News

Request for Qualifications – Attorney Representation for Indigent Defendants (Public Defense)

The City of Ferndale provides publicly funded attorney representation to indigent defendants with a right to counsel at City expense.

The City of Ferndale seeks to fill one position at 100% of a full-time caseload, or approximately 260 cases per year, and one position at 50% of a full-time caseload, or approximately 130 cases per year, pro-rated based on the contract’s start date.  Alternative divisions of caseload and/or number of positions may be considered in order to achieve 1.5 total positions. The City anticipates that one or both contracts will be extended for multiple years, and that the half-time position may increase over time with overall City case volume.

Annual compensation for a full-time caseload ranges from $120,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on experience.  Half-time contracts are pro-rated based on the percentage of the full-time caseload, beginning at $60,000.  Contractors are responsible for all overhead such as support staff, rent, and other costs of doing business.  If interested, follow the application procedures below.

Minimum Qualifications

A qualified applicant must:

  • Be a licensed member of good standing with the Washington State Bar
  • Meet Washington State Supreme Court Standards for Indigent Defense 14.3
  • Demonstrate a commitment to indigent defense
  • Possess experience or interest in how race, gender, national origin, disability, and class intersect to create disparities for individuals experiencing state intervention in their lives, and a willingness to challenge the City on issues of bias and prejudice.
  • Provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental advocacy throughout the case
  • Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress

Preferred Qualifications

The City will prefer applicants who:

  • Are physically located within Whatcom County

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with a primary goal of filling both positions by September 1, 2023. To apply, email a letter of interest identifying your qualifications, a resume, and a writing sample.

Letters of interest should describe the applicant’s current contracts for public defense or other representation as well as existing caseload, specifying the number and type of cases currently carried, including private practice commitments, if any.

Email Materials to:

Susan Duncan – City Clerk:  susanduncan@cityofferndale.org

Please address any questions to Susan Duncan at the above email address.

The City of Ferndale reserves the right to amend this Request for Qualifications and reserves the right to refrain from contracting with any and all applicants. This Request for Qualifications does not obligate the City of Ferndale to contract for the services specified here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 28, 2023

Special Meeting Notice: Council Retreat

Notice is hereby given that the Ferndale City Council will hold two special meetings for the purpose of a Council Retreat.  The first meeting will be on June 6, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The second meeting will be on June 7, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Ferndale Library Meeting Room, 2125 Main Street. These are open public meetings as outlined by the Open Public Meetings Act, and members of the public are invited to attend and observe.

June 2, 2023

Potential Quorum Notice – State Auditor Exit Conference

NOTICE OF A POTENTIAL QUORUM

In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30), notice is hereby given that a quorum of Ferndale City Councilmembers may be in attendance at the following event:

State Auditor’s Exit Conference
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 11:00 a.m.
Remote Meeting via Microsoft Teams

The purpose of this meeting is to allow state auditors to share their preliminary results of their accountability audit for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, and financial audit for fiscal year 2021. This is an open public meeting as outlined by the Open Public Meetings Act, and members of the public are invited to attend and observe. To attend this virtual meeting, dial 564-999-2000, conference ID 106 876 875, or use the following link: Click here to join the meeting

Susan Duncan, MMC
City Clerk
City of Ferndale
May 23, 2023

May 23, 2023

Public Hearing Notice – Six Year Transportation Plan

Notice is hereby given that the Ferndale City Council will hold a public hearing at 5:00 p.m. on June 20, 2023 to hear the following:

The proposed 2024 to 2029, Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, which prioritizes street construction and reconstruction projects within the City of Ferndale.

The meeting will be a hybrid-style meeting, with the option of attending in-person or remotely. The meeting will be held at the City Hall Annex, 5694 Second Avenue.

This is still an open public meeting as defined by the Open Public Meetings Act. The City will be using Microsoft Teams to livestream the council meeting. Members of the public do not need to download anything to view the proceedings. A link to the online meeting can be found on the City’s website www.cityofferndale.org

All persons interested in providing a public comment are encouraged to submit their written comment to Public Works Director Kevin Renz by emailing kevinrenz@cityofferndale.org. Comments received prior to 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 19th will be included in the meeting record. There will be limited capacity for in-person comments at the City Hall Annex located at 5694 Second Avenue.

May 19, 2023

RFP Submitted Questions & Responses

The following questions were submitted in response to the City’s Request for Proposals for a municipal financial software system. Answers are in bold and italicized.

  1. What is the total number of utility billing customers/utility connections, and how many are residential vs. commercial accounts:

Answer: We have roughly 6,000 total accounts, of that we estimate approximately 5,000 residential customers and 1,000 commercial customers.

  1. What is the preferred document format for responses, i.e. attached PDF, word doc, PPT?

Answer: PDF is preferred, but the City will accept any and all of the formats listed.

  1. There is mention of contracted IT services.  Should responders with IT service options include that in the proposal?

Answer: The City is not seeking full-service IT services through this request.  However, responders should describe the extent to which they are able to service their software as well as any additional IT support is typically associated with installing, maintaining, and updating the software packages, in addition to any physical hardware (servers, etc.) that may be required.  The ability of the responder to work closely with third party IT providers may also be included.

  1. Will there be a short list, or will the committee proceed straight to selection after proposal review?

Answer: The City reserves the right to establish a short list, or to proceed straight to selection after proposal review.  This decision will depend on the number and quality of responses. 

  1. How many monthly or quarterly bills do you provide?

Answer: We bill bi-monthly to each account, so approximately 6,000 bills every two months.

  1. Have you conducted any demonstrations of potential software solutions in advance of this RFP?

Answer:  No.

  1. What is the file size limitation for electronic submittal?

Answer: We are not aware of any file size limitations.

  1. What makes your current provider not a good fit for you?

Answer: The City’s current financial software is outdated and is no longer supported with updates. Due to its age (approximately ten years old), there are challenges in integrating the software with newer models: technology has advanced significantly in the last decade, and the existing software is no longer providing the same advantages in terms of workflow and staff time as it once did, and no longer reflects what is possible and expected of financial software systems for local government. In addition, the City believes that there are opportunities to seek updated financial software modules that will permit greater streamlining of operations, less manual entry, less reliance on paper documentation, and enhanced security features, both in regard to cybersecurity as well as internal fraud. The City also believes that there are opportunities to improve the segregation of duties and to establish and maintain software-based internal controls without relying on additional policies or procedures necessary to interact with the current modules.  

April 5, 2023