City News

Update on Alleged Threat to Ferndale High School (10/24/18)

From the Ferndale Police Department

Working with the school district, we have learned that the origin of the alleged threat was an overheard conversation in a local store. With the help of the store manager, we identified the two students who were having the conversation. They were subsequently questioned by our officers. The two students independently verified that they had been in the store talking about the threat that surfaced at FHS on Monday of this week. Their conversation was not about a new threat.

The good news is that our community is working together to report anything they believe is suspicious in order to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families.

Thank you for your patience. We take every threat seriously and always take every precaution. This morning we worked hand-in-hand with our Ferndale Schools and the incident has been successfully resolved.

October 24, 2018

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, Water Line Extension Design and Implementation

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Water Line Extension Design and Implementation

 

The City of Ferndale is seeking qualification statements from Professional Design Engineering firms for the City’s Nordic to Scout water line extension.

The City is seeking an Engineering firm to provide design-engineering and construction-engineering services for a water line extension, including the creation of plans, specifications, estimates, permitting and ancillary services.

Interested parties are responsible for monitoring the City’s website for information concerning the RFQ and any addenda issued.

Full RFQ available by clicking here. Project page can be found here.

October 22, 2018

Ferndale Begins Search for New City Administrator

Ferndale Begins Search for New City Administrator

Greg Young

After fourteen years as City Administrator, Greg Young is concluding his service for Ferndale at the end of 2018. Mayor Jon Mutchler has decided not to renew his contract and has tapped Community Development Director Jori Burnett as an interim City Administrator while the City begins the search for a replacement.

“Mr. Young’s service has been exceptional, and he has served the city, including the last three mayors, faithfully and professionally,” said Mutchler. “It is time for a changing of the guard as we move our city forward to the next great chapter of Ferndale’s story.”

Young was hired in 2004 as City Administrator, under Mayor Jerry Landcastle and during his tenure has overseen the construction of a new police station, a new Ferndale library, and the drilling of a new deep well. He helped the city navigate both the Great Recession and the addition of over 5,000 new residents.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done on behalf of the people of Ferndale,” said Young. “It was an honor and a privilege.”

“Greg and I had already begun the process of preparing Mr. Burnett for the move from planning to administration,” said Mutchler. “I have every confidence in Mr. Burnett’s abilities to manage this transition.”

October 19, 2018

City Forms Ferndale Civics Youth Coalition

City Forms Ferndale Civics Youth Coalition

The City of Ferndale is adding a new advisory group to provide input on city affairs made entirely of youth. The Ferndale Civics Youth Coalition, composed of Ferndale High School and home school students from the area will be meeting on a monthly basis to share their thoughts and perspectives on upcoming city issues. The group, coordinated by City Staff, will be reviewing materials provided to the City Council, as well as addressing issues raised by the members that they wish the city to take up.

“This is a unique opportunity for our youth community to have a voice, and a seat at the table,” said Mayor Jon Mutchler. “We want them to be engaged in City business, since everything we do builds the city where they live.”

Their next meeting, planned for November, will address transportation and walking routes throughout the city. For more information and a complete list of members, check out their page here with the other Boards and Commissions.

October 19, 2018

Summary of October 15th, 2018 Council Meeting

Meeting materials can be found here

 City Council Agenda Follow-Up

October 15, 2018
5:00 STUDY SESSION: 2019 Budget Forecast INFO ONLY
CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL  
PUBLIC COMMENT INFO ONLY
CONSENT AGENDA

Councilmember G. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

  

APPROVED

 
RECOGNITION: Municipal Court Judge Terry Lewis

Mayor Mutchler introduced Judge Lewis and thanked him for his 17 years of service as Ferndale’s Municipal Court Judge.

  

INFO ONLY
PROCLAMATION: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Mayor Mutchler read the proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

  

INFO ONLY

 
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS UPDATE

Associate Planner Haylie Miller presented an update on the following private projects:

·         Pape/Kenworth, 5435 LaBounty Drive – In the proposed Pacific Fern Business Park. Zoning is mixed-use commercial. This is a business that sells and services semi-trucks and leases large equipment.

·         Timken Flood Cut, 1689 W. Smith Road – Flood mitigation project associated with the Timkin building. It’s located in the 100-year flood plain, so mitigation is required.

·         FrinGe Brewing, 5640 Third Avenue – Beer will be brewed on premises, and there will be rotating food trucks. There will be indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio. Excess grains will be donated to local farmers, and some of their beers will be named for local events.

 

  

 

 

 

 

INFO ONLY
PUBLIC HEARING: Sign Code Amendments Ordinance

The proposed changes to the existing City of Ferndale sign code address a US Supreme Court decision related to signs within the public right-of-way, removing “content based” regulations, limiting the size of signs, and adopting other restrictions.

The proposed draft would allow agency and traffic control signs, and signs less than eight square feet in size that are not offensive, unsafe, that do not represent a hazard, and which do not impair the ability of the City to maintain the public right of way. On private property, signs would be regulated primarily based on safety and hazard, with building codes acting as the primary guidance for larger, structural signs.

Language that has been determined to be unconstitutional has been removed.

Councilmember Taylor moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 5-2, Councilmembers Olson and Watson opposed.

  

 

 

 

 

APPROVED
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 6: 53 p.m.  

 

October 16, 2018