in neighborhoods like Fulton, Morris North, and around George Floyd Square to minimize disruption.
However, council members raised concerns about long-term funding. Both current funding sources expire in 2027, and there is no dedicated money yet for the Southside green zone or the rest of the city. Councilmember Palmisano asked how the city would meet the 2037 state mandate without additional funding. Larson noted that state legislators are discussing increased funding for future years, but nothing is certain.
Councilmember Warren questioned why the lead line replacement wasn't coordinated with sewer line replacement projects, noting that other cities like St. Paul have combined the work to reduce street excavations. Councilmember Choudry asked whether the 71 projects planned would cover all childcare centers needing updates.
In other business, the council approved a public hearing for the Loring Park Resurfacing Project, which will cost $648,801.44 in special assessments. The hearing was postponed to June 4 to allow more public testimony. The council also unanimously approved the city's 2025 Stormwater Annual Report, which details how Minneapolis manages stormwater runoff to protect water quality under federal Clean Water Act requirements.
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Votes (3)
Public Hearing: Loring Park Resurfacing Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Soren Stevenson [00:13:30] · Seconded by Implicit, not stated
Hazel Wolf presented the project, recommending the adoption of special assessments and the authorization of assessment bonds totaling $648,801.44. The project involves a mill and 2-inch asphalt overlay, building on pedestrian ramp upgrades from 2025. Public Works conducted a virtual informational meeting, and property owners received mailings. The discussion concluded with a motion to continue the public hearing to a future meeting.
Passage of two resolutions for the acceptance of Lead Service Line Replacement Project Orders and related to the appropriation of staff
Dissent: None
Moved by Soren Stevenson [00:33:55] · Seconded by Implicit, not stated
Christopher Larson from Public Works presented an overview of the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, detailing why lines are replaced, funding sources (IIJA, state funding expiring 2027), and prioritization metrics for project areas (children under five, childcare facilities, green zones, social vulnerability index, coordination with other infrastructure projects). He explained different types of replacements (main to curb vs. full replacement) and the city's corrosion control program. The request was to accept three project orders from MDH and PFA totaling $21.37 million and appropriate grant funds. Discussion included concerns about future funding, the timeline for meeting the 2037 replacement mandate, and the process for resident opt-in and follow-up.
Resolution related to the city and park board storm report stormwater management program and annual report for 2025 activities
Dissent: None
Moved by Soren Stevenson [00:40:20] · Seconded by Implicit, not stated
Shahram Missaghi from Public Works presented on the Stormwater Management Program, explaining stormwater runoff, its impact on water quality, and the regulatory framework of the MPCA permit (derived from the Clean Water Act of 1972). He detailed the 'minimum control measures' like public education and post-construction management that form chapters of the annual report. The committee was asked to approve the submission of the 2025 Stormwater Annual Report. Discussion included a question on the frequency of storm drain cleaning in North Minneapolis.
Notable Quotes (10)
I'm here to present to you the public hearing for the Loring Park Resurfacing Project and recommend passage of resolution adopting special assessments in the amount of $648,801.44 for the Loring Park Resurfacing Project and passage of resolution requesting the Board of Estimate and Taxation authorize the city's issuance and sale of assessment bonds in the amount of $648,801.44 for the project.
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, I will now move to continue uh this item to our June to our June 4th meeting uh as Councilmember Wansley had outlined. at a previous meeting. This is to accommodate for two dates that were noticed to the public to ensure that all who wish to testify are able to.
One thing to note is that both of these funding sources expire in 2027. There are current discussions at the state legislature legis legislature, excuse me, to increase funding for future years, um but we're waiting to see how that shakes out.
For that item, we're targeting the green zones. Um the Northside green zone we expect to be done by the end of this year with about 20 uh 1,200 1,255 uh services being done there this year. Um in the future we'll be moving on to the Southside green zone.
I am a little bit concerned about the lack of dedicated funding beyond next year. We don't have funding for the Southside green zone infrastructure projects or the rest of the city. How is it looking from your perspective on state or federal funding for this and what would be our options to comply with the mandate that I think is 2037 without additional funding?
I'm just wondering why this wasn't, um, coupled with the, um, sewer line replacement project because I know it was done that way in other cities like in St. Paul and what have you. So, they did the sewer line replacement grant coupled with the, uh, lead water line removal, um, you know, program as well. So, there was one excavation done to the street at one time and they were they did it. So, why wasn't this coupled being that there's such a high concentration of sewer lines that also need to be replaced in in North Side?
Will the 71 projects that we're setting out to do cover every single child care center that needs this important update or are we going to be looking out into the future for um additional work at child care centers?
Now, the team that I work in focuses on developing practices and mechanics to interrupt that cycle and to prevent the pollutants to get downstream and impact and minimize the impact on the water resources. And all of these practices that we do, they all fall within what we call our storm water management program.
Our motivation is clean water. However, our regulatory driver is actually what we call storm water permit. The storm water permit is issued to both the city of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, where we are the co-permittees and we're both responsible to comply with the standards and requirements of this permit. And the permit is issued by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, where they actually get their authority through the Clean Water Act of 1972.
So, how frequently are the storm water drains and things like that um cleaned out especially in our North Minneapolis area?
Ordinances & Resolutions (26)
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Acceptance approved as part of the consent agenda.
Acceptance approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Authorization approved as part of the consent agenda.
Appointment approved as part of the consent agenda.
Appointment approved as part of the consent agenda.
Proposed for passage during the public hearing, but the item was continued.
Proposed for passage during the public hearing, but the item was continued.
Original funding source for the Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Requires prioritization of lead service line replacement areas based on seven metrics
Metric considered for prioritizing lead service line replacement areas
Three grants totaling approximately $21.37 million requested for acceptance
Federal authority source for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's stormwater permits
Issued by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, outlining compliance requirements for stormwater management
Lays out how the city complies with its stormwater permit and protects clean water
Report documenting activities under minimum control measures, submitted to MPCA; approval for submission was requested and granted
Program under which the Loring Park Resurfacing Project was designated, aiming to extend street life and improve ride quality.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Stormwater Management Program and Annual Report
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