Curious about the city finances? City Finance Director Sirke Salminen will be hosting a series of finance workshops before city council meetings. The next one is Aug. 5th, at 5:30pm at the City Annex (5694 Second Avenue). These meetings will be open to the public and intended to help everyone better understand how your city manages public funds.
This workshop will focus on the separate funds that make up the city budget.
It’s time for the 6th annual Father/Daughter dance at Pioneer Park, from 6-9pm on Weds. July 31st. Take this as an opportunity to bond with your loved ones, enjoy some free ice cream and dance the night away. Hosted in Pioneer Park, with ice cream donated by Grocery Outlet. All families welcome for this free event.
During a recent inspection of the Nooksack River levee that protects our town, Public Works staff identified locations that had been eroded by the river. In partnership with the federal and state permitting agencies and with traffic control support from Ferndale Public Works, the United States Army Corps of Engineers repaired and strengthened the eroded section of the levee structure.
The work, conducted in late June and early July, added almost 1,000 cubic yards of rock, stone and topsoil to the levee, restoring the barrier’s ability to repel the highest flood waters. This section of the levee protects the water and wastewater treatment facility that provides Ferndale’s drinking water, as well as the historic Pioneer Park, our downtown core and the Whatcom County Public Utilities District.
“The levee performs the vital function of protecting our community and it is our responsibility to maintain the levee structure,” said Public Works Supervisor Bo Westford.
Hal Anchorman is back to share the winners of the Great Ferndale Alien Abduction. A big thank you to everyone who participated and all of our community partners (Ferndale Community Coalition, Ferndale Food Bank, Whatcom County Library System and the Ferndale Police Department). If did not turn in your scorecard by the deadline, don’t worry, you can still stop by City Hall through the end of the month, turn it in and pick up a prize.
Here is the sixth and FINAL clue for the Great Ferndale Alien Abduction. Please turn in your scorecards at City Hall by Tuesday July 23rd to receive prizes! More details at www.cityofferndale.org/aliens
To access Agenda materials, click here
| City Council Agenda Follow-Up July 15, 2019 | |
| 5:00 p.m. STUDY SESSION: 2020 Budget Councilmembers presented their requests for the 2020 budget. | DISCUSSION ONLY |
| APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Bersch moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. | APPROVED |
| PUBLIC COMMENT | INFO ONLY |
| CONSENT AGENDA Councilmember Taylor moved, and Councilmember Hansen seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. | APPROVED |
| PROCLAMATION: 2019 Paddle to Lummi Tribal Canoe Journey Mayor Mutchler read the proclamation honoring and acknowledging the 2019 Paddle to Lummi Canoe Journey. | INFO ONLY |
| CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE Public Works Project Manager Katy Radder presented updates on the following capital projects: First Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project – reconfigures the existing pedestrian crossings at First Avenue and Main StreetFerndale Terrace – design currently underwayScout Place to Nordic Way Water Line – Permit has been submitted to Burlington Northern, and work is expected to begin soonPump Station #19 De-Commissioning – a new gravity main will connect the water systems between Thornton Road and Malloy VillageThornton Overcrossing – right of way acquisition is nearly completeUtilities Relocation – utilities need to be relocated to accommodate the Thornton Overcrossing Project | INFO ONLY |
| PUBLIC HEARING: Floodway Repeal Ordinance In January 2019, the City Council approved an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan removing the Floodway Comprehensive Plan Designation and the Floodway Zone. The City Council determined that is no longer appropriate to maintain a floodway land use designation or zone that is inconsistent with the floodway established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This zoning text amendment removes Chapter 18.20 (Floodway Zone) from the Ferndale Municipal Code. Councilmember Olson moved, and Councilmember Jensen seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. | APPROVED |
| DISCUSSION: First & Main Street Intersection Improvement project/Bid Award This project will reconfigure the existing pedestrian crossings at the intersection of First Avenue and Main Street. Work will include removal and replacement of cement concrete sidewalk, curb and ADA ramps; removal of existing signal arms, cabinets and related facilities; concrete flatwork; HMA paving; permanent signage installation and pavement striping. Councilmember Jensen moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 5-2, Councilmembers Hansen and Bersch opposed. | APPROVED |
| DISCUSSION: Affordable Housing Survey Housing affordability continues to be a significant issue for Whatcom County communities and for the City of Ferndale. Demand has dramatically exceeded supply at nearly every price point, and a significant housing crisis exists in the Pacific Northwest. The lack of housing units for the workforce has further contributed to a slow-down in the growth of local businesses that depend on skilled labor and has curtailed the expansion of businesses from outside the area, for the same reason. A survey regarding affordable housing was conducted with input from local realtors, developers, and contractors. Suggestions included: Allow duplexes, triplexes, etc. in multiple zones Reduce permit fees where feasible and provide incentive programs for “affordable” housingStreamline the permit review process and provide better information regarding permit requirementsDevelopment Regulations – reduce frontage requirements and allow streets to be narrowerZoning Regulations – allow more flexibility in building placement on the lotDensity Bonuses – provide incentives for increased units. Incentives must provide a public benefitState Regulations – better coordination between state agencies and city. Wetland fill and mitigation permits add time/confusion to the processCritical Areas – allow applicants to mitigate for small wetland areas | INFO ONLY |
| MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS Information only. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS Information only. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Information only. | INFO ONLY |
| ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m. |
Here is Clue #5 – the LAST clue will be posted this Friday and then all scorecards are due at City Hall by the end of Tuesday, July 23rd. More details are here.
Here’s clue #4 for the Great Ferndale Alien Abduction – more clues, rules and details can be found here.
Here is a notice from our partners at Puget Sound Energy about an upcoming project starting July 15th that will impact Ferndale residents.
In conjunction with the City of Ferndale’s Thornton Street overpass project and in an ongoing effort to deliver safe and reliable energy to the Ferndale-area, Puget Sound Energy electric crews will be working along Thornton Street to relocate select utility poles, upgrade related electric equipment and underground a section of the existing overhead electric wire. Due to the complexity of the work and for the safety of our crew, we may need to take a planned power outage towards the end of the project which might impact your residence or business. Please see below for project details.
Project details
Who: Electric crews from PSE and Potelco and underground trenching crews from Power X
What: Replacing select utility poles, upgrading related electric equipment and undergrounding electric wire
Where: Thornton Street between Snowden Drive and Interstate 5, Ferndale
(please refer to map above for approximate project route)
When: Work is expected to begin the week of July 15 and is anticipated to last into late August
What you can expect
For more information regarding the Thornton Street overpass project, please visit the City’s website: https://www.cityofferndale.org/public-works-department/capital-projects/thornton-railroad-overcrossing-project/.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to complete this project. We aim to cause as little disruption as possible. If you have any questions regarding PSE’s portion of this project, please contact me and reference job number 101110819.
Sincerely,
Jane Major, PSE Project Manager
360-791-2748 | jane.major@pse.com