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News

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 to Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 7am to 7pm

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 to Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 7am to 7pm

Alder Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue

Drivers should expect potential delays and consider alternate routes as Alder Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue will be closed to thru traffic on Wednesday,  August 22, 2018 to Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 7:00am to 7:00pm.  Westbound traffic will be detoured via Third Avenue to Main Street to Fourth Avenue. Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Fourth Avenue to Main Street to Third Avenue. This road closure is to complete utility improvements associated with a private development project. Alder Street will reopen during non-working hours.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

 

August 22, 2018

Summary of August 20, 2018 Council Meeting

You can find all the related Agenda Documents here

City Council Agenda Follow-Up

August 20, 2018
STUDY SESSION: Proposed Court/Council Chambers Project

The current Court/Council Chambers facility does not meet the physical facility standards and access control standards as established by the Board for Judicial Administration Court Security Committee’s Courthouse Public Safety Standards. In addition to safety issues, the building lacks a jury room, separate meeting rooms for attorneys to meet with clients, and often exceeds the recommended occupancy levels.  There are also issues in the building with flooding and mold. Architect David King presented the proposed plan for building a Municipal Court/Council Chambers facility at the current Police Station.

 INFO ONLY
PUBLIC COMMENT INFO ONLY
CONSENT AGENDA

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

  

APPROVED

 
PRIVATE PROJECTS UPDATE

Associate Planner Haylie Miller presented updates on the following private projects:

·         Main Street Village – located south of the Hendrickson and Main Street intersection, this project consists of 44 townhome-style units. There are 11 lots total, with each lot having 4 units. There is a trail dedication along the east side of the development that runs from Main Street to the townhomes. Construction is currently underway.

·         LaBounty Apartments – located on the east side of LaBounty, this project consists of 71 apartment units. Permits were submitted back in 2014. There are three buildings total, two of which have been completed and are fully occupied. A small recreation area will be added when the third building is complete. The developer removed blackberries, which are an invasive species, and replaced them with native tree species as part of their critical areas mitigation plan.
INFO ONLY
PUBLIC HEARING: Sign Code Revision 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 in order to eliminate signs in close proximity to roundabouts and in maintained lawn areas of the right of way. The regulations would not go into effect until January 1, 2019 to allow sufficient time for public outreach.

 By general consensus, this item was sent back to the Planning & Land Use Committee for further discussion.
PUBLIC HEARING: Temporary Outdoor Homeless 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.

 By general consensus, this item was sent back to the Planning & Land Use Committee for further discussion.
DISCUSSION: Council Rules of Procedure

The Finance & Administration Committee has spent several meetings reviewing and updating the current Council rules. This process is still ongoing at the Committee level. Staff recommended breaking the document into sections for discussions and approval over several meetings, rather than waiting to bring it in its entirety at one meeting.

Councilmember Kennedy moved, and Councilmember K. Hansen seconded, to recommend approval of Council Rules #1 – 11 with the following changes:

Item #3 – Change the third sentence to read “The Mayor or any three  four Councilmembers may call a special meeting giving 24-hour notice.”

Item #5 – Change the third paragraph to read “In the event of a protracted absence (defined as more than 30 days duration) by the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall assume full  mayoral executive and administrative authority and responsibility until such time….”

 

Councilmember G. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to amend the motion to remove the third sentence in Item #5 entirely.

 

On the amendment: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

 

On the main, amended motion: MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

  

 

 

 
SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED

AS AMENDED
MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS INFO ONLY
COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS INFO ONLY
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

 

August 21, 2018

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Friday, August 17, 2018 and Monday, August 20, 2018 from 7am to 7pm

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Friday, August 17, 2018 and Monday, August 20, 2018 from 7am to 7pm

Alder Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue

Drivers should expect potential delays and consider alternate routes as Alder Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue will be closed to thru traffic on Friday August 17, 2018 from 7:00am to 7:00pm and Monday, August 20, 2018 from 7:00am to 7:00pm.  Westbound traffic will be detoured via Third Avenue to Main Street to Fourth Avenue. Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Fourth Avenue to Main Street to Third Avenue. This road closure is to complete utility improvements associated with a private development project. Alder Street will reopen during non-working hours.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

 

August 15, 2018

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Friday, August 17, 2018 from 7:00am – 7:00pm.

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Friday, August 17, 2018 from 7:00am – 7:00pm.

Seamount, between Vista Drive and Malloy Avenue

Drivers should expect delays as traffic is reduced to single lane traffic on Seamount Drive between Vista Drive and Malloy Avenue from 7:00am to 7:00pm. Flaggers will be on-site directing traffic. This work is to complete improvements associated with a private development project.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

August 15, 2018

Arts Commission Brings a Splash of Color to City Annex

Arts Commission Brings a Splash of Color to City Annex

The Ferndale Arts Commission added a new piece of public art to downtown this weekend with the installation of a mural on the side of the City Annex building (5694 Second Avenue). Designed by local artist Todd Bruce, from Bellingham’s Chameleon Ink, this mural was painted with the help of volunteers and spearheaded by Councilmember Rebecca Xczar.

“Murals are a great way to add beauty to our downtown, brightening our community and drawing new business and interest to our city core,” said Xczar. She hopes that this mural is the first of several. Currently the Arts Commission is reaching out to private property owners to gauge interest for future public art projects downtown.

The City Annex is used for City Council meetings and Ferndale Court, the installation of the mural was done in sections over the last week. For more information about the Ferndale Arts Commission, check out their page and contact information by clicking here.

Artist Todd Bruce and Kyle Deming assemble the design layout

Volunteers begin painting the starburst sections

Councilmembers Greg Hansen, Cathy Watson and Rebecca Xczar assist with the installation

Councilmember Rebecca Xczar, Kyle Deming and Artist Todd Bruce with the completed mural

August 14, 2018

Summary of August 6th, 2018 Council Meeting

You can find all the related Agenda Documents here

City Council Agenda Follow-Up

August 6, 2018

  
CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

** By general consensus, the Multifamily Tax Exemption Ordinance was removed from the agenda and sent back to the August 15, 2018 Planning & Land Use Committee for further discussion. **

  
PUBLIC COMMENT INFO ONLY
CONSENT AGENDA

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

  

APPROVED

 
PROCLAMATION: Community Health Center Week August 12 – 18

Mayor Mutchler proclaimed August 12 – 18 to be Community Health Center Week.

  

INFO ONLY
CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE

Public Works Project Manager Katy Radder presented updates on the following capital projects:

·         Washington Street – Water line installation is nearly complete. Hydrants are being installed, a new storm system from Main Street to Hamlin and new sewer lines from Vista Drive to Sterling are being installed.

·         Portal Way Compact Roundabout – Storm drainage work is ongoing. The next step will be road widening. The exit will be closed from Monday, August 13 to Friday, August 17.

·         Cherry Street & Pioneer Park Sidewalks – Underground work (trenching for natural gas lines) is complete. Sidewalk installation on Cherry street will begin Tuesday, August 7, and the Pioneer Park sidewalks will begin after Cherry Street is complete.

  

 

 

 

 

 INFO ONLY
CLOSED RECORD PUBLIC MEETING: East Gate PUD Resolution

The East Gate Planned Unit Development (PUD) consists of two lots located at 6170 Portal Way, to be used for two commercial mixed-use buildings and 20 residential lots designed for duplex and fourplex townhome buildings, totaling 64 residential units. The project includes sidewalks, trails, open space, landscaping, private roadways, parking, infrastructure, storm facilities, and frontage improvements.

Planned Unit Development applications follow the process as described in FMC 14.09.060. The application is heard by the City’s Hearing Examiner at a public hearing. The Hearing Examiner then issues a recommendation to the City Council to be considered at a Closed Record Public Meeting.

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

  

 

 

 

 

APPROVED
ORDINANCE: Water Restrictions Violations

Council passed Resolution #18-07-30-A at a special meeting on 7/30/2018, establishing mandatory water restrictions until October 31, 2018, due to concerns that during the peak summer months the level of withdrawal from the City’s well systems is in danger of exceeding capacity to supply water. This ordinance updates the penalty structure and fines, which have not been adjusted since 1981. Previously, the penalty for a first offense was $25 AND water shut-off. The proposed penalty structure was:

 

 

 

 

First offense:                                          Written Warning

Second offense:                                     $100

Third and subsequent offense(s)        $250 and water shut off

 

Councilmember K. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Kennedy seconded, to amend the fees to $50 for the second offense and $125 plus water shut off for the third offense.

 

Councilmember G. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded, to amend the motion to remove the water shut-off for the third offense.

 

On the amendment: MOTION CARRIED 4-3, Councilmembers Watson, Taylor, & Olson opposed.

 

On the main, amended motion: MOTION CARRIED 4-3, Councilmembers Watson, Taylor & Olson opposed.

 

 

 

 

APPROVED

AS AMENDED
DISCUSSION: 2018 Mid-Year Review & 2019 Projections

Finance Director Sirke Salminen presented information regarding the preparation of the 2019 budget.

  

INFO ONLY
DISCUSSION: Disposition of 2076 Washington Street

The City recently purchased 2076 Washington Street. The two adjoining houses (one of which has been demolished) have previously been purchased to make room for a future roundabout at the Washington/Vista intersection. There are no immediate plans for construction of the roundabout, so staff sought direction from Council on what to do with the house in the meantime. The house next door is being utilized by Interfaith Coalition for transitional housing.

Councilmember K. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded, to designate the house for Interfaith transitional housing. MOTION CARRIED 6-1, Councilmember Kennedy opposed.

 

 

DIRECTION PROVIDED TO STAFF
MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS

Information only.

COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS

Information only.

  

 

INFO ONLY
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.  

 

August 9, 2018