Support Ferndale School District families in need with a donation to the Other Bank! You can make your donation at the Ferndale Community Resource Center or at City Hall during business hours with our new convenient dropbox.
Support Ferndale School District families in need with a donation to the Other Bank! You can make your donation at the Ferndale Community Resource Center or at City Hall during business hours with our new convenient dropbox.
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.”
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.
| 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. |
Each year, the City of Ferndale faces the challenges of a rising river. Here’s a video exploration of what that means and what you can do to keep your community safe when the river rises.
Living by the Nooksack from City of Ferndale on Vimeo.
City crews will be smoke testing the sanitary sewer system on Portal Way and working south through the adjacent side streets from Weds. Oct. 17th through Fri. Oct. 19th from 7:30am-3:00pm.
More information on this method of detecting leaks and conducting maintenance can be found by clicking here.
City crews will be doing work in the median on Second Avenue between Washington Street and Portal Way on Friday, October 5th between 7am and 3pm. This may cause occasional delays to maneuver equipment. Thank you for your patience.
For more information, please contact Ferndale Public Works department at (360) 384-4006.
Judge Terrance Lewis
Ferndale Municipal Court Judge, the Honorable Terrance Lewis is retiring this year after seventeen years of service to our community. The Ferndale Municipal Court handles everything from traffic infractions to custody cases. Before his work for Ferndale, Judge Lewis served for eight years as the Deputy Prosecutor for Whatcom County.
“Judge Lewis brought a fair and compassionate presence to our court. He served the highest values of justice tempered with the belief that people can change for the better,” said Mayor Jon Mutchler. “He set the standard for public service.”
A retirement celebration and open house in honor of Judge Lewis will be held at the Ferndale Police Department (2220 Main Street) on October 15th, 4:00-5:45pm. Refreshments provided.
It’s time for our annual City of Frightdale Halloween Decorating Contest! Deck out your home for Halloween and send a picture to rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org by October 30th. Our judges, Councilmember Rebecca Xczar, NFL Star Jake Locker and Horizon Middle School Principal Faye Britt will pick three winners to receive Woods Coffee cards. We look forward to seeing your spooky decorations!
Thank you to Woods Coffee for sponsoring our contest. For more information, call Riley Sweeney at (360) 685-2353 or email him at rileysweeney@cityofferndale.org.
| City Council Agenda Follow-Up
October 1, 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 Xczar seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED
|
| INTRODUCTION: Student Planning Commissioner/Ferndale Civics Youth Coalition | INFO ONLY |
| CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE
Public Works Project Manager Katy Radder presented an update on the following capital projects: · Washington Street, Main to Vista – Road is being graded in preparation for curb installation. Remaining work includes paving, installation of a speed table, restoration/landscaping, and striping. Paving was scheduled for Monday, October 1 but was delayed due to weather. Weather permitting, paving will occur Wednesday and Thursday, October 3 & 4. Project anticipated completion date is in two to three weeks. · Cherry Street and Pioneer Park Sidewalks – Cherry Street sidewalks are nearly complete, including storm drainage, ADA sidewalks/ramps, paving, & restoration. Remaining work includes hydroseeding. Pioneer Park sidewalks are stamped, and restoration needs to be completed. |
INFO ONLY
|
| PUBLIC HEARING: Shannon Avenue Right-of-Way Vacation Request
The owner of the property located on Shannon Avenue has constructed several improvements on the property adjacent to theirs, which is City property. The property in question is immediately adjacent to a hillside at the bottom of which is a stream. In addition, the City has an existing sewer line and storm drain pipe in the area. This parcel was retained by the city when the housing development was constructed for two basic reasons: 1.) to provide maintenance access should work on the sewer line be necessary; and 2.) to act as a vegetative buffer for the critical area. (steep slope and stream.) The City has been involved in enforcement action attempting to have the property owner remove the improvements that have encroached on approximately 4,000 square feet of City property. The improvements impede the City’s ability to access the sewer line and storm drain pipe. In addition, current environmental and permitting regulations would not allow the gravel parking area to be constructed so close to the hillside and stream. It is staff’s opinion that this parcel does not meet the criteria required to vacate City property and recommended denying the property owner’s request to allow her to purchase the property from the City.
Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the vacation request as proposed.
Councilmember Kennedy moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to postpone the vacation process until the following can be addressed: 1.) Examine the potential of the City leasing the property to the owner instead of vacating it; 2.) Critical Areas/Environmental Issues; and 3.) Review of the lot line adjustment.
ON THE AMENDMENT: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
ON THE MAIN, AMENDED MOTION: MOTION CARRIED 5-2, Councilmembers Xczar and K. Hansen opposed. |
APPROVED AS AMENDED |
| DISCUSSION: Legoe Avenue Developer’s Agreement
The property owner is requesting an amendment of the developer’s agreement that was established in 2016. That agreement rezoned the two parcels for multifamily purposes, and also specified that twelve units could be built on the primary property, and did not allow for any units to be built on the smaller adjacent property. Since 2016, the property owner has pursued his proposed development; however, the road easement west of Legoe Avenue is owned by the Ferndale School District, which has indicated that the owner will be required to construct Primrose/Siddle Lane to full City standards. The costs of such a roadway is not sustainable for the property owner. The requested amendment to the developer’s agreement would allow the property owner to reduce his costs substantially through the construction of duplexes instead of fourplexes. Since duplexes utilize space less efficiently, the request is to change the number of units on the primary property to ten, and allow two units to be built on the smaller adjacent property. The requested amendment does not change the total number of units.
Councilmember Olson moved, and Councilmember Kennedy seconded, to approve the amendment of the original developer’s agreement to allow one duplex on the smaller parcel with conditions as stipulated. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED |
| ORDINANCE: FMC Modifications – Parking in the Right-of-Way
The Ferndale Police Department is the primary department regulating parking within the public right of way, through FMC 10.08. Currently, FMC 8.08.040 and FMC 10.08.060.D contradict each other in terms of how long a vehicle may park on a city street or right-of-way. The proposed ordinance changes FMC 8.08.040 to limit the time a vehicle can be parked on a city street or right-of-way from 72 hours to 24 hours, making it consistent with FMC 10.08.060D.
Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED |
| ORDINANCE: Temporary Outdoor Encampments
Religious organizations have played a primary role in providing care and resources to the homeless community, often in the form of temporary outdoor homeless encampments. RCW 35A.21.360 prevents local jurisdictions from banning such encampments entirely and limits the conditions that can be placed on the encampments to those related to public health and safety. The RCW also allows a jurisdiction to identify a process for such land uses. The proposed amendments to the Ferndale Municipal Code makes outdoor homeless encampments hosted by religious organizations a separate conditional use, and clarifies the specific requirements for the encampments. A public hearing was held on this item at the August 20, 2018 Council meeting, and the item was referred back to the Planning & Land Use Committee to address various concerns, such as clarifying definitions, zoning, responsibilities of the hosting agencies, restroom facilities, and permit fees.
Councilmember Olson moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded to approve the ordinance with the added condition that sharps containers be provided at sites. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Councilmember Kennedy abstaining. |
APPROVED |
| DISCUSSION: Water/Sewer Bills Payment Plan
In response to the impact on citizens of higher than expected summer utility bills, staff recommends adoption of the following temporary modification to utility bills payment/late fee/shut offs: · For water/sewer bills that have already gone out on August 31st of this year, we will not: 1. Do any turn-offs 2. Charge any late fees regardless of their outstanding balance.
· The next round of utility bills will go out on October 31st and December 31st.
· If a utility customer maintains their total outstanding utility bill at or below $200 (for the combined August 31st, October 31st and December 31st billings), the City will not charge any late fees and/or shut off their water. · Customers will have until February 19, 2019 to bring their balances to zero – if not, late fees will be charged, and water shut offs will occur.
Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember Olson seconded, to approve the payment plan as presented. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
|
APPROVED |
| ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m. |