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Ferndale Offers Free Metallica-inspired T-Shirt to Encourage ADU Construction

Community Development Director Michael Cerbone, Mayor Greg Hansen, Associate Planner Jesse Ashbaugh and Planning Coordinator Patti Gearhart

 

Ferndale Offers Free Metallica-inspired T-Shirt to Encourage ADU Construction

Residents who construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in Ferndale this year can receive a free Metallica-themed shirt courtesy of the City. The first ten property owners who complete an ADU on their property, either attached or detached, receive the shirt, inspired by the Metallica album “And Justice for All” but repurposed to say, “And Housing for All!”

“Building an ADU is great for Ferndale,” said Mayor Greg Hansen, “it adds to our housing supply, provides opportunities for rentals or aging in place, and utilizes existing city infrastructure.”

An accessory dwelling unit is a small, self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. An ADU has all the basic facilities needed for day-to-day living independent of the main home, such as a kitchen, sleeping area, and a bathroom.

“Adding an ADU adds value to your property and provides vital housing choices for families, property owners and new residents,” said Community Development Director Michael Cerbone. “So if you are thinking about ADUs, come talk to our permit desk. We are excited to work with you.”

“We understand that offering a free shirt is not going to be the tipping point for anyone deciding to invest in an ADU,” said Hansen, “But it sends a message that Ferndale is enthusiastic about working with our residents to tackle affordable housing, one ADU at a time.”

For more information on building an ADU in Ferndale, check out www.cityofferndale.org/ADU.

T-shirt design

 

Mayoral Proclamation for January 13th, 2023 as Korean American Day

Mayoral Proclamation for January 13th, 2023

WHEREAS, The City of Ferndale celebrates the contributions of Korean Americans to our nation, region, City and surrounding community, reaffirming our commitment to advance racial equity and representation of Korean Americans;

WHEREAS, January 13, 1903 commemorates and recognizes the first courageous Korean immigrants that arrived in Hawaii, initiating the first large wave of Korean immigration to the United States. These immigrants and their descendants planted roots and have continued to thrive in the United States through hard work, strong families, and community support;

WHEREAS, Achievements and contributions of Korean Americans, including recent immigrants, can be seen in economic strength, cultural diversity, and in all facets of American life including politics, industry, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, arts, education, and in various branches of the United States Armed Forces;

WHEREAS, 2023 will mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between United States and the Republic of Korea in 1953;WHEREAS, Korean Americans have built and strengthened the Alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea, fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula and promoting trade alliances as a crucial trading partner of Washington State;

WHEREAS, Washington State has the sixth highest concentration of Korean Americans in the country, and the United States is home to the largest Korean diaspora community in the world;

WHEREAS, the official recognition of Korean American Day is a significant way that we can celebrate the invaluable contributions of our Korean American community, and work in creating a culture of belonging and a more equitable and socially just City;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I, Greg Hansen, Mayor of the City of Ferndale, do hereby proclaim

January 13th 2023 to be Korean American Day in the City of Ferndale. 

Ferndale 2023 Municipal Budget Available Online

On their December 5th, 2022 Council Meeting, the Ferndale City Council unanimously passed the 2023 Budget. You can click here to access the full detailed breakdown or you can read the Mayor’s budget message below which summarizes what the budget does for Ferndale.

 

Recently, I stood at the Thornton Overpass construction site, watching in awe as massive cranes carefully lifted girders the size of a city block and placed them on pillars above the railroad tracks. These girders will form the bones of the Overpass, supporting cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians for generations to come as they travel to and from our city. As the 130,000-pound components were locked into place, I was struck by the size and scope of the moment we find ourselves in.

Here, on the cusp of 2023, Ferndale is making big changes. We are putting in place the structures, roads and organizations we need to grow as a community. This document reflects and supports those changes and capitalizes on new opportunities to come. Therefore, it is my pleasure to present to our honorable City Councilmembers and the greater Ferndale community, the 2023 budget for the City of Ferndale.

In 2023, the cityscape in which we live will change. We will see the demolition of our beloved Old Main building and the full opening of our new Ferndale High School. We expect to see the Catalyst Project break ground on Main Street. We will see the opening of a brand-new skate park for Ferndale that pays tribute to our industrial history while providing recreation for the future generations. We will see brand new housing developments that reflect the diversity of our community – single family neighborhoods, multi-family near our downtown and low-income housing for those who need it.

In our downtown, we have seen several new businesses open including restaurants, grocery, and retail. Beyond our city core, new manufacturers are bringing fresh jobs, new ideas, and more commerce to our community.

As our city grows and changes, our local government rises to meet the needs of our community. The 2023 budget includes a new police officer – a necessary addition to our dedicated police department that will help keep us safe. It also includes a new planner to keep the permit desk moving swiftly, expanded hours for our park workers, and a new public works crew member to plow our streets and repair our infrastructure.

Like those large girders, we are laying the groundwork for the future. We are designing a new civic campus that will include a new court, council chambers and city hall. We are designing a new stage at Pioneer Park to host more and even better events at the heart of our community. And for the first time, we have hired both a federal and state advocate, to help bring our tax dollars back home from Olympia and Washington, DC for the projects we need done in our city.

During the pandemic, we activated Ferndale Community Services and the Ferndale Downtown Association, expanding their reach and abilities and you will see the impact of those decisions in 2023. Already, Ferndale Community Services is operating a severe weather shelter throughout the cold season and the Downtown Association has distributed thousands of dollars in grants to our downtown community to expand and support our local businesses.

We have done all of this and more through prudent financial management, a willingness to try new things, and good old-fashioned legwork. The actions that we are poised to take in 2023 and beyond are built on solid plans and careful consideration.  Ferndale is a community of doers and innovators, much more than dreamers.  This means that we must be realistic:  we are in an unusual economy, with extremely low unemployment, extreme demand and limited supply of housing, and significant inflation. This budget anticipates that our costs will increase more rapidly than our revenues, and while the budget allows the City to move forward with its plans, we must look carefully at the economics of 2024 and beyond.

Ferndale is becoming known as a collaborative City, and through this teamwork we have been able to do things that larger cities could only dream of.  Rather than pounding the table or making partisan speeches, here in Ferndale, we are focused on doing the work and finding the solutions. As President Truman once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

This budget, like the girders at Thornton, is a key component in that bridge to the future. A future full of change, promise and opportunities for our city.

 

Thank you,

Mayor Greg Hansen

Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Oct. 10th, 2022

Jason LaClair installs a third mural honoring the Coast Salish people on the Pioneer Pavilion

Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Oct. 10th, 2022

Today, we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This is an opportunity to honor the resilience and immense contributions Native Americans have made to Ferndale’s past, present and future. We stand on the ancestral homelands of Coast Salish peoples, who have lived by and on the Salish Sea since time immemorial, and acknowledge the shaping hand of Indigenous Peoples’ on the course of history.

On this day, we ask all residents to take a moment to reflect on our relationship with tribal nations and indigenous cultures including the Coast Salish people and beyond, and how we can all continue to celebrate these lands, and the people who make them so special.

Citywide Community Meeting Video

On May 31st, the City of Ferndale hosted a citywide community meeting. Over 100 members of the public attended along with volunteers from a number of local non-profits and community groups.

Below is a video of the program at that meeting. It include an introduction from Mayor Greg Hansen and an overview of City initiatives from Administrator Jori Burnett. Pictures of the event can be found on the City’s social media channels.

Ferndale Uses COVID Relief Funds to Jump Start Downtown

Mayor Greg Hansen with Ferndale’s Downtown

Ferndale Uses COVID Relief Funds to Jump Start 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.”

 

City Council Unanimously Endorses Ferndale School Levy

Ferndale City Council unanimously endorses a YES vote on the Ferndale School District Operations Levy

At their last meeting, the City Council was united in their support for this measure.
“Ferndale students benefit intellectually, emotionally, and physically when these resources and programs are funded. We have a proud history in sports, the arts, and education. Let’s continue to fund these activities that make Ferndale special. As a diverse and non-partisan City Council, we ask that all Ferndale voters approve the Ferndale School District Replacement Levy. Ferndale and its students are worth it!”

Video Message from Mayor Hansen

Ferndale Mayor Greg Hansen provides an update on the City’s actions and preparedness planning for the upcoming severe weather, comments on work and efforts the last couple of weeks after the recent flood, and provides suggestions for how you can best prepare yourselves and help your neighbors.

CLICK FOR VIDEO

Mayor Greg Hansen Speaks on Preparedness

Thursday, November 25, 2021

In looking at the developing forecast for heavy rains and a rising river, Mayor Greg Hansen issued a statement today, “City staff and Public Works crews are on standby today and in the days to follow with all available resources ready to respond if river levels make this necessary.  I encourage individuals to also do what they can to prepare themselves and to help their neighbors.  If you are within a flood area, be prepared to secure your vehicles and belongings. Ferndale residents can also help by cleaning leaves and other debris from around the storm drains near your home.  Please check on your neighbors.  Watch for road closure notices before leaving home, and be patient with each other as this weather evolves.  We will continue to monitor this situation and will provide updates as they become available through our website and Facebook page.”