A flood of federal money would be helpful in dealing with North Lawrence flooding.

City commissioners at their Tuesday meeting will be asked to designate a proposed North Lawrence stormwater pumping station as the top project in the city worthy of federal funds. Commissioners will consider submitting four projects to the city’s Congressional delegation in hopes of receiving “earmark” funds as part of the 2011 federal budget.

“I’m certain these types of requests will have a lot scrutiny attached to them, so we’re trying to be careful about which ones we’re suggesting,” said Diane Stoddard, an assistant city manager. “We want to really be able to justify that they will have significant impact on the community.”

The North Lawrence pump station — slated for Fifth and Maple streets — rose to the top of the city’s list, Stoddard said. The project is designed to alleviate flooding by increasing the amount of stormwater the city can pump from North Lawrence into the Kansas River.

The city has included the project as one that it plans to fund in the future with the new 0.3 percent infrastructure sales tax approved by voters in 2008. But Stoddard said if sales tax money is the only funding source for the project, construction likely won’t begin until 2013 or 2014.

“We’re looking for any help we can get,” Stoddard said.

The project is expected to cost about $5.5 million. The city is seeking $2 million in federal funding.

The other three projects, in priority order, are:

• An extension of 31st Street from Haskell to O’Connell: Seeking $2 million of the estimated $7.5 million project.

• Stormwater improvements to the intersection of 23rd and Ousdahl: Seeking $1 million of the estimated $2 million project.

• Intelligent transportation systems for the city and university’s public transit buses. The equipment would allow people to track the movements of buses via wireless phones and other devices, giving people the ability to see more precisely when a bus will arrive at a destination. Seeking $1.8 million of the $2.16 million project.

Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts.