Our dedicated volunteer ham radio operators, the Ferndale Auxiliary Communications Service – ACS will be conducting an exercise this Saturday from 10am-Noon, mapping radio dead zones throughout the city. We appreciate their service and if you see them in the field, give them a wave!
City Facilities are Mask Optional Starting March 12th
In accordance with updated guidelines from the state and the Center for Disease Control, visitors to Ferndale public facilities such as City Hall, the Police Station and the Pioneer Pavilion will no longer be required to wear masks as of March 12th. Visitors are still encouraged to wear a mask if they are at high risk for severe illness or living with medically fragile individuals.
Currently, the City is working towards holding their first hybrid city council meeting in April that will be both open to the public and streaming live over Microsoft Teams.
“We have learned a great deal over the last two years on how to use technology to connect with our residents,” said Mayor Greg Hansen, “As some of these restrictions lift, we are going to keep what works and restore physical access to these spaces.”
The indoor mask requirement is now contingent on local COVID-19 case numbers. Currently Whatcom County is on track to lift their mandate on March 12th but it may return if cases spike. For more information on local COVID-19 conditions, please see the Whatcom County Health Department COVID-19 page here.
Joint Statement from the Ferndale School District and Ferndale Police Department
This morning, March 7th, the administration at Vista Middle School reported a suspicious device to the Ferndale Police Department. Students and staff were removed to a safe distance as recommended by law officials.
Law enforcement, including the Hazardous Device Unit from the Bellingham Police Department, assessed the device, disassembled it, and found it to be non-threatening. Additionally, a comprehensive search of the building and surrounding perimeter was conducted, and students & staff returned to normal operations.
In every case, the safety of our community is our top priority and guiding principle. The Ferndale School District is grateful for the quick response by Ferndale Police Department as we worked diligently and collaboratively to ensure threats are fully investigated and resolved. Together, this partnership continues to keep our students, staff, and communities safe.
As always, we encourage you, parents, students, staff, and community members, to report any concerns or questionable behavior to Ferndale Schools administration and/or Ferndale Police Department. Please remember that Ferndale Schools also have an anonymous reporting tool Vector Alert, formally known as Safe Schools Alert. By working together, we can continue to ensure a safe learning and teaching environment for all students and staff.
Join New Line Skateparks and the City of Ferndale on Thursday, March 17th at 6:00PM to review the latest concepts for Metalworks Skate Park. Attendees of this remote meeting will be able to check out the latest design concepts for Metalworks Skate Park and see how previous public input has been incorporated into the design. New Line Skateparks will also provide an update on the work done so far, summarize the feedback already received and provide more opportunities for the public to shape the construction of the park.
The remote meeting can be accessed on March 17th at www.tinyurl.com/MetalworksMeeting2. An online survey will be available after the meeting for additional opportunities to provide feedback. It will be live at www.tinyurl.com/MetalworksSurvey2
Metalworks Skate Park will be constructed in Pioneer Park in Ferndale, and will provide a fun space for people of all ages and abilities to ride, skate, rollerblade or scooter. Construction on Metalworks Skate Park is expected to begin in 2022. For more information, check out www.cityofferndale.org/skatepark or follow #sk8metalworks.
Contrary to Mom’s advice about settling – we’re excited to say we’ve thoroughly enjoyed that sinking feeling and have hit bottom!
Over the past 18 months, the soils beneath the embanked approaches to the new Thornton Overpass have compressed and settled to the point work can begin on the bridge. Work on the project hasn’t been idle while the settlement period was underway. Over the last year and a half, the City’s contractor, Strider Construction, completed wetland mitigation work, has built a new stormwater pond, and has installed thousands of feet of new public utility infrastructure leading up to the overpass. Even with all this work completed, the project has not quite hit the midpoint of work to be done.
In the next couple of months, construction of the bridge will begin and continue for the remainder of the project, as will the remaining utility work, paving and pedestrian improvements. At the same time, the City will be rebuilding the section of Thornton Street between Vista Drive and Malloy Drive so drivers and pedestrians will enjoy a smooth experience entering and exciting the new Overpass. Both projects are on target for completion in 2023. For more details and updates, visit www.cityofferndale.org/thornton or #ThorntonOverpass.
Mayor Greg Hansen with Ferndale’s Downtown
Thanks to an infusion of COVID relief funds, the City is launching a number of initiatives aimed at improving Ferndale’s downtown. Of the approximately $4.2 million the City is set to receive from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), here are some of the ways the City is using that money to support our downtown:
Main Street Program: The City has allocated $400,000 to establish a Main Street Program, complete with events, programing and a paid executive director, to pursue economic development for our downtown core. These seed funds would help the program get established however it is intended to be self-sustaining in the following years. Rather than relying on the previous volunteer efforts of the Ferndale Downtown Association, this program can promote redevelopment efforts, beautification and bring fresh economic activity to Ferndale’s downtown core.
In addition to this seed funding for the Main Street Program, the City has provided an additional $450,000 to the program, including $200,000 for grants or loans to incoming businesses that will support Downtown revitalization, $200,000 for grants or loans to existing businesses which seek to grow or change in a manner that supports revitalization or who undertake improvements to respond to COVID-19, and $50,000 for Downtown beautification efforts and/or matching funds for beautification efforts that the Program may wish to pursue.
Business Interruption Grants: The City has allocated $200,000 to the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce to distribute as business interruption grants for Ferndale businesses impacted by COVID-related closures. The city anticipates that a majority of the grants will be targeted at businesses with 20 or less employees.
Supporting the Community Resource Center: The City has allocated $400,000 to the Ferndale Community Service Cooperative to hire a full-time executive director and expand services to the city’s most vulnerable who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. This is also a seed money investment with the goal of the Cooperative becoming self-sustaining at the conclusion of this grant.
The Cooperative is currently working with our state legislators to secure additional funding for a community navigator position that would help those experiencing hardship navigate local resources and services.
All of these initiatives are supported by COVID relief funds and do not impact the City’s general fund.
“While all of these efforts are worthwhile on their own merits, taken together, they are an unprecedented investment in Ferndale’s future,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “While the impacts of the pandemic are still being felt, the decisions we make today put us on the path to come roaring back.”
We are gearing up for the 2022 Summer of Fun and we want to hear from you! This survey will only take 5 minutes and it helps us decide which events to host in Ferndale Parks.