City News

Traffic Impacts on Main Street Bridge Weds. April 3rd

Washington State Department of Transportation will be conducting their annual inspection of Pioneer Bridge (our main bridge over the Nooksack River) Weds. April 3rd, starting at 11:30am and should be completed by 4pm.

During this work, traffic will be reduced to alternating, single lane traffic over the bridge. Public Works crew will be directing vehicles through the area.

Drivers are urged to obey all traffic direction and utilize alternate routes if possible. For more information, please contact Ferndale Public Works at (360) 384-4006.

April 2, 2019

Calling All Artists! Thornton Project Needs a Logo

Calling All Artists! Thornton Project Needs a Logo

The City of Ferndale is preparing to break ground on the new Thornton Street Overpass Project late summer/early fall 2019. This will be the largest public project since we built a bridge across the Nooksack.

You can be part of this major event! The City needs a logo to represent the project – something bold and uniquely Ferndale. The artist who designs the logo for this project will be invited to wield a golden shovel at the groundbreaking.

If you have an artistic eye or just a few ideas for a potential logo, send in your sketch, digital graphic or back of the napkin doodle to Communication Officer Riley Sweeney at rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org. Submissions are due by April 30h, 2019.

April 1, 2019

City Opens Negotiations with Elsa, Mr. Freeze for a Milder Winter

Mayor Mutchler (left) with Ice Delegation

After several years of heavy snowfall, the City of Ferndale opened negotiations with Elsa and Mr. Freeze in an attempt to secure a milder winter for Ferndale.

“While we may have received a frosty reception in the past, I believe now icy a path forward,” said Mayor Jon Mutchler at the recent council meeting.

Though the glacial pace of negotiations may chill enthusiasm for this measure, the City believes tensions are thawing. When reached for comment, the delegation agreed that they had given Ferndale the “cold shoulder” but are ready to “let it go.”

Whether or not an agreement can be reached, the City will continue to prepare for inclement weather. Click the links below to learn more about what to do in a flood, snow or ice weather incident.

Flood Preparation

Snow and Ice Preparation

April 1, 2019

Plots Available at the Community Garden

Garden Plots Available at Ferndale Friendship Community Garden

The Ferndale Friendship Community Garden has garden plots available to rent for gardening season 2019.The garden is located behind Pioneer Park, near Star Park and the baseball fields. Yearly plot fees are sliding scale of $10 to $20, plus a $10 cleaning deposit, participation in two work days and helping maintain the garden. 

In your own garden plot you can:

·       Grow nutritious fresh food for your family

·       Learn about organic gardening

·       Reduce your food budget

·       Have fun and garden with your family

For information about obtaining a plot, contact Gloria J. Perez at 360- 223-3836 or rainglo@comcast.net.

March 14, 2019

Public Notice Solicitation Of Professional Services


The City of Ferndale (pursuant to RCW 39.80) is soliciting statements of qualifications and performance data from engineering and/or architectural firms for providing general engineering and survey services for municipal applications including but not limited to sanitary sewer systems, storm drainage, water distribution systems, streets, geotechnical investigations and studies, and traffic engineering for the remainder of the 2019 calendar year.  These qualifications and performance data will be placed on file and will be used as a source from which to select one or more qualified firms from whom a detailed proposal will be requested for any specific project. 

Those firms who wish to submit shall provide one (1), Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) with a cover letter for each discipline of work they wish to be considered.  The discipline of work needs to be stated in the cover letter.

Include SOQ point-of-contact information with e-mail address on each cover letter.  The format of the SOQ is left to the discretion of the submitter.  Submittals should not exceed (10) ten pages. 

Those firms that have statements currently on file will need to resubmit to be included in the remainder of the 2019 calendar year. All SOQ’s will be placed on file and will be used to select qualified consultants for each particular project, as the need arises.  Due to the ongoing nature of the projects throughout the year consultants not selected will not be notified.  Failure to follow the format outlined above may result in disqualification and/or removal from the Consultant Roster.

Please submit Statements of Qualifications to the City of Ferndale Public Works Department, by mail; attention: Public Works Department, P.O. Box 936, Ferndale, WA 98248 or emailed to public-works@cityofferndale.org.  The City of Ferndale encourages minority and women owned consultant firms to respond.

For questions, please contact the Public Works Department at public-works@cityofferndale.org or (360) 384-4006.

Following are the Disciplines of Work that the City will be accepting SOQs:

  • Architecture                                       
  • Civil Engineering Design
  • Construction Management & Inspection
  • Cultural Resource Services
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Services
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Hydrogeology
  • Hydrology
  • Land Surveying and Survey Review
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Materials Testing & Inspection
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Property Acquisition & Relocations
  • Property Appraisal
  • Property Review
  • ROW Services
  • Structural Engineering
  • Traffic & Transportation Engineering
  • Traffic Signalization
  • Transportation Planning
  • Utility Engineering
  • Water/Wastewater Engineering
  • Wetlands Delineation & Analysis
March 13, 2019

Threat Received at FHS, Deemed Not Credible

Ferndale High School and Ferndale Police Department, “Threat Not Credible”

At approximately 8:10 AM on Wednesday, March 13th, a Ferndale High School student found and reported a note that contained a threat directed at the Ferndale High School Campus.

Ferndale High School Administrators began working with the Ferndale Police Department immediately and it is the opinion of law enforcement and school administration that the note does not pose a credible threat.

Any further investigation will focus on the origin of the note. Ferndale High School Administrators will continue working with the Ferndale Police Department to determine who may have authored the note.

The Ferndale School District would like to thank the student who reported the note and the team at the Ferndale Police Department for their assistance.

March 13, 2019

Ferndale Celebrates Government Transparency with Sunshine Week

March 11th-16th is Sunshine Week, where journalists celebrate the public’s access to government information. Here at the City of Ferndale, we embrace the spirit of transparency because we believe that the public has every right to see and understand the work we do on their behalf.

That’s why we upload as many public documents as possible to our website so that you can access them when and where you need them. This week, we will be featuring a different type of public record or information available from the City of Ferndale on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to join in.

If there is a type of public document that you would like to see on the City website but can’t find it, please give Communications Officer Riley Sweeney a call (360-685-2353) or an email at rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org.

March 11, 2019

Ferndale Receives Association of Washington Cities WellCity Award for the 6th Year


For the sixth consecutive year, the City of Ferndale is recognized by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) for their commitment to employee health. The WellCity Award is given to cities that meet the AWC’s stringent WellCity standards that include investing in employee health through training, conducting annual wellness evaluations and sponsoring programs that promote healthy lifestyles.

Because of this recognition, the city receives a two percent discount on their medical premiums, that will be applied to the 2020 premiums for active employees, spouses and dependents.

City Clerk Susan Duncan spearheaded these efforts for the City, in collaboration with the City’s Wellness Committee. “This saves the city money and help us live better, healthier lives. We’re extremely proud to continue to receive this award for the sixth year running.” said Duncan.

March 6, 2019