Sweetwater stabilization delayed; city pursues Dept. of Ecology grant for South Town Center stormwater work

Public works staff told the Mill Creek City Council on July 29 that the Sweetwater Ranch backyard stabilization project has been delayed until the next construction season because the city is waiting on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approvals. Staff said they will present a time-only amendment to the OTAC design contract at a future meeting; the amendment does not increase the project budget and only extends the contract timeline.

Public works staff also said the city is pursuing a Washington Department of Ecology pilot grant (a community-based public'private partnership grant) to advance stormwater retrofit design in the South Town Center subarea. Staff said the grant would fund additional design and planning work (estimated roughly $300,000 to $600,000) for projects that aim to improve stormwater flows and water quality; the grant will also support developing repayment structures so future developers who benefit from system improvements can participate in repayment.

Staff described the Ecology grant as a step toward preparing shovel-ready projects to attract larger construction funding. Council asked for periodic updates and staff said the grant pursuit is under way with consultants assisting the application work.

Separately, public works said a design-contract amendment for Sweetwater Ranch will be presented for consent at an upcoming meeting to extend the designer's contract through the end of next year so design and construction support can continue after the regulatory timeline shifts.