It is with great sadness that the City of Ferndale shares the passing of The Honorable Judge Michael Bobbink. He dedicated over 30 years of service to judicial systems in Whatcom County.
Michael Bobbink served the Ferndale community as its Hearing Examiner for nearly twenty years, beginning in 2006. In doing so, Mr. Bobbink elevated and professionalized the City’s land use processes and decision-making. As an independent decision-maker, Mr. Bobbink was known for his relentless defense of the rights of the community to participate in the process, and did not hesitate to hold the City and land use applicants to the high standards of adopted regulations. Mr. Bobbink recognized early on that Ferndale would grow significantly, and expressed immense satisfaction that the City’s proactive approach to land use development placed Ferndale in an enviable position to respond to growth. Mr. Bobbink will be deeply missed.